WWF SPO, CSO strategy, July 2023-September 2025

WWF Sweden works to halt the destruction of the Earth's natural habitats and build a future where people live in harmony with nature by stopping species extinction, halving footprints and halting habitat loss. Internationally, the World Wildlife Fund has existed since 1961 and has so far worked with nature conservation projects in over 130 countries. In Sweden, the WWF Foundation was founded in 1971 with the aim of partly contributing to the financing of international activities. WWF was to work to achieve cooperation between different actors in nature conservation. Today, WWF Sweden conducts its operations largely under its own auspices and within the framework of five departments: Forests & Species, Oceans & Water, Food, Climate & Energy, Governance & Policy and Business & Finance. The main task is to protect biodiversity and facilitate the sustainable use of natural resources, both in Sweden and globally. WWF Sweden, submitted an application for a five-year program entitled 'Leading the Change 2 (LtC2), 2023-2028 with a budget of SEK 450 million for the period June 2023-June 2028. The applied for initiative is a second phase of the Leading the Change 2018-2023 program. The government's appropriation letter to Sida for the budget year 2023 contains statements that new agreements on the appropriation line for support through Swedish civil society organizations should be avoided to the extent possible, and that new agreements that extend beyond 2025 should also be avoided. Therefore, Sida decides to only enter into a one-year agreement for support for the first year of WWF's program. The initiative will achieve fewer results when it is one year, but the agreement annex for goals and long-term results is considered to be still relevant. The goal of the intervention is 'Rich biodiversity and thriving ecosystems where people and communities equitably exercise and enjoy their right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment' By supporting civil society and promoting inclusive and rights-based nature conservation, the program responds to situations where poor governance and unsustainable management of important ecosystems and habitats persist and cause serious challenges for nature and people. The program also contributes to WWF's global goals: 1) zero habitat loss; 2) zero extinction; 3) halving the footprint, within nine thematic areas, in line with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. The specific goals of the intervention are the following: - CSOs have strengthened institutional capacity and strengthened technical capacity for sustainable natural resource management, inclusive conservation and rights-based approaches. CSOs drive change towards inclusive conservation, good governance of natural resource use, growing democratic space and increased human well-being, through advocacy, engagement with decision-makers and networking, and by using a representative voice. - Rights-holders, in particular indigenous peoples, women, youth and marginalized groups, are aware of their rights, have strengthened their empowerment and capacity to claim their rights. - Rights-holders, in particular indigenous peoples, women, youth and marginalized groups, organize, engage in sustainable governance and management of resources, influence decision-making processes and benefit equitably from natural resources. - Responsibility-bearers have increased capacity to sustainably manage natural resource use and protect the environment, fulfil human rights and facilitate participatory decision-making processes. - Responsibility bearers enact and implement laws, policies and regulations for sustainable management of natural resources and provide political space for inclusive participation of CSOs, communities and rights holders in decision-making processes.