TDF is a nonprofit institution/social enterprise with a mission of evidence-based innovations for bolstering communities to thrive amidst societal and biophysical challenges/hazards that confront society: We conduct research (including collaborating with research institutions) as well as use available knowledge to design, demonstrate and monitor innovations toward securing livelihoods for a resilient human society. So, we are guided by both an epistemic and methodological ambition of the best ways possible to co-create knowledge and action for tackling issues that confront human societies - this prompts us to operate at the interface between academia and the local community. In other words, we strive to bolster and sustain livelihoods as well as foster resilience by providing lasting strategies that counteract vulnerabilities. We approach this from an endogenous (development) approach and so we are intrigued by and thus contribute to the sustainable development agenda. Our vision is to contribute to a well self-sustainable sovereign (i.e., thriving) human society.

We use three key guiding approaches/methods toward achieving our mission (and ultimately our vision):

1. Acting as brokers between science, technology, and innovation in reducing vulnerabilities and building resilience to societal and biophysical hazards. Here, we synthesize scientific evidence on livelihood improvement vulnerability reduction, and resilience building from scientists to provide policy briefs/manuals for innovative actions.
2. Demo evidence-based enterprises or programs towards bolstering endogenous innovative actions among communities at risk of societal and/or biophysical risks. Here, we aim to demonstrate how the four capitals of sustainable development (Human, Social, Physical, and Natural) can be mobilized to foster resilient communities. We consider the four capitals as prerequisites for economic sovereignty to build resilience and reduce vulnerability to the various forms of hazards that breed disasters as well as their inherent risks.
3. Advocacy, partnerships, and networks for sharing as well as the transfer of knowledge and innovations towards building resilient human societies. We believe that a single individual or community might not be self-sufficient to tackle the societal and biophysical issues that confront humanity. We thus aim to foster health networks among groups of people and communities, starting with our members, towards all the areas of sustainability: economy, society (including health, education), and environment. In that regard, TDF also makes partnerships and networks (including with community-based associations as well as other institutions) to better operate and achieve her mission.

Our philosophy: TDF activities are based on the understanding that the foundation of sustainable development is right-reasoned endogenous-based strategies. Thus, minds must be engaged to embrace the right reasoned ways of life, including preserving the right reasoned local as well as indigenous values and practices. That explains why we follow an endogenous development approach in our programs and activities.

In line with these guiding approaches and our philosophy, we have various programs: 1) Educare Program 2) Community Livelihood Improvement Schemes 3) Agritourism. Other programs are in the pipeline, including Care WorK, Talent Development, and Community-based Insurance against societal and natural risks. Details of each of these programs can be found on our program’s pages.

All our programs are informed by knowledge from various research-based platforms and more particularly from our research programs operated - w.f.e. 2024 - under the auspices of THRIVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH UNIVERSITY (TRISU).

Are you passionate about what we do and would like to get involved? Would you like to provide your kind support for our activities or work on an enterprising project within our programs? Please reach out to us through the Contact Us page or thru this email info@thrive-tdf.org. You can also reach us through any of our office lines: +256393252595 or +256200905273