Health in Harmony

Grantee Story: Health in Harmony

Seizing opportunity and pivoting for maximum effectiveness with unrestricted funding

Health In Harmony (HIH) has been successfully reversing rainforest destruction for almost twenty years, by listening to rainforest communities in order to deeply understand the causal human conditions at the root of deforestation. Through this approach, HIH has evolved over time to deliver programs addressing what those closest to it describe as the heart of the matter: the interconnected issues of access to health and education, and their livelihoods. Healthy people and a healthy planet are inextricably linked goals.

HIH started their operations in Borneo, adding Madagascar and Brazil as they were able to expand their innovative programs. Their commitment to significantly drawing down atmospheric carbon is rooted not only in collaborating with each rainforest community but also in scaling with the latest monitoring and measuring technology.  Programs are designed by the communities to deliver against their particular needs, allowing them to establish a sustainable, beneficial balance with their local environment.

As an example, because paying for healthcare was shown to be a major driver of forest destruction in Indonesian Borneo (one survey showed 84% of households admitted to logging to pay for it), in 2007 HIH partnered with local organization Alam Sehat Lestari (ASRI). Together, they created a medical center providing affordable healthcare that can be paid for with cash, seedling, handicrafts, manure and more. A 70% discount is extended to communities committed to stopping logging in the National Park. In addition, economic development such as organic farming, Goats for Widows, and a Chainsaw Buyback program, complete with capital and training, create alternative livings for these communities.

This single example, one of many, illustrates the necessity of understanding all the influences and interconnections between people and the ecosystems in which they live. Only by addressing the full spectrum of connected issues can real change be accomplished. A study by Stanford University found that Health In Harmony’s approach has led to a 70% reduction in deforestation.

In addition, HIH has recently partnered with Woodwell Climate Research Center and Pawanka Fund to scale up innovative, machine learning measurement tools to monitor carbon sequestering and biodiversity in key areas. Automation lowers the reporting burden of communities and presents tangible proof of success.

This kind of rapid innovation, and the ability to act on knowledge that’s constantly being expanded within these complex problems, requires adaptable funding. HIH Founder Kinari Webb, MD, describes the essential downfall of restricted, allocated funding. “Restricted funding encourages wasting money. The grantee creates a budget against a specific plan, based on what the funder wants to fund. The budget includes all kinds of variable costs at the highest possible price, to be safe. But if, for instance, the organization gets an opportunity to buy what they need - from goats to computers - at a greatly reduced cost, they can’t then use those savings somewhere else without asking time-consuming permission to reallocate. So instead of doing things more economically, sometimes it’s easier to spend in accordance with the grant and forgo the potential savings and ability to create more impact.  

With unrestricted funding they can be creative and cost-effective about how they use the money, reallocating savings into other areas as possibilities arise. Because the work they do is never static, funding can’t be either if the goal is to maximize results. Trusting the NGO to use the funding wisely is also critical for being able to seize new or unforeseen opportunities, just as in any business.

When HIH had an unexpected new opportunity to expand into Papua in partnership with the Indonesian Ministry of Health, The Patchwork Collective offered a 2-year unrestricted grant to get this project off the ground. To take advantage of the opportunity, HIH needed to hire Indonesian staff who would be able to work across the archipelago– a National Director, Finance Director, Fundraising Director, and a Human Resources Director. The first half of the Patchwork Collective unrestricted grant made it possible to do this and start working with the National and Papuan government quickly. Being able to make that start in a new geography also unlocked additional grants from other funders, which meant HIH could then pivot and deploy the second half of the Patchwork Collective funds in programs.

Having the freedom to use funds as they’re needed is critical to being efficient and to scaling when opportunity presents itself. It allows organizations to be as nimble and innovative as required in solving complex, evolving problems. The Patchwork Collective is proud to be contributing to the success of Health In Harmony’s pioneering approach.