Global Witness Trust

The Trust funds investigative research, public education, and advocacy on critical environmental themes. Priority areas include deforestation in the Amazon and Southeast Asia, illegal mining and land grabs in Africa, and the protection of environmental defenders worldwide. Its work supports precedent-setting, public-facing investigations that expose the corruption-climate nexus and challenge corporate or governmental misconduct. Geographically, activities span global hotspots across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, with a focus on regions where environmental degradation links to conflict and human rights abuses.

The Trust does not accept unsolicited applications or external proposals. Its funding is directed almost exclusively to Global Witness's own charitable activities and campaigns. Eligible entities are not broadly defined for outsiders, as grants are allocated internally. Beneficiaries include the general public and threatened communities across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, with an emphasis on those directly affected by environmental degradation, exploitation, and climate crises.

The Trust excludes capital works, unrestricted support, emergency relief, and generic capacity-building for third-party organisations. It does not provide grants for broad philanthropic purposes or to external entities outside its own mission-specific investigations and advocacy.

The Trust channels resources primarily into Global Witness's own high-impact campaigns and investigations. It does not accept unsolicited approaches; funding is directed internally by invitation. Support focuses on dedicated projects rather than open grant-making, prioritising precedent-setting, public-facing work that drives systemic change.