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Severe cuts to international aid budgets have left millions struggling to meet their basic needs, from food and water to healthcare and housing. Funding reductions have affected communities across the Global South, particularly those already vulnerable due to conflict, displacement, and climate-related disasters. These cuts expose the failures of a system that fosters dependency while offering no long-term solutions. While aid remains crucial, this crisis underscores the urgency of supporting locally-led regenerative solutions that strengthen resilience and reduce reliance on external policies. For example, in Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp, which shelters approximately 300,000 refugees, food rations have been reduced to just 40% of the minimum requirement due to funding shortfalls, leading to protests and clashes with police ( The Guardian ). In Malawi, severe funding reductions have forced humanitarian organisations to scale back food aid programs, leaving thousands of families facing acute hunger amid a worsening climate crisis ( Reuters ). Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, the United Nations has warned that food rations for Rohingya refugees may be cut in half due to ongoing funding shortages ( Reuters ). The recent aid cuts must serve as a wake-up call for the humanitarian and development sectors. We cannot continue relying on an extractive aid model that is at the mercy of political and economic shifts in donor countries. Instead, we must prioritise decolonial, solidarity-based, and non-extractive frameworks that place power and resources directly in the hands of communities leading their own regeneration. The False Promise of Aid Dependency For decades, mainstream humanitarian and development models have operated on a system of dependency, where communities facing crises are positioned as passive recipients of aid rather than active agents of their own recovery and regeneration. This model, while sometimes necessary in acute emergencies, has ultimately disempowered communities, reinforcing cycles of vulnerability rather than breaking them. Now, with drastic funding cuts, communities are left with even fewer resources to navigate increasingly complex challenges. These reductions are being imposed while we witness the sharp rise in extreme weather events, growing displacement crises, and widening inequalities. The logic is baffling: when the need is greatest, support is being withdrawn. Strengthening Resilience: The Power of Regenerative Approaches This crisis, however, underscores why shifting away from externally driven aid models towards strengthening grassroots agency is more essential than ever. Regenerative approaches  - such as those grounded in Agroecology, permaculture, indigenous knowledge systems, and nature-based solutions - offer a path towards true resilience. These approaches not only address immediate survival needs but also restore ecological and social health, ensuring that communities are equipped to withstand and adapt to future challenges. Winnie and Jean-Paul from the YICE Uganda team show the compost hey have been able to make using their ecological sanitation latrines. Across various displacement settings, regenerative projects are already proving their effectiveness in building resilience beyond aid dependency: Community Composting (Uganda – UNIDOS) :  By turning organic waste into nutrient-rich compost, UNIDOS, a refugee-led initiative, is improving soil health and enabling food production in settlements. This reduces reliance on external food aid and ensures families can cultivate their own food, enhancing their autonomy and long-term food security. Urban Agriculture (Cameroon – MOCGSE , Greece – Sporos Regeneration Institute ):  In Cameroon, MOCGSE has helped displaced communities reclaim underutilised spaces to grow fresh vegetables, reducing dependency on fluctuating food aid. In Greece, Sporos Regeneration Institute has trained refugees in Athens to establish urban and rooftop gardens, providing direct sources of nutrition and opportunities for cooperative food sales. EcoSan Latrines (Uganda – YICE ) : YICE Uganda has introduced Ecological Sanitation (EcoSan) latrines in Nakivale refugee settlement, providing families - particularly those with disabled members - access to safe, dry toilets. These composting latrines transform human waste into nutrient-rich compost, which is then used to improve soil fertility for local food production. This closed-loop system reduces health risks, enhances agricultural productivity, and ensures that communities have sustainable sanitation solutions that do not depend on external aid. Home Gardens (Bangladesh – BASD ):  BASD has pioneered permaculture home gardens for displaced families and low-income households, demonstrating that even small spaces can be transformed into productive, diverse food-growing areas. These gardens improve food security, restore degraded land, and allow families to supplement their diets without depending on volatile aid supplies. Lime Stabilised Soil (Bangladesh – Bee Rowan & IOM ):  Re-Alliance supported LSS expert Bee Rowan to train Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, collaboration with IOM,  to use locally available lime-stabilised soil to construct fire-resistant and durable shelters. This method reduces reliance on expensive imported building materials and empowers refugees with construction skills for long-term housing stability. By investing in regenerative solutions like these, communities can build food sovereignty, restore degraded landscapes, and create sustainable livelihoods. Unlike traditional aid models that impose external solutions, regenerative approaches center the knowledge, skills, and agency of those most affected by crisis. This is the foundation of genuine resilience - one that does not depend on volatile international aid budgets but rather on strengthening local systems of mutual aid, ecological stewardship, and cultural regeneration. Taking Action for a Resilient and Regenerative Future Now is not the time for retreat. Now is the time for transformation. It is time to move beyond dependency and towards regenerative resilience - where communities have the tools, knowledge, and resources to determine their own futures, free from the whims of donor countries. Aid cuts are leaving communities more vulnerable than ever, but grassroots solutions already exist, they just need support.  At Re-Alliance, we are committed to amplifying and supporting this essential work. Join Re-Alliance  today to connect with the expertise of over 300 organisations engaged in regenerative approaches. Together, we can collaborate, share knowledge, and implement real, community-led solutions that ensure long-term stability and autonomy. As part of this mission, Re-Alliance, in collaboration with YICE Uganda , is developing a pioneering community-led settlement design project that will create a replicable, regenerative settlement model for displaced communities. This initiative integrates housing, food production, sanitation, and renewable energy through participatory community planning, setting a new standard for humanitarian response. Your contribution - whether through funding, technical expertise, advocacy, or otherwise - can support us in making this vision a reality. We invite you to join us in this urgent and transformative work, email us at contact@re-alliance.org  to discuss how you can support this effort financially, with your expertise, or in other ways. Join us in supporting community-led regenerative solutions. Because resilience, sovereignty, and regeneration are not just possible, they are essential.

For decades, refugee communities have found ways to grow food in even the most challenging environments. In Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, home to the largest Rohingya refugee camp in the world, home gardens have emerged as a crucial strategy for improving food security, health, and well-being. A recent research project conducted between 2022 and 2025 by Re-Alliance, in collaboration with the Food Security Cluster and Rohingya student researchers from the Asian University for Women, examines the costs and benefits of these gardens. The Growing Need for Food Security With cuts in humanitarian aid, the Rohingya population in Cox’s Bazar has faced severe food shortages. In 2023, food assistance was reduced to $8 per person per month, increasing only marginally over time. While this has since been increased in line with earlier figures, recent changes by large governments in relation to the provision of aid, mean that food subsidies continue to be threatened and will, for the immediate future be cut to 50% of what were already minimal rations. With limited resources and high levels of food insecurity, organisations such as the World Food Programme (WFP), FAO, BRAC, and others have introduced home gardening as a sustainable food source. However, growing food in Cox’s Bazar is not easy. Limited space, poor soil quality, extreme weather, and pests create significant challenges. Despite this, over 1,000 small gardening projects were recorded in 2022, demonstrating a substantial investment in food-growing initiatives. By 2023, 14 organisations were actively involved in these programs, with various levels of success and impact. In densely populated areas like Cox's Bazar, organisations like BASD encourage residents to grow in whatever spaces they can, including on rooftops and along fences. Evaluating Success: How Do Home Gardens Help? The research surveyed 14 organisations implementing home gardening programs and interviewed 159 refugee households. The study sought to answer key questions: Are home gardens still being effectively used? What are the costs, inputs, and approaches of different organisations? What benefits do households experience in terms of food security, health, and well-being? Can home gardens compensate for reductions in food aid? Findings: A Mixed Picture of Challenges and Successes The results showed that 93% of gardens remained in use seven to eleven months after being established. Households reported numerous benefits, including: Improved food security : Many families had better access to fresh vegetables, reducing their dependence on external aid. On average, households with gardens harvested a wide range of produce annually, between 7-195 kg, depending on the organisation supporting them. Health benefits : Respondents reported increased energy, better nutrition, and improved overall well-being. Some families noted weight gain and fewer illnesses. Income generation : Some households earned between 100-2,500 BDT by selling surplus produce, helping them supplement their household income. Psychosocial benefits : Green spaces contributed to mental health, reduced stress, and provided a sense of home, particularly for women and elderly members of the community. Costs and Yields: Breaking Down the Figures A comparative analysis of the different organisations implementing home gardens revealed significant variations in investment and outcomes: Action Aid : Invested 33.6 million BDT ($276,000) for 10,000 gardens, costing approximately $27.6 per garden, with an average yield of 195 kg per household. BRAC : Spent 97 million BDT ($797,000) for 15,000 gardens, with a per-garden cost of $53 and an average yield of 180 kg. Concern (BRPM & SARPV) : Costs per garden ranged from $11.7 to $11.8, but yields were lower at 7-12 kg. Dan Church Aid : Spent 72.8 million BDT ($600,000) for 5,000 gardens, at a cost of $12 per garden, yielding 50-60 kg per household. Mukti : With a budget of 440,800 BDT ($36,000) for 6,500 gardens, the per-garden cost was only $5.5, yet some recorded household yields of up to 626 kg. BASD Permaculture Approach : Cost per garden was estimated at $13.2 for training and stipends, with host community gardens yielding up to 1,000 kg per year, significantly outperforming other interventions. As can be seen from these results The Bangladesh Association for Sustainable Development (BASD) a chieved far higher yields than other projects. While they were surveyed 5 years after training, and other projects just under one year, it could be that yields in other places would improve significantly over time. Additionally, different ways of reporting and recording between organisations make a direct comparison difficult to achieve. Nonetheless, results indicate that while Permaculture approaches required more training and effort initially, they resulted in significantly higher yields over time, making them a more sustainable option. Challenges in Home Gardening Despite the benefits, refugees faced significant obstacles: Space constraints : Many gardens had to rely on vertical or rooftop gardening due to limited land. Rooftop gardens, however, were vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. Climate-related threats : Flooding, monsoons, droughts, and high winds often damaged crops and eroded topsoil, making consistent gardening difficult. Lack of tools and resources : Refugees reported needing more bamboo, seeds, and water-saving techniques to sustain their gardens. Many also lacked fertilizers and pest control solutions. Cultural and gender barriers : Some women found it difficult to engage in gardening activities due to social norms and restrictions, particularly in tasks like climbing onto rooftops or managing composting. Some of these challenges are apparent in the much higher yields gained by all organisations working with host communities, where hosts have better soils, more space and a greater familiarity with the local environment.  Salam, this is my tiny permaculture garden. I do not have extra space for gardening. I got PDC from BASD and started gardening. My neighbours also followed me observing my garden. I didn't know much about gardening earlier but now I know its importance, good food and poisonous food. I planted in a very small area some plants of bottle gourd, sweet pumpkin, bringet, chilli, tomato etc. Me and my family members enjoy food from our garden. I do sell a surplus of vegetables. I give thanks to BASD for giving us such a beautiful training.  - Siraj of Camp 19 at Cox's Bazar shares his garden and experience of working with BASD Is Permaculture the Answer for Refugees? Initially it would seem that Permaculture can make a significant difference.  Bangladesh Association for Sustainable Development (BASD) have for 6 years helped households integrate regenerative, self-sufficient gardening practices using composting, water conservation, and organic methodologies. Their methods involve training community leaders, who then teach others, creating a cascading effect. First introduced into Bangladesh by Rosemary Morrow, a renowned Permaculture teacher, author and co-founder of Re-Alliance's sister organisation Permaculture4Refugees , in 2018 they claim to have started the campaign for home gardening in Cox’s Bazar and established the very first gardens. They are now offering training to other organisations. Rosemary Morrow published  ‘The Earth Restorer’s Guide to Permaculture’ in 2022 and the director of BASD has since translated this entirely into Bengali.  Their Permaculture training consists of a 72 hour course spread over 15 days, significantly longer than the 5 hour or 5 day trainings that other organisations offered to home gardeners. Rather than provide them with tools or seeds they offer each a small stipend, (around $10 USD), to purchase these things, encouraging them to share knowledge, tools and seeds with the others they train. This creates a sense of ownership among gardeners who become social innovators at the same time.  Despite BASD trainees being surveyed 5 years after training while other gardens were seen up to one year later.compared to traditional gardening approaches, Permaculture yielded significantly higher returns. Their approach required minimal financial input after the initial setup, proving to be a cost-effective and sustainable solution. Additionally, Permaculture-trained households reported greater resilience against climate challenges due to improved soil quality and water management techniques. What Can Be Done Next? The study highlighted key recommendations for future interventions: Develop better evaluation methods : Traditional cost-benefit analyses fail to capture the full impact of gardening initiatives. New metrics that consider social and psychological benefits are needed as well as more consistent approaches to record keeping by different organisations within the food security cluster.  Incorporate traditional agricultural knowledge : Programs should be designed with input from refugees who have farming experience. This can help improve crop selection and farming techniques in the camp environment. Scale up successful interventions : Permaculture and other regenerative approaches should be expanded. Training should be provided not just for growing food, but also for seed saving, composting, and climate adaptation techniques. Recognise non-food benefits : The psychological and social impacts of gardening should be considered in program planning. Green spaces can contribute to well-being, stress reduction, and community bonding. Improve access to resources : Providing better tools, seeds, water-saving irrigation methods, and training opportunities can increase the sustainability of home gardens. Conclusion Home gardens in Cox’s Bazar have proven to be more than just a means of food production. They empower refugees, provide nutritional and economic benefits, and contribute to mental well-being. While challenges remain, investing in regenerative approaches inspired by Permaculture can enhance the long-term resilience of displaced communities. With ongoing support and innovation, home gardening could become a vital strategy for ensuring food security and dignity for the Rohingya and other refugee populations worldwide. By refining approaches, integrating traditional knowledge, and ensuring long-term sustainability, humanitarian organisations can make a lasting impact in these vulnerable communities.

When disasters strike, saving lives becomes the top priority. In the urgency and chaos of immediate response, speed can take precedence over long-term planning or ecological considerations. The humanitarian sector is structured to respond rapidly, often relying on pre-designed plans to deliver aid and address critical needs. But what could it look like if these immediate responses to disasters could also be regenerative? Could we find ways for responses to be holistic, culturally embedded, and inspired by the ecosystems they are part of? How might we integrate environmental care and nature-based solutions into our rapid response? When we consider regenerative responses, we often focus on the time before or after disasters. We usually either think about Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) to grow resilience before a disaster - or, as Sarah Queblatin reframes it - Designing for Resilience and Regeneration . Then after a disaster and initial response has occurred, we come to recovery and redevelopment, where there are many excellent examples and case studies of Regenerative and Permaculture designed approaches  to meeting the needs of communities who have faced, or even been displaced by, disasters. Tinka John of KAFRED Uganda  emphasises, "Firstly, it’s about awareness and education. We need to teach people how to read and understand their ecosystems. If they know the importance of each element of an ecosystem and how they relate to one another, they might understand the importance of healthy ecosystems and eventually may know how to build the health and resilience of their ecosystems. That way, they can better respond to disasters and shocks." Tinka’s insight points to the need for ecological literacy, where people can read their landscapes and respond to its needs when it’s damaged. When communities have a deep understanding of their local ecosystems they can act as stewards, leveraging the interconnections within living systems to recover more effectively. Yet still, this speaks to learning which needs to happen months or years before a disaster strikes. It can take years to become socialised into nature-inspired ways of thinking. So what about times of urgent and emergency need? What about the moments when crises unfold? Can we still embed regenerative design principles into the way we act in emergencies? Ecological, Regenerative Design in Rapid Disaster Response Conventional humanitarian responses rightfully prioritise speed and efficiency, yet this often comes through a standardised approach across many contexts. This approach saves lives, and that should always be a top priority. However, standardised approaches can often overlook opportunities for cultural alignment and ecological care. To a regenerative or Permaculture designer, the idea of acting in a ‘high speed’ way might seem counter intuitive. As Permaculture designers, we’re taught to be slow and to take time to observe. But in times of need, a rapid regenerative response is called for.  We can ask ourselves:  How might we work with nature, rather than against nature, in this scenario?  How might we integrate culturally significant practices, rather than erase them?  How might we use locally available and renewable resources where possible? Disaster-struck agrarian, land-based, indigenous or peasant communities often already respond in this nature-centric way, through cultural wisdom, necessity, and because disaster relief agencies may not be able to respond as quickly as needed. Ideas of what a nature-based response looks like in practice already exist, but humanitarian actors will need more solid plans in order to scale out these solutions. What is needed is an adaptable, regenerative process and plan that country offices of humanitarian agencies can work with to co-create a rapid response with their communities, in advance of when disasters happen. With climate chaos already wreaking havoc across the world, and with this set to increase, every community will need a plan. What’s needed for an Adaptive Rapid Regenerative Relief Plan An Adaptive Rapid Regenerative Relief Plan (A3RP) must be, as the name suggests, adaptive. Arguably, it wouldn’t be regenerative if it wasn’t adaptable, because all cultures and ecosystems have uniquenesses, and as such need a unique approach that integrates local elements rather than a ‘one size fits all’ solution. Regenerative approaches look different depending on the context, and they also go beyond ‘doing no harm’, seeking to grow the health of the communities and ecosystems they are part of. An A3RP could have a common structure ( an example community consultation guide is suggested here ) to make it easier for humanitarian organisations to operationalise and implement, but crucially it would integrate processes and plans inspired by living systems. Consultation and design processes should include the communities affected to integrate cultural wisdoms, traditional ecological knowledge, and also to build community cohesion. An A3RP approach may include: Ecosystem-Inspired Designs Healthy systems in nature are adept at responding to shocks. Left to its own devices after a wildfire, life takes mere moments to re-root and begin the (albeit slow) process of regrowth. Or for another example we could look to the flood defence skills that mangroves teach us, softening the blows of damaging coastal weather. Disaster response plans can mimic these systems by incorporating strategies found in nature: growing wind breaks and natural barriers; restoring degraded landscapes to slow, store and sink water; or using biomimicry to design infrastructure that can withstand environmental stressors. Traditional Ecobuilding Practices Many indigenous, land-based, peasant and traditional cultures have long histories of constructing shelter using renewable, locally sourced materials. These methods are often intrinsically aligned with their landscapes, sometimes looking almost as if they have emerged from the land. Crucially, they can sometimes be quicker to implement than Western-style shelter, though sometimes with a more complex materials supply chain (as you can't necessarily buy the materials quickly from a supplier, but may have to find renewable, living materials locally and test them for effectiveness). Ecobuilding for immediate post-disaster offers models for housing that if respectful of local culture, reduces dependency on external resources, and minimises carbon costs of flying or shipping materials. One example of these is traditional Filipino bamboo vernacular, which has been known to withstand strong typhoons. Celebrating Local Uniquenesses Food security is critical in immediate disaster responses, and a regenerative response would look toward locally adapted, preferably perennial, plant species to offer a source of food, fuel, medicine, and building materials, while also restoring and stabilising ecosystems. Similarly, local cultures may have found ways that are culturally significant to adapt to crises. Ceremonies and significant cultural customs can help communities come together to repair and regenerate after disasters or traumas. A Call for trialling Adaptive Rapid Regenerative Relief Plans in action A regenerative response is not necessarily a rejection of speed or efficiency, but a deepening of our understanding of the spaces in which we operate and the communities with whom we work. By learning from ecosystems and the wisdom of local cultures, humanitarian agencies can create interventions that not only save lives but also plant the seeds of ecological recovery and community resilience. As Tinka John reminds us, understanding and valuing ecosystems is the foundation for responding effectively to disasters. Whether through fostering ecological literacy, designing culturally and environmentally embedded plans, or leveraging the resilience of natural systems, a regenerative approach to disaster response has the potential to transform crisis into opportunity for both people and the planet. – Re-Alliance is an education and networking organisation comprising over 250 members applying regenerative approaches in disaster and displacement, and focussed on bringing regenerative solutions to the humanitarian sector. If you are part of a humanitarian agency and would like to discuss the A3RP approach in your contexts, reach out to the team on contact@re-alliance.org  or join the network at www.re-alliance.org/join .

From Permaculture in refugee settlements, to eco-building in disaster prone regions, to water harvesting in areas severely affected by worsening climate change, Re-Alliance and our members showcase how we can create stability, resilience and abundance, even in times of crisis. What could a regenerative humanitarian response look like? Increasing the impact and influence of regenerative responses to disaster, displacement and development Explore Re-Alliance free guides Re-Alliance promotes a regenerative vision, beyond sustainability, for the humanitarian and development sectors. From Permaculture gardens in refugee camps, to eco-building in disaster prone regions; eco WASH interventions, to integrated nature-based solutions for settlement designing: Re-Alliance members are showcasing how we can create stability, resilience and abundance, even in times of crisis. Watch Re-Alliance Videos Play Video Play Video 06:08 Winnie from YICE Uganda presents Ecosan composting toilets Join Winnie Tushabe, co-founder of YICE Uganda, and Ecosan user Uwizeye Salima, in exploring Ecosans. In the Nakivale refugee camp in Uganda, refugees are given a small plot of land to build a dwelling and farm food on. Re-Alliance's partner organisation YICE Uganda (Youth Initiative for Community Empowerment) is working with families to create kitchen gardens but yields are limited because the soil is poor. Re-Alliance and YICE collaborated to build eight urine diverting dry toilets (or ‘Ecosan’ toilets) for families. By separating the urine and faeces, the volume of composting waste is reduced, extending the capacity of the compost chamber and giving an immediate source of fertiliser in the form of urine, which, when diluted 1:10 - 1:20 with water, is an excellent fertiliser rich in nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Diverting the urine away stops the compost chamber from becoming anaerobic and smelly and the addition of wood ash or saw dust, after using the toilet, acts as a dehydrating cover material. This design used recycled plastic barrels as containers for the faeces, which ensures no ground pollution. Once nearly full, the barrel is moved aside and replaced with a fresh barrel. With the hot composting achieved inside the barrels, compost can be created in under 12 months in the Ugandan climate. The compost is used to enrich the soil around fruiting trees and bushes. Find out more about this design and create your own with our free guides on www.re-alliance.org/publications . Play Video Play Video 30:44 Designing Regenerative Change | Adapting Welcome to Re-Alliance’s Designing Regenerative Change series. Each of these bimonthly sessions focuses on a different stage of regenerative design processes. Grounded in regenerative paradigms and principles, and contextualised with inspiring real world examples from Re-Alliance members and the wider community, you will be guided on steps you can take to bring your regenerative vision to life. The topic of this session is Adaptation. As our contexts are always changing, and as our communities grow and evolve, or if we are faced with disasters or crises, how might we adapt to best meet ever changing needs? Join along with the activity here: https://jamboard.google.com/d/1L2fkfX0dyRz7kKkYT5k5xl136_EgZ-imBGq-QdhdQtA/edit?usp=sharing We are joined by special guest Jehane Akiki, founder of Farms Not Arms, a collective of designers, farmers, strategists, and agriculturalists who have come together to build an integrated, multi-agricultural educational farm model that heals land, health, and community. Farms Not Arms' first farm is in the Beqaa, Lebanon, bringing together refugees and host communities to increase food security, ease climate change, and promote social cohesion. To find out more about re-alliance events, visit re-alliance.org/events. Welcome: (0:00) Introducing Jehane Akiki: (7:15) How do Farms Not Arms integrate adaptive processes?: (12:20) Dispersed decision-making: (15:54) Coming back to your Vision: (18:17) Activity: (24:22) Play Video Play Video 40:54 Designing Regenerative Change | Reflecting Welcome to Re-Alliance’s Designing Regenerative Change series. Each of these bimonthly sessions focuses on a different stage of regenerative design processes. Grounded in regenerative paradigms and principles, and contextualised with inspiring real world examples from Re-Alliance members and the wider community, you will be guided on steps you can take to bring your regenerative vision to life. The topic of this session is Reflection. Once we are in the process of implementation, and we are delivering our regenerative projects, how might we build learning and reflection into the process? How might we be open to the things that go well, and also the things that don't go well that we can learn from? We are joined by special guests Timothy Salomon from the National Land Coalition in the Philippines, as well as Gisele Henriques from CRS. To find out more about re-alliance events, visit re-alliance.org/events. Welcome: (0:00) Introducing Timothy Salomon: (4:05) Making the unseen or less visible, visible: (5:22) Centring wellbeing in the process: (10:00) Welcoming Gisele Henriques: (21:06) An easy reflection tool: (25:12) Case studies and human stories: (27:08) Play Video Play Video 38:46 Designing Regenerative Change | Implementation Welcome to Re-Alliance’s Designing Regenerative Change series. Each of these bimonthly sessions focuses on a different stage of regenerative design processes. Grounded in regenerative paradigms and principles, and contextualised with inspiring real world examples from Re-Alliance members and the wider community, you will be guided on steps you can take to bring your regenerative vision to life. The topic of this session is Implementation. How might we deliver on our vision and our design? How do we still embed regenerative principles in the way we implement? We are joined by special guest Noah Ssempijja, the co-founder of YICE Uganda, who shares some experiences of delivering a project in Nakivale Refugee Settlement. Take part in the activity with this Jamboard: https://jamboard.google.com/d/1avwlKfZrD2LH4qG228Jdo2nJ0YSDU9y6vJyh69eWPG4/edit?usp=sharing To find out more about re-alliance events, visit re-alliance.org/events. Welcome: (0:00) Introducing Noah and YICE Uganda: (3:06) Adapting to changing and volatile circumstances: (7:36) Integrating regenerative principles in implementation: (21:23) Activity - reflection questions for you and your team: (35:01) Structuring your implementation plans: (36:49) Play Video Play Video 30:32 Designing Regenerative Change | Design for Action Welcome to Re-Alliance’s Designing Regenerative Change series. Each of these bimonthly sessions focuses on a different stage of regenerative design processes. Grounded in regenerative paradigms and principles, and contextualised with inspiring real world examples from Re-Alliance members and the wider community, you will be guided on steps you can take to bring your regenerative vision to life. The topic of this session is Design, the third session in the series. How might we best learn from the Visioning and Mapping stages, to put our ideas and plans 'down to paper'? What could it look like to make formalised plans for the upcoming work? We are joined by two special guests: Arnima Jain from Tarun Bharat Sangh (https://tarunbharatsangh.in/) and Faith Flanigan from Regenerosity (http://www.regenerosity.world). Join along with the design questions activity by making a copy of this Jamboard: https://jamboard.google.com/d/1NP2m8DqYoiZkHaOgrHja2Cvpoh5esvg5FyEBnemigLM/ To find out more about Re-Alliance events, visit re-alliance.org/events. Introduction: (0:00) Welcoming Arnima Jain: (02:06) A design thinking process: (04:53) Welcoming Faith Flanigan: (14:43) Designing through the lens of Permaculture ethics: (22:19) Designing across scales and cultural zones: (24:55) Play Video Play Video 01:02:00 Designing Regenerative Change | Mapping Welcome to Re-Alliance’s Designing Regenerative Change series. Each of these bimonthly sessions focuses on a different stage of regenerative design processes. Grounded in regenerative paradigms and principles, and contextualised with inspiring real world examples from Re-Alliance members and the wider community, you will be guided on steps you can take to bring your regenerative vision to life. The topic of this session is Mapping Resources, the second session in the series. How might we best work with our communities to help map out the resources we currently have available to us to help achieve our goals? What would it look like to map out the seen and the unseen elements of our Place, and the communities we're working with? We are joined by special guest Sarah Queblatin, founder of Green Releaf in the Philippines, and Living Stories Landscapes Project. Join along with the mapping activity by making a copy of this Jamboard: https://jamboard.google.com/d/1V5yksyrsAN_jLl8RYrjmuPZOowjNcd3Yha0L_jvFKO0/ To find out more about Re-alliance events, visit re-alliance.org/events. Introduction: (0:00) Welcoming Sarah Queblatin: (08:10) Why is process important?: (08:32) What do we need to map?: (11:39) Experiences of mapping: (23:10) Sarah's advice for mapping processes: (47:48) A mapping exercise: (53:16) Play Video Play Video 50:55 Designing Regenerative Change | Visioning Welcome to Re-Alliance’s Designing Regenerative Change series. Each of these bimonthly sessions focuses on a different stage of regenerative design processes. Grounded in regenerative paradigms and principles, and contextualised with inspiring real world examples from Re-Alliance members and the wider community, you will be guided on steps you can take to bring your regenerative vision to life. The topic of this session is Visioning Possibilities, the first session in the series. Why is it important to start with visioning? How do you go through this process with community? We are joined by special guests Filipa Pimentel from the Transition Network, and Jane Wegesa Fraser from Ecosystem Restoration Camps and Regenerosity. To find out more about re-alliance events, visit re-alliance.org/events. Welcome: (0:00) Why is Visioning important?: (5:58) Filipa Pimentel's story of using Visioning: (8:59) Advice for Visioning: (25:06) Processes for Visioning: (32:58) Practicing Visioning: (37:50) Jane Wegesa Fraser's story: (44:03) Conclusion: (49:34) Play Video Play Video 01:02:10 Re-Alliance Webinar | Regenerative Women of India This session introduces five women from regenerative organisations in India, and explores their work in partnership with Regenerosity and Re-Alliance. We hear from Aparna Bangia and Komal Thakur (Earth4Ever Conservation Foundation), Duhita Ganguly (The Timbaktu Collective), Preeti Virkar (Navdanya) and Arnima Jain (Tarun Bharat Sangh). From agroforestry, to permaculture, to seed sovereignty, to water harvesting, their work showcases a range of locally adapted regenerative solutions to increasingly challenging global problems. Join our membership As part of our network, whether a grassroots practitioner or a member of an international NGO or Aid organisation, you will have access to dynamic knowledge, a vibrant and active community of experts, and a wealth of opportunities for collaboration. Our membership is open to all. The only requirements are an interest, understanding or expertise in regenerative design, experience in the humanitarian or development sectors, and a willingness to comply with our code of conduct and policies. Find out more Read Articles James Atherton Rapid Relief, Long-Term Resilience: Is it possible to have a regenerative response to disasters? What could it look like if immediate responses to disasters could be regenerative? Juliet Millican Growing Resilience: Cultivating Mushrooms in Buckets in Nakivale Refugee Settlement In collaboration with Mycorama (Greece) and Unidos (Uganda), Re-Alliance has been supporting Minak in a transformative mushroom... Mary Mellett Wind turbines for mobile phone charging: An invitation to collaborate Re-Alliance have been working with School of the Earth Nea Guinea on the ‘Wind Mobile’ project, an action research project aiming to... Sign up for our newsletters For inspiring stories from our network of practitioners around the globe, to learning about how to integrate regenerative design into humanitarian and development contexts, sign up to our newsletter below. Sign up We can support you Re-Alliance and our members have hosted several training programmes for humanitarian and development organisations and agencies. We can help you and your organisation to integrate regenerative paradigms and practices into your operation, interventions, and policy. 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Re-Alliance Members & Partners Contact us Visit us on social media Our diverse membership, spanning every continent around the globe, has organically formed with representatives from over 150 organisations, united by a shared commitment to integrated regenerative responses to development, disaster and displacement. Our membership includes experts from regenerative design fields working within INGOs, Universities, Businesses, small and medium NGOs and self-employed practitioners. Our members include founders, and CEOs of permaculture organisations and green foundations; directors of some of the larger aid or humanitarian NGOs; grassroots organisers; academics and researchers who have spent a lifetime building evidence of alternative, earth responsive solutions in areas of the world most affected by environmental disasters, and displacement. Connect with our members' expertise What would it look like to have regenerative principles embedded in your organisation's work? Our members are available to be hired as consultants, supporting you and your organisation to design and deliver regenerative responses in a wide variety of humanitarian and development contexts. Located on every continent around the globe, our members can support you in implementing locally-led and embedded practice, both minimising the carbon footprint of international travel while also honouring local, more culturally appropriate solutions. Each Re-Alliance member brings unique talents, years of experience, and a connection to a pool of shared expertise in different cultures, continents and contexts, through the Re-Alliance network. Contact us to hear more about how our talented members can support your work. Become a member Re-Alliance members benefit from a shared learning and collaboration space, connecting to a global network of other regenerative practitioners from the humanitarian and development sectors. Re-Alliance host monthly members meetings or invite-only webinars. We showcase and promote members' excellence through case studies and articles, and by brokering connections between our network of practitioners and organisations interested in regenerative design. Are you a regenerative design practitioner, or from a regenerative project, working in humanitarian or development spaces? We'd love to be in touch. Membership to Re-Alliance is free of charge. Contact us Find out more and request to join Below: Re-Alliance member Bee Rowan, teaching about ecological strawbale building practices in Nepal. Partner Organisations Would you like to join our membership, or would you like to find out more about how our members can support your organisation with regenerative design? Find out more below, or contact us here . Find out more and request to join Partner Members

Re-Alliance is a global network of regenerative practitioners working in the humanitarian and development sectors. Find out more about us. About Re-Alliance Re-Alliance is a coalition of field practitioners, policymakers, educators, community leaders and humanitarian and development workers, sharing skills and experience to grow the influence and impact of regenerative development in the humanitarian field. Its work focuses on regenerative development and its response to disaster and displacement. We ask the question, how can we create long-term resilience and abundance while responding to immediate humanitarian crises? Profiled work showcases the restoration and revitalisation of social and ecological systems which integrate the needs of society with the integrity of nature. Through the solidarity of valuing and elevating the existing regenerative practices of its membership, the alliance seeks to share and develop knowledge and extend awareness beyond the group to stimulate further practice. It aims to increase the expertise of the independent members by sharing learning between researchers and practitioners, and to build a collective voice for cross-sector influence and impact. Re-Alliance was registered with the UK Charity Commission as a charity in April 2020 and its charity number is 1188936. History During the 2018 Lush Spring Prize , a group of judges and practitioners facilitating innovative projects identified a desire to unite practitioners across the field of regenerative development and integrated humanitarian response. Talking and researching further, gaps were identified for making this work more effective. The gaps concerned the collection of evidence for this pioneering work; the possibility to influence and give legitimacy to this approach with funders and policy makers and; the capacity for transformation at scale. There are many good examples of effective methods being applied across the globe, which use regenerative approaches to humanitarian and development work but, to date, these have not entered the mainstream. We are committed to taking a coordinated and systematic approach to recording evidence and influencing funders and policy makers that impact large scale humanitarian and development interventions. Groundbreaking practitioners are successfully working in the application of regenerative development in the humanitarian and development fields. As pioneers, they often have limited time to record evidence; have limited resources to scale; and a limited platform to share their innovations. To address these limitations, there is a need for mutual support, learning and collaboration, as well as a need to build the evidence base, unlock funds, and communicate powerful stories of regenerative change. This pioneering work then becomes visible and legitimate both at the grassroots level and within the establishment, which enables the growth of its influence and impact. Our Mission Our mission is to strengthen a coalition of field practitioners, policy makers, educators, community leaders, and development and humanitarian workers, sharing skills and experiences to grow the influence and impact of regenerative development in the humanitarian field. We do this by: - Providing an environment for mutual learning and support amongst those active on the field, - Building a body of evidence and stories to communicate the effectiveness, authenticity and value of regenerative work, - Leveraging support and funding from large relief organisations toward regenerative groups and practices, and, - Focussing on the intersections between disaster and displacement, sustainable and innovative community-led regeneration. Our working principles include: Affected communities first Ensuring that profiled work is of benefit to people experiencing disaster and displacement, the surrounding communities and the natural environment in which the work is being undertaken. We have a small team with lean administration costs, aiming to direct any funds we accumulate toward maximum effectiveness. Integrity Ensuring integrity through use of sociocratric principles which enable robust, defensible and inclusive decision making. Openness, transparency and sharing All of the work we do is promoted openly, in order to grow the legitimacy of regenerative practices. Support Embodying care and support for all those in contact with Re-Alliance.