Siemenpuu Foundation

Supporting environmental work in the Global South

The Siemenpuu Foundation was founded by 15 Finnish NGOs or Foundations working with questions linked to the environment and development. It offers support for civil society organisations in developing countries working for ecological democracy, environmental protection and prevention of environmental threats.

The conservation of our natural environment and promotion of biodiversity should be made by a sustainable, equitable and participatory decision-making process, by the people, with a perspective to human rights and cultural diversity. First and foremost, we at the Siemenpuu Foundation want to support people in the South to give stronger voices to communities working for biological and cultural diversity.

The Siemenpuu Foundation grants project funds directly to civil society organisations and networks of organisations, NGOs, community groups and research institutes operating and based in developing countries. The nature of the activities supported is diverse.

Siemenpuu Foundation has provided project funding since 2002. First this was done through an unlimited application window. In 2006 the unlimited application possibility was closed and three cooperation programmes were established. They are implemented in India, Indonesia and Mali together with local partners. Each programme has a specific geographic and thematic focus. All projects funded within the programmes are chosen in line with their corresponding strategies.

In addition to the existing cooperation programmes Siemenpuu Foundation opened a limited application round in May 2008. We welcomed applications from Sub Saharan Africa and Latin America related to “Alternatives to the industrial monoculture plantations” and “Environmental issues at the World Social Forum”. During the round we received altogether 151 preliminary applications, of which we selected 16 for further revision. The funding decisions based on these applications will be made in October, 2008.

In 2008 and 2009 Siemenpuu Foundation is not able to accept new project proposals from anywhere else except Indonesia, where there is a limited possibility to fund new projects through the cooperation programme. Information about the funding possibilities beyond 2009 will be available on our website at the end of 2009.

Siemenpuu Foundation bases its funding primarily on the development co-operation funding from Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. We report about the use of received funds to the Ministry. Otherwise the Foundation is an operationally and legally independent civil society organisation. The total budget of the organisation for the year 2008 is 1,25 million Euros.



The name of the Foundation, Siemenpuu, is Finnish and means “mother tree”. It reflects our aim to give birth to sustainable environmental projects in developing countries.