How we work

Let change take root

Lasting change takes time and is rooted in local contexts. That is why Fondation Botnar makes long-term commitments in selected cities, working with locally rooted partners to strengthen local ecosystems around young people.

Many realities and interconnected factors shape young people’s lives. Therefore, we invest in our partners’ support, which strengthens capabilities, collaboration, and learning, allowing our work to adapt as contexts and opportunities evolve.

Countries

Where we work

We believe lasting change is rooted in local contexts and carried forward by the people and institutions working within them.

Where issues connect

Young people’s lives do not fit neatly into individual issues. Our work, starts with the cities and the ecosystems around young people, including public institutions, civil society, communities, academia, businesses, and young people themselves. We are increasingly concentrated in selected countries in Africa and Latin America, alongside our longstanding engagement in Romania.

Within these contexts, we draw on our experience in liveable and sustainable cities, human rights-based digital transformation, mental health, and public education. The priorities and connections will differ from city to city, shaped by local realities, partners and young people themselves.

Lasting change takes vision, collaboration, and the courage to listen—and act.

Programmes

In practice

Explore the work we support, the partners who lead it, and how it connects across themes and places. Our portfolio reflects the evolution of our approach: drawing on the learnings of our past programmes, we are developing longer-term, geographically anchored work shaped around local ecosystems.

InitiativeGlobal

RIGHTS Click ensures young people’s voices are heard by policymakers and big tech for a safer and fairer digital world.

InitiativeColombiaRomaniaGhana+2

OurCity supports cities where young people have a say in the decisions that shape their lives.

InitiativeTanzaniaRomaniaGhana+1

Being supports young people’s mental health by funding local, youth-led solutions focused on prevention, promotion, and addressing early drivers.