Legado Inc

Legado is a global nonprofit that works alongside indigenous peoples and local communities in places important for biodiversity to ensure they have the tools, resources, and partnerships they need to create and lead solutions that benefit both their communities and landscapes—an outcome we call Thriving Futures. The ultimate goal is to build a sustainable, locally-led system for collaborative problem solving that fosters adaptability and resilience in communities for meeting current and future challenges, such as those brought on by climate change.

1. Partnership - In a high-priority area for biodiversity, Legado partners with an existing and like-minded local organization to launch a partnership and assemble an inclusive group of people committed to leading change in their community.

2. Legacy Engagement - Using the concept of legacy, Legado jumpstarts individual motivation and action through a series of workshops that help participants define their own personal legacy visions and commitments for creating a Thriving Future—where both people and their environment can thrive.

3. A Community Plan - Participants then build on their personal legacies by coming together to create a shared legacy vision and commitments for the Thriving Future of their community. Community assets and resources are assessed then a realistic plan of action is built for priorities that are decided by consensus.

4. Effective Collective Action - Community members next begin implementing their plan. Legado plays a key role by serving as a “backbone” to foster effective collective action. Work is monitored and evaluated regularly by the collaborative to ensure adaptive management along the way and, ultimately, that community priorities are met.

5. Accompaniment - Legado provides three years of intensive on-the-ground support to build effective collective action and connect communities with partners and funders. The end goal, however, is to ensure a sustainable, locally-led system for collaborative problem solving. We therefore emphasize use of current community assets as much as possible. Ultimately, Legado’s backbone role is then transitioned to the local organization and community, and Legado continues to support the collaborative through their network of partners.

-Staff expertise in biocultural approaches to conservation, implementing community-centered conservation programs, and participatory action research methodologies
-A decade of experience implementing legacy-based programs with communities in Mount Namuli, Mozambique
-A decade of experience implementing Quality of Life planning with communities in the Andes Amazon
-Legado Model - a set of training curricula and engagement and project management strategies based on research tested methodologies and tailor-made for indigenous and local communities
-Staff embedded with local partners to support programs and set them up for long-term success

-Legado Model being implemented on Mount Namuli, our Flagship site in Mozambique. Results from actions toward Thriving Futures goals include: (1) Mount Namuli is slated to be one of the country’s first Community Conservation Areas; (2) land rights are secured for 100% of communities; (3) community health care access has increased by 225%; (4) a new value chain with a private partnership exists for non-timber forest products, ensuring a reliable source of income for families in 5 villages; (5) sustainable farming practices have been adopted in 5 communities, resulting in increased yields, diversified production, and improved food security; (6) a conservation action plan is being implemented

-New site added in 2021 - Namunyak Conservancy in Northern Kenya. Legacy programming underway and a Community Legacy Plan will be completed in 2022 Q1 with action on priorities pursued thereafter.

-Vetting other sites and partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America