Mary Robinson Foundation

What Mary Robinson Foundation does

The Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice (MRFCJ) was an independent Irish non-profit foundation founded in 2010 and headquartered in Dublin, operating through April 2019 when it executed a planned wind-down. It functioned as a centre for thought leadership, education and advocacy on climate justice, with a stated mission to secure global justice for people vulnerable to climate change impacts who are typically excluded from policy discussions — the poor, the disempowered and the marginalised. Its work centred on three operational modes: thought leadership (publishing an eight-principle Principles of Climate Justice framework and a resource database of briefings, policy papers, statements and speeches), bridging (linking grassroots communities, particularly women, with policymakers and world leaders), and convening (hosting high-level events at COP summits COP16 through COP24, the Hunger–Nutrition–Climate Justice Conference in Dublin in 2013, the One Young World Summit 2015, and the Women Leaders Group on Climate Justice network of approximately 65 women).

The Foundation held official UNFCCC observer status and partnered with UN Women, UNDP, UNEP, OHCHR, The Elders (chaired by Mary Robinson), Concern Worldwide, Green Belt Movement, Nobel Women's Initiative, Climate Wise Women, BRAC, and government stakeholders including the Government of Ireland and the Government of Mexico. Products and outputs were non-commercial: advocacy platforms, the Principles of Climate Justice framework, the Resource Database, UNFCCC process education, the Troika+ of Women Leaders coalition, the "Many Faces of Climate Justice" initiative, and the Climate Justice Dialogue series. Underlying "technology" was content- and convening-based rather than software-based; there is no evidence of proprietary technology, AI/ML systems, APIs, or digital products beyond a static resource database and a YouTube channel (mrfcjTV).

The Foundation was funded entirely through donations, grants and partnerships with international organisations and civil society bodies — there are no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, no investors, and no revenue figures in the source material. It operated with a small staff of 1–10 and was led by Mary Robinson as President, with Tara Shine as Head of Research and Development. As of the source data, the entity is closed and the website is preserved as a legacy archive.

Name

Mary Robinson Foundation

Legal name

Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice

Website

https://mrfcj.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice was an Irish non-profit (2010–2019) that operated as a centre for thought leadership, education and advocacy on climate justice, serving vulnerable communities, women leaders, UN bodies, and policymakers through convenings, COP participation and a published principles framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Justice Advocacy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA), Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO)

Keywords

• Climate justice advocacy
• Thought leadership
• Human rights education
• Policy convening
• Sustainable development

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Foundation Operations (Donations and Grants): As a charitable foundation, the organization operated primarily through donations, grants, and partnerships with international organizations, UN bodies, and civil society organizations. The Foundation closed in April 2019 after a legacy period from 2010-2019.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice operated as a centre for thought leadership, education and advocacy on climate justice, providing platforms for solidarity, partnership and shared engagement around global justice for people vulnerable to climate change. Its work centred on generating ideas, linking grassroots voices with policy makers, and convening high-level stakeholders through major climate events and dedicated special projects such as the Hunger-Nutrition-Climate Justice Conference and the Women Leading the Way Leaders' Forum.

Product overview

The Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice is a non-profit centre for thought leadership, education and advocacy on climate justice. It operates as a platform for solidarity, partnership and shared engagement rather than a commercial product company. The organization provides climate justice education and awareness, advocacy services, stakeholder convening, and maintains a resource database of climate justice publications. Special projects include the Hunger Nutrition Climate Justice Conference, the Women Leading the Way forum, the Troika+ of Women Leaders, and the Many Faces of Climate Justice initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hunger-Nutrition-Climate Justice Conference A major international conference focused on the intersection of hunger, nutrition and climate justice, putting people at the heart of global development. Co-hosted with the Irish Government in Dublin in 2013.
• Women Leading the Way: Raising Ambition for Climate Action Leaders' Forum focused on women's leadership and raising ambition for climate action.
• Troika+ of Women Leaders on Gender and Climate Change A coalition of women leaders from Denmark, Mexico and South Africa working to advance gender perspectives in climate change negotiations.
• The Many Faces of Climate Justice Initiative exploring the Principles of Climate Justice through education and awareness activities.
• Climate Justice Dialogue Facilitating dialogue on climate justice issues across stakeholders.
• Resource Database A free online database of research publications, briefings, policy papers, statements and speeches related to climate justice, produced since 2010 and organised by year, publication type and topic.
• UNFCCC Process Education Information resource explaining the United Nations climate change negotiations process, including background documents and COP timeline summaries.
• Principles of Climate Justice A framework of eight principles for climate justice covering human rights, the right to development, equitable sharing of benefits and burdens, participatory and accountable decisions, gender equality, education, and effective partnerships.

Quantifiable outcome

• Established the Women Leaders Group on Climate Justice network with approximately 65 women participants from diverse backgrounds
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Hunger – Nutrition – Climate Justice Conference PartnersflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013The Foundation co-hosted a major international conference in Dublin in 2013 with the Irish Government. The conference brought together key policymakers in global development with people living on the frontlines of climate change and food insecurity, with one third grassroots delegates and one third women participants.
• Femmes Africa SolidaritécoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2011Mary Robinson participated in the GIMAC Pre-African Union Summit meeting organized by Femmes Africa Solidarité, focusing on gender and climate justice in Africa.
• Concern WorldwideflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Mary Robinson and Concern CEO Tom Arnold co-authored articles on food security and climate justice, visited Somalia together, and collaborated on linking climate change to hunger and food security issues.
• Government of MexicoflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 December 2010Co-hosted the Women Leaders on Climate Change high-level event at COP16 with the Mexican Government's Special Envoy on Climate Change, convening women ministers and leaders.
• Green Belt MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2010Co-organized the official COP16 side event on Women's Leadership on Climate Change Justice and the Grassroots Perspective, joining Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai's organization founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner.
• Nobel Women's InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2010Co-organized COP16 side event on Women's Leadership on Climate Change with the Nobel Women's Initiative, bringing together women leaders to discuss strategies for women's participation in climate decision-making.
• Climate Wise WomencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2010Co-organized COP16 side event on Women's Leadership on Climate Change with Climate Wise Women network, amplifying grassroots women's voices in climate discussions.
• Irish African PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2010Mary Robinson delivered a major speech at Queen's University Belfast for the Irish African Partnership for Research Capacity Building workshop, which brought together over 100 senior academics from Ireland and Africa to discuss poverty, including gender and environment topics.
• Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2010Co-convened the initial Women's Leadership on Climate Justice meeting in New York with Realizing Rights, bringing together UN organizations, civil society, funders, and special interest groups to establish an informal network on women's leadership in climate justice.
• UN WomencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2010Represented at the Women's Leadership on Climate Justice meeting with UN-INSTRAW and UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) participants; collaborated on gender dimension integration in climate negotiations.
• The ElderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Elders is a group of independent global leaders chaired by Mary Robinson. The Foundation worked closely with The Elders, co-participating in events like the One Young World Summit 2015 and leveraging the network's convening power for climate justice advocacy.
• UNFCCCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation held official observer status at UN Climate Change Conferences and hosted official side events, contributing to the UNFCCC process education and awareness through resources explaining the UNFCCC process and COP timeline.
• International Indigenous Women's Forum (IIWF/FIMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the women's leadership network on climate justice, bringing indigenous women's perspectives to climate policy discussions.
• Global Campaign for Climate Action (GCCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the women's leadership network on climate justice, collaborating on civil society advocacy for climate action.
• Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the women's leadership network on climate justice, working on gender and climate policy integration.
• BRACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted Mary Robinson's visit to Bangladesh, coordinating meetings with local farmers, fishermen, and community members in coastal areas affected by climate change, providing insights on grassroots climate adaptation.
• African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented at GIMAC meeting, representing African youth perspectives on climate justice at the pre-AU summit consultations.
• UN Environment Programme (UNEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in the Women's Leadership on Climate Justice network, bringing environmental expertise to gender and climate discussions.
• UN Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in the Women's Leadership on Climate Justice network, contributing to development and climate policy integration.
• Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation contributed to the 2010 Social Forum on Climate Change and Human Rights hosted by OHCHR in Geneva, addressing human rights implications of climate change.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• 350.org: 350.org is a global climate-justice movement organization mobilizing grassroots action and influencing policy at UNFCCC COPs, with similar focus on people-centered, equity-driven climate advocacy. Both organizations push fossil-fuel accountability and climate-justice framing in international negotiations.
• Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO): WEDO is a global advocacy organization advancing gender justice in environmental and climate policy, and was an active partner of MRFCJ's Women Leaders Group on Climate Justice. The two share nearly identical thematic focus on gender, climate, and participation in climate negotiations.
• Friends of the Earth International: Friends of the Earth International is a federated grassroots environmental-justice network active at COPs and in policy advocacy, with overlapping climate-justice, human-rights, and gender-equality framing. MRFCJ's emphasis on amplifying marginalized voices mirrors FOEI's grassroots justice work.
• Climate Action Network (CAN): CAN is the largest global network of civil society organizations working on climate change, with similar advocacy, observer status at UNFCCC, and focus on a rights-based and justice-oriented approach to climate negotiations. Both MRFCJ and CAN convene civil-society voices at COPs and push for equity-centered climate outcomes.
• ClimateWorks Foundation: ClimateWorks Foundation is a climate-focused philanthropic foundation funding and convening strategy efforts across mitigation, adaptation, and climate justice, with similar thought-leadership and grantmaking-adjacent advocacy model. Both organizations act as intermediaries between funders and the climate-justice policy community.
• The Elders: The Elders is a group of independent global leaders chaired by Mary Robinson during MRFCJ's active years; MRFCJ explicitly partnered with The Elders on the One Young World Summit and other convenings. The two organizations share brand, leadership, and convening model, making The Elders the closest institutional peer in terms of mission and operating style.

Broad incumbents

• Greenpeace International: Greenpeace International is a much larger global environmental-advocacy organization with broad climate, biodiversity, and justice campaigns. While it operates at far greater scale than MRFCJ, both organizations share UNFCCC observer status, media-led advocacy, and rights-based climate narratives.
• Open Society Foundations - Climate Program: Open Society Foundations is a major international grantmaker with active funding of climate-justice, just-transition, and human-rights work aligned with MRFCJ's mission. While far larger and broader, it is comparable as a funder and convener shaping the climate-justice grantmaking landscape that MRFCJ operated within.

Emerging players

• Concern Worldwide: Concern Worldwide is a humanitarian NGO where Mary Robinson served as a board member and co-authored articles on food security and climate justice with Concern's CEO. Both organizations operated at the climate–hunger–poverty intersection with grassroots-level engagement in climate-vulnerable regions.

Regional players

• CAN International (Climate Action Network) - Europe Equity Watch: CAN Europe is a regional office of Climate Action Network focused on EU climate policy and engagement with EU delegations at COPs. While MRFCJ operated globally with a Dublin base, CAN Europe provides a directly comparable European policy-advocacy counterpart with overlapping civil-society convening functions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/mrfcjTV
• Xx.com/mrfcj
• Facebookfacebook.com/mrfcj
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mary-robinson-foundation---climate-justice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mary Robinson Foundation