Avalon is an international, non-profit foundation based in the Netherlands. Since its establishment in July 1991, Avalon has been committed to the support of sustainable rural development in the transitional economies of Central and Eastern Europe.

Avalon believes that economic, social and biological diversity jointly form the basis of sustainable rural development. The organisation also believes that organic agriculture can make a fundamental contribution towards the maintenance and development of this diversity, as well as improving the income levels of farmers, the quality of the environment and the health of the general public.

Avalon's work therefore focuses on harnessing the two instruments of market development and agro-environmental policy to create a favourable economic climate so that organic agriculture can become established and prosper to the benefit of local communities throughout central and eastern Europe.

Biotopic Foundation, established in 1996, is an NGO working in the field of international nature preservation. The staff is specialized in nature conservation, coastal management, ecology, genetics and education. The mission of Biotopic Foundation is to implement projects in cooperation with local organisations. These projects focus on the preservation of biodiversity and on the rehabilitation of flora and fauna in their natural surroundings. Biotopic proposes protective measures to preserve habitats, ecosystems and species and to stimulate actions for nature development.

Biotopic actively involves local populations in the whole process, from project proposal to the implementation of protection measures. Research and monitoring activities take place in the field and in a laboratory. Local groups, institutes, universities and students are all involved in these activities. Volunteers are also invited to participate, giving them an opportunity to gain international field experience. Another goal is to improve environmental awareness among target groups like the inhabitants of project areas, colleagues/students in nature conservation and policy makers on (inter-) national nature conservation issues.

Both ENDS supports the work of environmental organisations in the so-called South (developing countries) and in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. The main objective is to implement sustainable forms of natural resource management in the South. To achieve this objective, Both ENDS enhances the capacity of NGOs in the South by supporting them in fundraising, research, advocacy, campaigning and networking. For that purpose Both ENDS produces funding guides, research- and lobby guidelines and helps to build coalitions between NGOs. Both ENDS is not a funding agency, but mediates for funding.

The rationale of the organisation is to connect both ends of the world, the North and the South, by exchanging knowledge and experience in order to make decision-takers and development-donors in the North aware of the achievements and the needs of local development groups in the South. Sustainable ecological projects, rooted in local peoples' knowledge and managed bottom-up, are documented and made available for other NGOs and governmental organisations, both in the South as in the North. Viable local environmental initiatives can thus get a global impact.

An important initiative of Both ENDS to achieve this global impact is the Encyclopedia of Sustainability, which identifies and documents a collection of innovative, people-oriented environmental initiatives, worldwide. These initiatives highlight concrete alternatives in the field of ecological restoration, food sovereignty, integrated river basin management, land rights & natural resources management, non-timber forest products, and urban sustainability. The Encyclopedia project also donates small grants to NGOs in the South.

Except for providing service, Both ENDS also plays a role as a strategic partner, working as an equal and active member of specific networks of NGOs that share common objectives and approaches in promoting ecologically sustainable livelihoods.

To advance the cause of environment and social justice, Both ENDS also undertakes and supports activities that directly contribute to policy changes of governments, multilateral institutions and the private sector. Through policy dialogue, advocacy and lobby Both ENDS aims at facilitating and initiating policymaking in the Netherlands and worldwide on issues such as fair trade, climate change or genetic modification. Within the framework of the MFI Information Centre, international financial institutions are monitored, ultimately aiming for reform of, and improvements in the environmental performance, accountability and transparency of the World Bank, the IMF and the regional development banks.

FoEI was founded in 1971 and is at present one of the largest federations committed to the preservation, recovery and rational use of the natural environment. There are now 56 independent member groups all over the world who campaign internationally, nationally and locally on major environmental issues. Current priority campaigns focus on sustainable societies, multilateral development banks, trade/environment, tourism, ozone, women and resources, wetland, energy, marine issues, biotechnology, climate change, G7, forests and the Amazon. Member organisations work together through international campaigns, bilateral contacts and exchanges of information, and participation in the annual meeting. FoEI has just over 20 member groups in the South. Like-minded organisations are welcome to apply for membership if they meet the criteria. The Dutch member of FoEI is called Milieudefensie (see this Chapter: National Focus).

Greenpeace is a multinational environmental NGO with offices in 24 countries, including one in the Netherlands. The mission of Greenpeace is to expose environmental damage caused by industry and governments and proposes solutions in order to improve the state of the environment. Greenpeace campaigns to prevent the destruction of the world's climate, rainforests and oceans, by aiming to halt industrial, nuclear and toxic pollution as well as abuse of natural resources. Greenpeace draws attention to environmental problems and solutions via the media and direct lobbying of government and industry officials. The tools the organisation uses are reports, lobby documents, news releases, fact sheets and photographs and videos of non-violent direct actions.

ILEIA is an independent organisation with the mandate to contribute to poverty alleviation through the promotion of agro-ecological approaches. Documentation, analysis and publication of successful experiences in low external input and sustainable agriculture are the major activities. The target groups of ILEIA are: field-level development workers working directly with farmers, academics and researchers in universities, national, (sub-) regional and international research and information centres on rural and agricultural development, policy makers of national governmental organisations, of private, voluntary organisations and NGOs and of bilateral and multilateral donor organisations.

LEISA Magazine is the periodical on development of Low External Input and Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA), indigenous knowledge and participatory technology development for the South with a global outreach. From the very beginning its perspective was rooted in respect for small farmers and their knowledge and it is this point of departure that has consistently influenced the choice of articles and themes. By documenting the diverse experiences of small farmers, with special reference to those in marginal areas, ILEIA has highlighted their role in the creation of agricultural knowledge, and the importance of this knowledge for ecological sustainability and food security.

The aim of the ITF is the conservation, management and restoration of tropical rainforests in combination with the development of the people living in or around the forest, especially indigenous peoples. In order to reach this common goal, cooperation based on mutual respect is necessary. The International Tree Fund works with local communities in Costa Rica and Guatemala; it searches for funds for projects proposed by these local communities. If possible direct links are established between the groups that provide and those that receive funds.

The Foundation Joint Implementation Network was established in 1994 with the original aim to create an international network for research activities and information exchange about the topics related to the joint implementation concept. Since the third Conference of the Parties (COP-3) held in Kyoto in 1997, JIN extended its focus to include the three Kyoto Mechanisms: Joint Implementation (JI), the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and International Emissions Trading (IET). JIN is an officially accredited international NGO with the UN FCCC.

In 1995, JIN published the first issue of the Joint Implementation Quarterly (JIQ). JIQ is an independent magazine established to exchange the latest information on the Kyoto Mechanisms. JIQ is of special interest to policy makers, representatives from the private sector, science and NGOs, and staff of international organisations involved in the operationalisation of the Kyoto Mechanisms, including emissions trading. In 2001, the World Bank described JIQ as “the leading international paper on JI”.

Milieukontakt was founded in 1988 by Friends of the Earth International, FoE Netherlands (Milieudefensie) and the Dutch Foundation for Nature and Environment (Stichting Natuur en Milieu). MKOE cooperates with NGOs active on environmental topics in Central Eastern Europe (CEE countries) and in the Newly Independent States of the Caucasus and Central Asia (NIS countries). Currently Milieukontakt Oost-Europa is active in 18 countries and maintains a network of over a thousand NGOs that operate at local, national and international levels.

The mission of MKOE is to support ecological sustainability in CEE countries and NIS. To this end, it identifies and supports partners working towards a sustainable, democratic and environmentally benign society. MKOE's activities are based on a conviction of the importance of environmental protection within the overall context of social and economic development in Europe and Asia. In these efforts, organisations and funders in the Netherlands and Europe support Milieukontakt. NGOs are supported directly through trainings, workshops, advice and funding.

IUCN-NL’s members include nature conservation and environmental organisations as well as education and scientific organisations and institutions. IUCN-NL's working principles, laid down in the World Conservation Strategy (1980), are the conservation of ecosystems and biological diversity, and the sustainability of their use by man. The successor to this strategy is Caring for the Earth (1991), which identifies concrete targets and activities and is aimed mainly at governments and the private sector.

Activities by the Netherlands Committee of IUCN include: communicating with the IUCN in Switzerland; platform function for Dutch IUCN members and Dutch members of international IUCN commissions; acting as a critical sound-board with regard to international governmental conservation policies and international environmental attitudes held by both the private sector and individuals. Areas of specific interest to IUCN-NL are Antarctica, oceans, forests, South East Asia, tropical Africa, Amazon and Europe; themes include biological diversity, legislation, trade and development cooperation. The Committee has many international contacts, both within and outside the IUCN family, mostly based on shared interests and activities. IUCN-NL publishes a bimonthly magazine in Dutch on international environmental matters and nature protection.

KIT/NIPS coordinates the implementation of the Sustainable Development Agreements in the Netherlands (SDAs) and considers the treaty principles of reciprocity, equality and participation as an incentive to explore new frontiers. Between 1994 and 2002 the Ecooperation Foundation was responsible for coordinating the tasks derived from the Sustainable Development Agreements between Benin, Bhutan, Costa Rica and the Netherlands. As of 1 July 2002 the tasks and staff of Ecooperation have been transferred to KIT/NIPS (including the United Air Fund, a project in the field of energy and climate).

Together with government bodies, industry and social organisations, NIPS develops, implements and propagates policy options, products and methodologies that support sustainable development in the Netherlands, in the 3 partner countries, in other countries and in international affairs. The instruments NIPS uses to do this are policy dialogue and projects. The overall aim of the projects is to foster sustainable development in the Netherlands and in the partner countries. NIPS plays a key role as facilitator in the process from project idea to project monitoring and evaluation and is responsible for the passing on of lessons learned, identified opportunities and challenges to new participants.

The Union Tropical Forests was established in 1999 as a successor to BOS the Organisation for International Forestry Cooperation. VTB aims to promote and improve the quality of the work and cooperation of Dutch tropical foresters in developing countries, to exchange information between tropical foresters and Dutch institutes on forestry development in the tropics and to increase awareness on the importance of tropical forests and forestry to society in the tropics.

The activities of VTB are threefold: 1) to compile and publish a magazine in which all types of information on tropical forestry are incorporated; 2) to establish and maintain a register of tropical foresters who may be available to advise agencies or companies involved in forestry development cooperation; and 3) to establish contacts with all types of organisations, national and international, in order to avoid duplication and to carry out joint activities whenever possible.

Wetlands International is a leading global non-profit organisation dedicated solely to the crucial work of wetland conservation and sustainable management. Networks of experts and close partnerships with key organisations provide Wetlands International with the essential tools for catalysing conservation activities worldwide. WI's activities are based on sound science and have been carried out in over 120 countries. WI's mission is to sustain and restore wetlands, their resources and biodiversity for future generations through research, information exchange and conservation activities, worldwide.

Women in Europe for a Common Future is a network of organisations and individuals working for sustainable development, protection of human health and environment and poverty reduction. Its international network consists of members and partners in Western and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.

The organisation helps women to actively take part in making their communities healthier and more sustainable. WECF develops practical solutions to problems relating to health and the environment, with the help of trusted experts and scientists. It works to raise the awareness of root causes of environmental health effects and promotes preventative action to eliminate problems at the source. WECF strengthens the participation of women in decision making at local, national and international level. Last but not least WECF builds knowledge and capacity through skill shares, surveys and training programmes.

The organisation consists of five working groups: Health & the Environment; Water & Sanitation; Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development; Energy & Climate Change; and Gender & Sustainable Development.

WISE is a networking and service organisation originating from the anti-nuclear energy movement. It was set up by safe energy activists in 1978 to function as an international switchboard for local and national safe energy groups around the world who want to exchange information and support one another. The organisation is also involved in campaigning and (direct) action initiatives.

Its approach to information sharing amongst social movements is built on quality and content. Over the last 20 years of networking among grassroots organisations, WISE Amsterdam has built up its expertise in this respect. WISE also conducts research on request. Articles which appear in WISE publications are provided by the WISE relays in 10 countries and a global network of contacts. WISE publishes the WISE/NIRS Nuclear Monitor, which is the last regular internationally distributed magazine solely on nuclear issues.

WNF is the Dutch branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) that has its head-office in Switzerland. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:
(1) conserving the world's biological diversity; (2) ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable; and (3) promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

The WNF supports projects around the world that deal with nature conservation. For the protection and conservation of the biodiversity of the earth, the WNF aims at protection and ecological restoration of tropical forests, wetlands, and seas and oceans. The WNF tackles the most important threats: deforestation, desertification, overfishing, climate change, and exploitation of threatened animal and plant species. Local groups of volunteers organise meetings and fundraising activities for specific conservation projects.

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