The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies

What The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies does

The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies is a non-profit environmental research and education organization founded in 1996 and headquartered at Kibbutz Ketura (קיבוץ קטורה) in Israel's Arava desert. It operates seven transboundary research centers covering renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, water resources, and arid-land ecology, and serves Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, and international students through semester academic programs, internships, and short-term experiential courses. Its core programmatic products are the academic semester (with North American tuition of approximately $10,000 per semester and intern tuition of $6,000 per semester), seven specialized research centers, the Furrows in the Desert field program now operating in Kenya, the Alumni Innovation Program, the SHINING solar training program for women, and the Beyond Borders Study Tour. Academic credits are issued through Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, which functions as the degree-granting accreditation partner.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid non-profit model combining participant tuition, philanthropic donations, and competitive research and program grants. Named institutional funders include the Azrieli Foundation, Jewish National Fund, European Union programs, and US government sources, with additional revenue channeled through a North American fundraising office in Newton Centre, Massachusetts, operating as Friends of Arava Institute. The organization maintains three operational sites: the main campus at Kibbutz Ketura, the Newton Centre fundraising office, and field operations in Kenya. Leadership as of mid-2024 places Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed (طارق أبو حامد) as Executive Director and Rachel Kalikow as CEO of the North American affiliate. Recent recognition includes the AAAS Science Diplomacy Hamburg Award in 2024 and the SID Distinguished Organization Award scheduled for 2026.

Distribution and partnership leverage is provided by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Masa Israel Journey, the Manege Center for Social Progress and Peace (MCSPA), and an alumni network spanning cohorts from 1997 through 2024. There is no evidence of proprietary technology platforms or digital product revenue; the Institute's competitive position rests on its in-person convening model, applied field research output, and donor network rather than on software or data products.

Name

The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies

Legal name

The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies R.A.

Website

https://arava.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies is a non-profit research and education organization based at Kibbutz Ketura, Israel, operating seven transboundary environmental research centers and serving Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, and international students through accredited academic and field programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Studies & Research Education

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Experiential & Field-Based Study Abroad (Research, Field Schools, Practicums) (EDAIAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAE), Conservation & Research Lodges (Citizen Science, Field Stations with Guests) (THAAAHAJ), Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD)

Keywords

• Environmental research education
• Transboundary water management
• Renewable energy research
• Sustainable arid agriculture
• Environmental leadership training

Headquarters

HQ city

Eilot

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Academic Program Tuition: Tuition fees charged to North American students ($10,000 per semester), Jewish Israeli students (8,600 NIS per semester), with full scholarships for Arab Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians. Includes tuition, room, board, health insurance, and field trips.
2. Internship Program Fees: Self-funded internships at $6,000 per semester covering room, board, office space, supervisory and administrative expenses, health insurance, and participation in academic activities.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Funding from individual donors, family trusts, alumni, private foundations, and the annual Israel Ride charity cycling event. Friends of the Arava Institute is a US registered 501c3 charity.
4. Government and Foundation Grants: US and European government grants, Israeli Ministry grants (Foreign Affairs, Environment, Science, Justice, Regional Cooperation, Negev and Galil Development), and Jewish National Fund support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies is a non-profit academic and research institution offering semester-long environmental studies programs, research internships, short-term group programs, and seven transboundary research centers. Programs are accredited through Ben Gurion University and bring together students from Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and around the world for hands-on fieldwork in desert sustainability, renewable energy, water management, and sustainable agriculture at its Kibbutz Ketura campus in the Arava desert.

Product overview

The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies is an educational institution offering a platform of environmental academic programs and research centers focused on preparing future leaders from Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and around the world to cooperatively solve regional and global environmental challenges. The core offerings include semester-long academic programs, internship opportunities, and short-term programs, all underpinned by seven transboundary research centers covering climate change, water management, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and arid ecology. The institute also runs peace-building leadership seminars and international development projects like Furrows in the Desert in Kenya.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academic Program (Semester Programs) Full-semester environmental studies programs for students from Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and around the world, offering cross-cultural education and environmental leadership training with academic credit through Ben Gurion University. Includes tuition, room, board, health insurance, and field trips.
• Internship Program Self-funded research internships at the Arava Institute's seven transboundary research centers, providing hands-on experience in environmental research at $6,000 per semester including room, board, office space, supervisory expenses, and health insurance.
• Short-Term Programs Customized educational tours and programs for groups including university students, professional delegations, and policymakers, ranging from days to several weeks. Examples include SHINING: Solar Program for Women (5-day solar energy program) and Beyond Borders Study Tour (10-day curated journey through Israel, Jordan, and West Bank).
• The Albert B. Glickman Peace-building Leadership Seminar

Quantifiable outcome

• 79 farmers graduated and established farms in North Turkana, Kenya
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Masa Israel JourneycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal leader in immersive international career development experiences in Israel for young Jewish adults. Since 2004, Masa has helped over 150,000 young adults from 60+ countries.
• MCSPA (Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint program partner for Furrows in the Desert agricultural development project in North Turkana, Kenya. MCSPA provides local presence and community connections.
• Brit OlamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntroduced the Furrows in the Desert project concept to the Arava Institute in 2010.
• Ecopeace Middle EastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional environmental organization. Alumni internship host for environmental work.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Global authority on biodiversity, conservation, and sustainable development with regional programs and convening power in the Middle East. Broad incumbent operating in the same conservation and ecosystem services space where Arava's arid socio-ecology center plays.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is one of the largest study abroad providers globally, with sustainability and environmental programs across many countries. It is a broader incumbent operating at scale across multiple disciplines, while Arava is a niche environmental specialist.

Direct peers

• School for International Training (SIT): SIT runs immersive, field-based study abroad programs worldwide including environmental and sustainability tracks in conflict-affected regions. Comparable model of multi-country experiential learning with research and cross-cultural components.
• Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research (BIDR): Part of Ben Gurion University (Arava's academic partner), BIDR is one of the largest desert research institutes globally. Strong peer in arid-environment research, with formal academic linkage through Arava's credit-awarding partnership.
• School for Field Studies (SFS): SFS offers field-based environmental study abroad programs for undergraduates globally, with a strong focus on sustainability, ecology, and natural resource management. Directly comparable to Arava's experiential field-based environmental education model.
• DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia: DIS offers semester and short-term study abroad programs in Scandinavia including sustainability tracks. Comparable in semester-format, accredited, cohort-based environmental education delivered to international undergraduate students.
• Dead Sea and Arava Science Center: Israel-based research organization operating in the same Arava region, focused on desert ecology, climate, and environmental challenges. Closest regional peer conducting applied environmental research with public outreach and educational activities.
• EcoPeace Middle East (formerly Friends of the Earth Middle East): Regional environmental organization addressing Israeli-Palestinian-Jordanian transboundary environmental challenges. Already a documented Arava internship host; closely aligned mission on cross-border cooperation around water and environment.
• Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN): Jordanian environmental NGO operating protected areas and conservation programs, deeply involved in regional cross-border environmental cooperation. Comparable cross-border environmental mission and Arabic-language regional operating context.
• Arava International Center for Agricultural Training (AICAT): Based in the same Arava region, AICAT trains international students in desert agriculture and sustainable farming. Directly comparable geographic and agricultural training mission with overlapping student demographics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheAravaInstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/aravainstitute/?ref=page_internal
• Instagraminstagram.com/aravainstitute
• Xx.com/aravainstitute

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies