Oak’s revised programme strategies

In the last few years, we have taken some time to realign our grant-making to current realities. Our recent grantee perception survey also helped us understand areas of strength, as well as those needing improvement, prompting the idea to update our programme strategies. Our intention is to make sure that our strategies are clear, transparent, and easily understood by our grantee partners and those interested in Oak Foundation’s grant-making approaches.

The programmes that have updated their strategy content for clarity purposes include: the Environment Programme, International Human Rights Programme, the Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Programme, the Special Interest Programme, the Zimbabwe Programme, the Brazil Programme, the India Programme, and the Organisational strengthening and effectiveness team. If you want to know more about what the programmes are planning, check out the programme strategies on the various programme pages on the website for more information, and join us for our upcoming 40^th anniversary celebration to learn more – if you are an Oak partner, you will have received an invite already. You can also reach out to your programme officer for more information.

The Environment Programme’s strategy, launched in 2021, adopts an approach that aims to safeguard our future by restoring our connection to nature, and changing the ways we feed and fuel our world. Through the power of people and communities, our partners have the tools to drive broad scale systems change. The strategy focuses on three systems: energy, food, and nature.

The International Human Rights Programme focuses on five priority areas: justice for victims of international crimes, detention as a last resort and zero-tolerance for torture; full dignity for LGBTQI people; a healthy information sphere; and strong human rights movements.

The Learning Differences Programme promotes more equitable educational experiences and systems for students who are furthest from opportunity, particularly those who learn differently. We believe in unlocking the creativity and power of every young person. The strategy has not changed; however, the team has refined the language for clarity purposes. It will be posted soon.

The Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Programme refined the language of the strategy for clarity purposes. The programme works across these six areas of funding: investing in innovative research and supporting promising solutions; supporting research that positively engages men and boys and promotes gender equality; ensuring digital environments are safe for children; ensuring competitive sports are safe for children; bringing justice to survivors; and supporting survivor-led organisations.

The Special Interest Programme’s grantee partners are guided by the interests and passions of Oak’s Trustees. Special Interest grants are diverse and usually multi-year, supporting grantee partners in a wide range of fields, including medical research, education, environment, humanitarian relief, mental health, the arts, and much more.

The Zimbabwe Programme expanded grant-making in 2023. We support local organisations that: help communities and families thrive; implement school feeding programmes and support access to healthcare; support children and adults with special needs; and improve livelihoods. Read the programme page for more information.

The Brazil Programme focuses on contributing to a secure, inclusive, and equitable society. To advance these goals, our three priority areas are: socio-environmental rights and land justice, disinformation and polarisation, and drug policy. Read the programme page for more information.

The India Programme supports efforts to sustainably improve the lives of unorganised workers, Indigenous communities, and adult and child migrants in the West Bengal state of India. Read the programme page for more information.

The Organisational strengthening and effectiveness team embarked on a strategy refresh in 2023, setting a roadmap of how our activities and services will contribute to achieving our mission of supporting grantees. Our principles focus on trust, co-creation, ownership, and localised support. You can learn more about our strategy here.