Unconditional cash transfers
We believe it’s time to shift control, decision-making and power to the people at the frontline of deforestation.
We give cash to over 58,000 thousand people living in rainforests through unconditional cash transfers.
Unconditional cash transfers are payments we send directly to people living in the rainforest. There’s no catch or requirements on how the cash is spent. We send cash in two ways.
- The first way is by sending cash transfers to the leaders of the community, a group of people who are elected to make decisions. The whole community comes together to plan how they will invest the funds.
- The second way is even more direct. We send money to individuals, rather than community leaders. We are trailing this in the Amazon rainforest as part of our Basic Income pilot.
In a challenging place like the rainforest, only the people who live there know what’s best for them. We respect and trust their ability to decide how best to spend the cash based on their unique circumstances.
How communities use cash
Safe drinking water
The community of Tunants in the Amazon used 80% of their cash to buy 20 giant water tanks meaning access to safe drinking water for everyone.
Improved buildings
In Camantavishi in the Amazon, the community used their cash to construct a classroom – 53 children now have a safe place to learn.
Livelihoods
The community of Tsutsum in the Amazon used 100% of their cash to produce 20,000 cacao seedlings as cacao is a primary source of income.
Why cash?
Without income to pay for essentials like food and medicine, people who live in the rainforest can be forced to sell their land to the likes of illegal loggers and miners. Once these extractive industries make their way in, the rainforest begins to fall, and the climate crisis becomes even worse.
Whilst illegal loggers offer communities money to leave, we provide financial support to help communities stay.
Basic income in the Amazon Rainforest
We’ve taken our unconditional cash transfers programme that extra mile and launched the first ever basic income pilot for people living in the Amazon rainforest.
Why rainforest?
Rainforests are essential carbon sinks. Their preservation is critical to mitigating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and supporting the livelihoods of millions of people around the world.
Did you know?
Indigenous peoples manage 54% of rainforests around the world, but they receive less than 1% of climate funding. Worse still, their contribution to the protection of Earth’s most vital resource and climate mitigation has been ignored.
It’s time to shift control, decision-making and power to the people at the frontline of deforestation.
Unconditional cash has a powerful impact on the rainforest
Cash is king
Can cash combat the climate crisis?
Can £2-a-day protect rainforests?
Basic Income Pilot: One Year On
3 ways rainforest communities use cash
Our rainforest research
Explore our research and insights on the impact of unconditional cash transfers in the rainforest. By sharing our research, we aim to prove how cash is the answer to the climate crisis.