XPRIZEOne of 6 finalist teams in the $10M Rainforest XPRIZE · see the project
NATURAL STATEGlobal solutionsfrom Africa
About NATURAL STATE

Restoring the
natural world.

Small, focused and high impact: helping build the Nature Economy with the skills, technology and systems to attract major investment in nature and local communities.

About us
At the base of Mt KenyaThe NATURAL STATE Research Centre

The most advanced carbon lab in Northern Kenya.

Visit the centre
Home/About

A small, focused, high-impact organisation.

NATURAL STATE aims to remain small and focused, with clearly articulated and regularly monitored deliverables.

US 501(c)(3) & two Kenyan entities60 staffOverheads never above 15%
Our mission
Restore the
natural world.
There has never been a greater opportunity, or a more important time, to restore the natural world.

With our partners we are securing biodiversity, sequestering and storing carbon, and delivering on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, through three interconnected pillars: the Centre for the Nature Economy, Research & Monitoring, and Nature Finance.

Lean by design

Small enough to stay fast.

We aim to remain below about 80 core staff and outsource where possible, so money and time go to the land, not the overheads.

60 staffAn international team, below a ceiling of about 80 core staff
≤15%Overheads, never more
17 languagesSpoken across the team, from Swahili and Maasai to Arabic and Dutch
2 coursesCurriculum developed for the Centre for the Nature Economy
US 501(c)(3) and two Kenyan entitiesWith all policies and procedures in place
12
Our values

Commitments we hold ourselves to.

01

Social justice

Our mission is first and foremost environmental, and we are deeply committed to social justice.

People
02

Best-in-class experts

We collaborate with the best-in-class experts for every challenge.

Science
03

Overheads ≤15%

Transparent finances, with overheads never more than 15%.

Finance
04

Build local capacity

We always build capacity where we work, growing local NGOs and community organisations.

People
05

Stay small & agile

Remain below about 80 core staff and outsource where possible to stay efficient.

Team
06

Teams of collaborators

We excel at assembling teams of collaborators to solve specific challenges.

Team
07

Diverse, flat teams

A diverse, highly skilled team with a minimum of hierarchy.

Team
08

Fail fast, learn fast

A “lean impact” approach: test, learn and adapt quickly.

Science
09

Measure everything

We rigorously measure and report on the impact of all our activities.

Science
10

Systemic change

We focus where we can be transformative, aiming for truly systemic change.

Finance
11

Share our data

Our data, technology and findings are shared with local partners.

People
12

Respect for all

We value and respect all our staff and partners.

People
NATURAL STATE field team
A NATURAL STATE researcher flying a survey drone
Lean impactFail fast, learn fast, measure everything.
Our culture

Lifelong learners.

NATURAL STATE’s mission is brought to life every day by a team with diverse perspectives and a shared commitment to catalysing large-scale nature restoration.

We continually develop new approaches and skills through a lean impact mindset, and support skill development across career stages in an inclusive, respectful environment.

“

We are proud to have so many outstanding women in leadership positions at NATURAL STATE. At NATURAL STATE, I feel empowered.

Halima Hassan, Social Impact Lead
Commitment to empowering women & capacity building

Knowledge that stays local.

We build accessible learning pathways, embed gender equity in our curricula and support women to lead restoration projects. And we build and retain knowledge within NATURAL STATE and local partners.

International researcheror specialist
Kenyan counterpartknowledge that stays local

Pairing

International researchers and specialists are paired with a Kenyan counterpart.

Recognition

Local field researchers who contribute to partner publications are formally recognised.

Data

Data collected or analysed through partnerships is made available to NATURAL STATE and relevant government partners.

Mentors

Visitors with relevant technical skills contribute to capacity building, and some become long-term mentors.

Leadership

The people guiding us.

JB
Jonathan BailliePresident & Chair of the Board
AO
Arthur OgingaBoard of Directors
AM
Art MinBoard of Directors
BK
Beatrice KaranjaBoard of Directors
CH
Corey HajimBoard of Directors
DC
Dulma ClarkBoard of Directors
NK
Namrita KapurBoard of Directors
TL
Tom LalampaaBoard of Directors
BJ
Bogolo Joy KenewendoAdvisory Council
EL
Elizabeth LittlefieldAdvisory Council
FM
Faustina MwololoAdvisory Council
KK
Krithi KaranthAdvisory Council
LK
Lisa KaranjaAdvisory Council
WK
Winnie KiiruAdvisory Council
EL
Elizabeth LittlefieldNature Finance Advisory Board
KM
Kelvin MassinghamNature Finance Advisory Board
NR
Nicola RangerNature Finance Advisory Board
SA
Simone AwramenkoNature Finance Advisory Board

The challenges are immense. Success is possible together.

NATURAL STATE is highly collaborative and committed to working with individuals and organisations who aspire to restore the natural world.

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