Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme

What Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme does

NTFP-EP (Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme) is a non-profit association registered in Manila, Philippines in September 2003, evolved from an informal practitioner network formed in 1998. It operates as a regional association of 31 member organizations and 125+ partner NGOs and community-based organizations across seven countries in South and Southeast Asia (Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Lao PDR), serving approximately 100 million forest-dependent people — particularly indigenous peoples — through capacity building in sustainable natural resource management, land rights recognition, and community-based NTFP enterprise development.

The organization's core deliverables are the HIVE e-learning platform (launched 2018, providing webinars, podcasts, and discussion forums), the NTFP Database (cataloguing species, management practices, and socio-cultural roles across six countries), and the PGS ROLES (Participatory Guarantee System for Sustainable Rattan) certification system operating in Indonesia with traceability, fair trade verification, and government engagement. Supporting programs include the Pastor Rice Small Grants Fund (PRSGF) issuing grants of €100 to €10,000 to grassroots organizations — notably ~170 grants to women-led groups under GAGGA (2016–2020) — and Green Intermediaries (CustomMade Crafts Center, Borneo Chic, NatureWild) that connect community-based NTFP enterprises to buyers, including certified rattan sales at 40% premiums. The organization publishes reports, the "Voices from the Forest" magazine, and educational videos on customary forest tenure and FPIC.

NTFP-EP operates a grant-funded non-profit revenue model with no commercial pricing structure. Funding derives from a diversified base of institutional donors including government agencies (EU, Swiss Development Cooperation), private foundations (MacArthur, Hivos, Stichting Doen), development NGOs (Misereor, Cordaid, Both ENDS), multilaterals (UNDP, UNEP), and conservation organizations (IUCN NL, WWF, ICCA Consortium, AFoCO). The organization earns no revenue from sales; instead it channels donor funds through capacity-building services, small grants to community partners, and technical support. Its go-to-market is community-led — using participatory approaches, traditional ecological knowledge, and a distributed network of six country offices (Philippines regional HQ, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam) rather than direct commercial sales.

Name

Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme

Legal name

Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme

Website

https://ntfp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NTFP-EP is a regional non-profit network spanning seven Asian countries that supports forest-dependent and indigenous communities through the HIVE e-learning platform, NTFP Database, PGS ROLES rattan certification, and the PRSGF small grants fund, funded entirely by institutional donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Forest Conservation Services

NAICS

Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (11321), Support Activities for Forestry (115310)

SIC

Forestry (800), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Non-Timber Forest Products Management (Resins, Gums, Mushrooms, Berries) (AFAMAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) Harvesting (Resins, Mushrooms, Botanicals) (IMAMAAAK), Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (Herbs, Botanicals) Wildcrafting/Cultivation (AFAMAFAF)

Keywords

• Sustainable forest management
• Non-timber forest products
• Community-based conservation
• Indigenous livelihood support
• Participatory certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Quezon

HQ country

Philippines

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Institutional Grants and Donor Funding: NTFP-EP operates as a non-profit association funded primarily through institutional grants and donor support. Strategic supporters include governments (EU, SDC), foundations (MacArthur, Misereor, Hivos), NGOs (Both ENDS, Cordaid, WWF, UNDP, UNEP), and membership contributions from 31 member organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NTFP-EP is a regional non-profit network that supports sustainable non-timber forest product (NTFP) management and empowers forest-dependent communities — especially indigenous peoples — across seven South and Southeast Asian countries. Its core offerings are capacity building, knowledge exchange, technical support, grant-making (Pastor Rice Small Grants Fund), and market access facilitation, delivered through interconnected programs including the HIVE e-learning platform, NTFP Database, PGS ROLES rattan certification, green intermediary marketing, and policy advocacy on tenure rights and indigenous food systems.

Product overview

NTFP-EP is a regional non-profit network that offers a suite of interconnected programs and platforms focused on sustainable forest management and community empowerment. The core offerings include HIVE (e-learning platform), the NTFP Database, and PGS Rattan certification system. These are supported by publications, grant programs (PRSGF), and green intermediary marketing networks. The network operates across Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Lao PDR, working with forest-based communities to strengthen their capacity in sustainable natural resource management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HIVE - NTFP E-learning Platform An integrated online platform for knowledge exchange and capacity building among the NTFP-EP network. HIVE provides webinars, podcasts, and discussion forums for community-based organizations, academics, and governments to share information and resources on conservation, sustainable livelihoods, indigenous food and health, tenure rights, gender, and culture.
• NTFP Database A comprehensive database of non-timber forest products in South and Southeast Asia covering India, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Includes species information, management practices, and socio-cultural roles, classified by source categories such as fibre, medicinal plants, essential oils, edible fruits and nuts, and animal-derived products.
• PGS Rattan Certification (PGS ROLES) A Participatory Guarantee System for sustainable rattan products in Indonesia (PGS ROLES / Rotan Lestari). Provides traceability, ensures sustainable harvesting practices, fair trade principles, and socio-cultural considerations, connecting rattan farmer groups and processors with markets through green intermediaries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 170+ grants awarded to women-led initiatives under GAGGA portfolio (2016-2020)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• AFoCO (Asian Forest Cooperation Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for the AFoCO-CLMV project (AFoCO/032/2022) implementing capacity building on enhancing resilience to forest fire and strengthening local livelihood and market linkages in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
• Both ENDSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental NGO network supporting sustainable development. Co-supporter of PRSGF and partner in various initiatives including Vietnam eco-cultural museum collaboration.
• UNDPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on ASEAN blueprint development for social forestry enterprises with technical support from UNEP.
• UNEPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical support partner for ASEAN blueprint development for social forestry enterprises and UN-REDD Programme.
• Mekong Region Land Governance (MRLG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for land governance initiatives in the Mekong region, supporting the Land, Rights, and Voices course development with Habi Education Lab.
• SIANI (Swedish International Agriculture Network Initiative)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert Group on Wild Foods in Asia collaboration, supporting documentation and research on traditional crops and wild foods across the region.
• WWFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization listed as strategic supporter for network activities.
• ICCA ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs) mapping, documentation, and registration across Southeast Asia.
• CustomMade Crafts Center (CMCC)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStarted as NTFP-EP Philippines project (formerly NTFP-Task Force). Promotes fair trade of NTFPs in the Philippines and beyond, providing market access for artisan communities.
• Borneo ChicmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrand elevating Dayak traditional crafts (anjat, korit, tenun ikat, bemban) from Kalimantan. Markets certified PGS ROLES rattan products internationally, including fair trade shows in the US.
• NatureWildmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnterprise and marketing support service initiated by NTFP-EP Cambodia in late 2008. Assists community-based NTFP enterprises and NGO/social enterprise initiatives in South and Southeast Asia.
• Aliansi Organis Indonesia (AOI)/Indonesian Organic AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndonesian Organic Alliance collaborating on PGS ROLES certification system for sustainable rattan. Assisted in standards development.
• Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Indonesia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner involved in design and implementation of PGS ROLES initiative. Eager to endorse PGS for rattan at national level.
• SETARA (Sejahtera Semesta Rakyat)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of Traditional Knowledge in Indonesia (Jaringan Kearifan Tradisional Indonesia - JKTI) partner in PGS ROLES certification system.
• PT Van Der Sar (VDS) ImportmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetherlands-based company that signed agreement with PGS ROLES to certify rattan in Katingan villages. Purchased certified rattan at increased prices (40% premium).
• Kalahan Educational Foundation (KEF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Nature Nurture Project implementing community-led conservation and Indigenous knowledge documentation in the Philippines.
• International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Nature Nurture Project supporting resilient agrobiodiversity systems and Indigenous knowledge through research and cross-country collaboration.
• Riak BumimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndonesian partner in Nature Nurture Project implementing community-led conservation.
• MVIWAARUSHAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Nature Nurture Project for community-based conservation.
• Habi Education LabmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped 'Land, Rights, and Voices' course on ASEAN CT Guidelines in Forested Landscapes, hosted on Habi Plus platform.
• Greenhouse Boutique Hotel (Indonesia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner supporting sustainable rattan products in Indonesia through market access.
• Fairmont Hotel (Bali)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner supporting sustainable rattan products in Indonesia through market access.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ntfp_ep
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/NTFPEPAsia
• Facebookfacebook.com/NTFPEP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ntfp
• Instagraminstagram.com/ntfp_ep

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme