Aroha

What Aroha does

Aroha is an independent NGO headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, founded in October 2017 and operating as a non-profit association under Swiss law. The organization has 51-100 employees and is funded primarily through tax-deductible philanthropic foundation donations. Its mission is to avert climate chaos by mobilizing action to limit warming to 1.5°C, protecting vulnerable communities and ecosystems, and supporting the transition to a climate-resilient future. There are no commercial technology products; Aroha's core outputs are policy research, advocacy campaigns, and advisory services delivered across four operational domains: Policy Shift, Financing & Implementation, Communications & Partnerships, and Administration & Operations.

The organization's products and services include national climate strategy development (Climate Prosperity Plans, Paris Agreement long-term strategies), research publications (Climate Vulnerability Monitor, Traffic Light Assessment Reports), and advocacy campaigns such as Fair Share Now, Payment Overdue, and Midnight Survival Deadline. Between 2017 and 2023, Aroha operated the Climate Vulnerable Forum Secretariat, coordinating 58 climate-vulnerable member states, and supported governments including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ghana, Benin, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Senegal, Tanzania, and the Marshall Islands. Notable outcomes include contributing to the historic Loss and Damage fund established at COP27 and Sri Lanka becoming the first nation to commit to 100%+ renewable power by 2040. Aroha co-funded a Nature journal study on fair-share emissions allocations published in September 2025.

Aroha's business model is donation-based with no commercial pricing or fee-for-service structure. Its go-to-market is community-led and partnership-driven, engaging climate-vulnerable nations and governments through direct advisory relationships, intergovernmental forums, and strategic alliances with organizations including the Global Center on Adaptation, MSC Foundation, Arctic Basecamp, and Climate Action Network International. Recent expansion includes incubating the Financial Futures Center for climate financial risk advisory, a polar health initiative with Arctic Basecamp in 2024, and ocean health work via a coral workshop with MSC Foundation. The organization describes itself as 'fearlessly independent' under governance of a Governing Board led by Chair Tregar Albons Ishoda, with Executive Director Matthew McKinnon overseeing daily operations.

Name

Aroha

Legal name

Aroha

Website

https://aroha.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Aroha is an independent Geneva-based NGO founded in 2017 that mobilizes climate action through policy advocacy, research, and partnerships with climate-vulnerable governments across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Caribbean. It is funded by philanthropic foundation donations and produces national climate strategies, research reports, and advocacy campaigns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD), Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA)

Keywords

• Climate policy advocacy
• Climate strategy development
• Nonprofit climate organization
• Climate vulnerability research
• Loss and damage advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva, GE

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Foundation Funding: Aroha is mainly supported by philanthropic foundations interested in promoting climate action. Donations in Switzerland are fully tax deductible.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Aroha is an independent NGO that mobilizes climate action by providing policy advisory, advocacy campaigns, and research support to climate-vulnerable nations and their governments. Its core work includes developing Climate Prosperity Plans and Paris Agreement long-term strategies, operating the Climate Vulnerable Forum Secretariat (2017–2023), publishing research reports such as the Climate Vulnerability Monitor and Traffic Light Assessment Reports, and running advocacy campaigns (Fair Share Now, Payment Overdue, Midnight Survival Deadline) that influence international climate negotiations.

Product overview

Aroha is an independent NGO (non-governmental organization) focused on climate action and policy advocacy. The organization does not offer commercial technology products or software services. Its work includes publishing climate research reports (such as Traffic Light Assessment Reports, Climate Vulnerability Monitor, and Country Climate Prosperity Plans), running advocacy campaigns (including Fair Share Now and Payment Overdue), providing advisory support to climate-vulnerable nations, and facilitating international climate policy dialogues through partnerships with governments and institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Climate Policy Advisory Services
• Climate Prosperity Plans
• Climate Vulnerable Forum Secretariat Operations

Quantifiable outcome

• Historic Loss and Damage fund established at COP27 under the UN following Payment Overdue campaign
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MSC FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Aroha helped establish the MSC Foundation (philanthropic arm of Mediterranean Shipping Company) and provides advisory support to the Foundation's board. The primary mission of the foundation is protection of the Ocean. Aroha continues to advise the foundation on environmental, humanitarian and community actions around the globe.
• Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Aroha led and operated the Climate Vulnerable Forum Secretariat between 2017-2023, working with 58 member states across continents. CVF is the foremost intergovernmental cooperation body for nations highly vulnerable to climate threats. Aroha hosts the Office of the Advisor and Representative of the CVF.
• Global Center on AdaptationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with the Global Center on Adaptation in support of climate vulnerable countries and communities. Collaboration on Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) Compacts for Benin, Ethiopia, Senegal and Tanzania.
• Macky Sall FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the creation and operationalization of the Macky Sall Foundation for Peace, Dialogue and Development, an effort that will shape climate leadership, peace and sustainable development in Africa and beyond, under the leadership of multi-term Senegalese President Macky Sall.
• Arctic BasecampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn collaboration with Arctic Basecamp and key partners, Aroha embarked on a vital new project exploring the global health risks posed by polar change.
• MSC Foundation (Ocean Health)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with MSC Foundation, Aroha helped convene an expert coral workshop and supported new partnerships to advance ocean health in 2024.
• Financial Futures CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAroha is currently incubating the Financial Futures Center, a center which will provide know-how on financial climate risks and support informed decision-making in developing countries.
• Climate Action Network InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Climate Action Network International for organization support including the 2018 Virtual Climate Summit.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• World Resources Institute: Large global research organization working on environment and development. Comparable on climate-policy research and country support, but at significantly larger scale with broader mandate across multiple sustainability themes.
• Stockholm Environment Institute: International research organization on environment and development issues. Comparable on policy research supporting vulnerable nations and sustainability, though broader in geographic and topical scope.
• Natural Resources Defense Council: Large international environmental advocacy organization. Comparable in climate-advocacy focus but significantly larger and broader in mandate, including domestic US environmental issues.

Regional players

• Germanwatch: German-based environmental and development organization focused on global climate justice. Comparable on climate-equity advocacy and vulnerable-nation support, with primary geographic focus in Europe but global program reach.

Emerging players

• Climate Policy Initiative: Climate-finance-focused policy analysis organization supporting governments and multilaterals. Comparable on climate-finance advisory and policy research, particularly as Aroha incubates its Financial Futures Center.

Direct peers

• E3G (Third Generation Environmentalism): Independent climate diplomacy think tank focused on accelerating the transition to a safe climate. Comparable as a small, specialized NGO engaging in international climate negotiations and vulnerable-country support.
• Climate Action Network International: A global network of over 1,800 civil society organizations working on climate advocacy. Directly comparable as an NGO coalition focused on climate policy and vulnerable-nation representation, and an existing Aroha partner.
• International Institute for Environment and Development: Policy research organization working on sustainable development, particularly for vulnerable countries. Comparable in mission alignment with vulnerable-nation climate advocacy and country-level strategy support.
• Global Center on Adaptation: Rotterdam-based organization accelerating adaptation action. Comparable in mission to support climate-vulnerable countries, with overlapping African Adaptation Acceleration Program work; existing strategic partner of Aroha.
• Climate Analytics: Climate science and policy institute producing research used by vulnerable-nation governments. Directly comparable as a research-driven NGO informing climate negotiations and national climate strategies, similar in scale and mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ArohaTaniwha
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arohageneva
• Instagraminstagram.com/aroha.taniwha

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Aroha