Institutional strengthening as a climate strategy

With the SimbiOSC + iCS program, institutions expand their capabilities and create a solid foundation for structural solutions in the climate agenda and the country’s development 

The iCS is advancing its mission by investing in the organizational strengthening of its grantees as a strategy to strengthen the sustainability of the climate field, accelerate solutions, and promote sustainable development in Brazil. Addressing the climate crisis requires strong, innovative, resilient organizations capable of generating lasting impact in the territories where they operate. With this vision, the SimbiOSC + iCS Institutional Development Program was created, an initiative that supports organizations in consolidating essential internal structures to achieve their purposes and contribute to a just and inclusive transition. 

More than providing specific resources or training, the program focuses on a continuous process of transformation, combining institutional diagnoses, learning paths, individualized tutorials and implementation. This approach allows each organization to build its own strengthening paths, while promoting exchanges between peers and consolidating a collective learning base. The first class of the Program, which lasted one year, completed the training process in July. The next cycle will begin in the second half of this year.  

The 30 organizations participating in the first class represent the plurality and power of organized civil society in Brazil. These are institutions that work with climate justice, territorial defense, socio-bioeconomy, and the rights of traditional peoples and communities, with a predominant presence in the North, Northeast, and Central-West regions. Among them, more than half are led by women, 22.9% by Black people, and 8.6% by Indigenous leaders. This profile shows how diversity is not just a principle: it is a condition for legitimate and effective climate solutions. 

The initial results reinforce the relevance of this strategy: 93% of organizations completed their strategic plans, 75% initiated fundraising policies, and 27 reported consolidated progress in governance and management. These results have a direct impact on the evolution of the climate agenda, strengthening the organizations’ capacity to act. 

“For us, it is very clear that our role in the philanthropic field has never been merely that of a conduit for resources. The Institute for Climate and Society has always provided grantees with significant technical support and opportunities for exchanges with peers and other sectors,” stated Luiza de Mello e Souza, Grants, Evaluation and Knowledge Director at iCS. “Developing a structuring program like this is a natural step to strengthen the institutional aspects of our grantees, which are often considered secondary, but are in fact essential to the work of each organization,” she said.  

Eight stages over a year 

The program, developed by SimbiOSC – a platform dedicated to strengthening the institutional capacity of civil society organizations – lasted one year, beginning in June 2025. Over eight stages, participants advanced in critical pillars such as governance, financial planning, monitoring, communication, evaluation and learning, and racial and gender equity. In practice, these themes define an institution’s capacity to maintain consistency in vulnerable territories and engage multiple actors in addressing the climate crisis. For iCS, strengthening these foundations means expanding the conditions for civil society to have an active presence in decision-making spaces. 

“More than offering isolated tools or training, the program seeks to support real change processes. The depth of the program lies precisely in the combination of collective learning spaces, individualized mentoring, and support for the implementation of changes identified by each organization,” explains Telma Pinheiro, Operations Specialist (Management and Transversality) at iCS. “It is not about a one-off training or the delivery of ready-made solutions, but about a mentoring process that combines learning, reflection, and practical implementation. Organizations are supported in building their own paths to strengthening, with room to advance at their own pace and based on the challenges they face,” she adds.  

The participants were selected from among iCS grantees according to technical and strategic criteria, such as the demand for institutional strengthening and the interest in joining the group, as well as territorial diversity (with preference for organizations from the North, Northeast, and Central-West regions). The 30 organizations are mainly composed of collectives, social movements, community associations, and civil society organizations in Amazonian contexts. Together, they serve diverse audiences, such as indigenous populations, quilombola communities, riverside communities, rural workers, youth, Black people, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and marginalized communities, operating as mediators of public policies, care networks, and political advocacy.  

Regarding iCS’s areas of focus, 77% of participants are linked to the Engagement, Agents of Change and Climate Governance axis, 14% to the Land Use agenda, followed by 6% in the Energy, Industrial and Transport Transition axis, and 3% in Climate Policy and Institutional Framework.  

Platform expands the reach of learning 

To increase this impact, iCS will launch a new digital platform dedicated to all its grantees, bringing together diverse content, guidance, and training opportunities that enhance the autonomy of its partners. In addition to the SimbiOSC Program, grantees will be able to find information on events, calls for proposals, project cycle information, and other materials that help them understand the routine processes within the partnerships. In this way, iCS reinforces its objective of promoting transparency, knowledge sharing, and institutional development of its grantee organizations.   

With this initiative, iCS reaffirms that strengthening civil society is a pillar of the country’s climate agenda and sustainable development. Building responses to the climate crisis requires organizations prepared to innovate, influence policies, and generate inclusive solutions – a commitment that will continue to guide our actions in the coming years. 

Photo: Rede Emaranhadas