Mind-Nature Institute is a multiple-level impact, environmental research, training, capacity development and collaborating institution and organisation in Uganda, East Africa.

Our environment is agricultural, marked by over 70% of our region and nations land under some form of Agriculture. It is mostly small holder, and scale farming system. As such, any environmental conservation effort need to ensure we have a pro-nature or environment food and agricultural system. We are proud to support pro-nature food and agricultural systems. Engaging in research, capacity development, shaping dialogues and policies, mobilising others.

But, it is just one of the paths.

Welcome to exploring our work, aspirations and contributions. Please note our holistic and specialty programs, the networks and hubs of collaboration, and the upcoming events.

Our region and its ability to conserve, supply water, or feed people is continuously challenging. It is a challenge that requires increased capabilities, cooperation, ideas, and skills to achieve a better wellbeing while not causing further harm to the environment at large.

We envision a capable, resilient, and thriving people, institutions, and nature in a time of climate change and other crises.

Our mission therefore, is to improve the capabilities and sustainably use, govern, and manage the environment; (a) for improved well-being, social equity and justice; (by) having the needed knowledge, data, and evidence, skills, mindset, and power.

Our simple theory of change is ; if we get a society and region prospering with all the stakeholders, especially the women and young people contributing effectively following built capacity, informed decisions, and if we create opportunities, we shall achieve improved environmental conservation and resource development outcomes.

Our core work is research, training, skills development, capacity building, technical assistance, and collaboration.

Research and Knowledge Development and Management

We are engaged in technical, applied, and policy research for evidence, decisions and reference.

Are facilitating knowledge co-creation and management.
Building research dissemination and connection platforms.
Developing and disseminating various innovations, models, and approaches.
Facilitating Foresight practice.
Facilitating monitoring, evaluation, reporting, foresight and learning, to establish robust systems, learning organizations, and be result-oriented.

Technical Assistance, Training and Capacity Development

Our offers are both in-person and online, among other means, training and capacity development about topics of need and relevance at the time.
Building appropriate ‘green’ or environmental governance, entrepreneurial and vocational skills, and a mindset that values nature as a resource for transformation.
Facilitating continuous, lifelong learning and exposure
Organizing relevant seminars, mentorship programs, short courses, training sessions, exchange programs, fellowships, scholarships, model farms, field schools, symposiums, exhibitions, libraries, and summer camps

Networking and Partnerships Building

Growing our level of impact and experience through networks, hubs, contact or coordination desk.
Forming partnerships within the local communities, non-profit sector, private companies, academic and research institutions, Think Tanks, and government agencies with relatable objectives.
Mobilising individuals across sectors, disciplines, continents, genders and experiences.
Strengthening linkages to additional resources, including financial and human resources.

We approach our work with both an integrated and scaled view for depth and interconnection working around six thematic areas of;

Facilitating regional and transboundary resources management, governance, conservation and sustainability.
Advancing pro-nature food and agricultural systems, and purposively developing the plants and plants-based sectors.
Innovatively growing the environmental studies, practices, and professions into vocations, business, investment, and finance portfolios.
Promoting green data, tech, and innovations, that include a “green’ Ai.
Enabling green economies and transitions, carbon development, climate mitigation and adaptation.
Enabling a collective agency among the women, youth and other special interest groups for nature and sustainability.

OUR FOCUS MOVES ACROSS THE INTEGRATED-SPECIALISED-CROSSCUTTING PROGRAMMING

The 6 thematic areas are approached holistically while connecting to environmental specialty topics of:

Water and Sanitation
Wetlands and Peatlands
Land and Land use
Energy, Oil and Gas
Food and Agriculture
Climate and Carbon
Wildlife and Rangelands
Mining and Minerals
Forests, Plants, and Biodiversity
Infrastructure, Cities, and Homes
Markets and trade
Waste and Pollution
Geographies and Demographies
Chemicals (Pesticides, Herbicides, etc)
Finance and Economics
Planning, Budgets, Accounting
Governance (policy, politics, and law)

To achieve greater and targeted results, we engage with areas considerably crosscutting, such as gender, women, youth or young people, peace and security, ecohealth, culture and psychology, education, and (e)learning.

Special Initiatives

Learn More

Our approach centers a landscape, systems thinking, sustainability, foresight, and collaborative values that are achieved at:

a holistic level through the thematic, specialty level, and crosscutting areas.
at the multi-partner collaborative level through the Hubs and Network.
at contract service provision level through Consultancy and Technical Assistance.

Our Impact

We are reaching our mission through projects, programs, and individual or collective actions. We have this documented in our reports, publications, news, and blogs.

Reports and Publications

Current Collaborative Projects

Agroecology for Sustainability.
Biocyclic Vegan (organic)Agriculture for Nature Promotion.
Wetlands and Peatlands Restoration and Sustainable Paludiculture Value Chains.
Climate-resilient Public Investment Management, Carbon Development (including MRVs establishment and Carbon Registry).