Nature & Development Foundation

What Nature & Development Foundation does

Nature & Development Foundation (NDF) is a Ghana-based non-governmental, non-profit organization limited by guarantee, established in November 2013 with WWF support to continue forest and trade-related work originally pursued under WWF West Africa. Headquartered at the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation Research Building, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, NDF operates with a lean team of approximately 14 staff executing donor-funded projects across Ghana, Liberia, Cameroon, and Côte d'Ivoire. Its mission is to balance human development with nature conservation across West African forest landscapes, with primary focus on FLEGT/VPA timber legality compliance, forest landscape restoration, agroforestry, community livelihoods, and wildlife conservation.

NDF's core service offerings are bundled into three program areas: Forest & Landscape Restoration (e.g., AWFLR, ReFoli, COFORM), Community Livelihoods & Climate Resilience (e.g., Sankofa dynamic agroforestry, Living with Wildlife around Mole National Park), and Forest Governance & Responsible Practices (e.g., FGMC, BAASS, EU NSA, GhLAS compliance). The organization has built three proprietary digital platform components: the Ghana Timber Market mobile app and ghanatimbermarket.com web platform connecting buyers to legal timber suppliers; the Ghana Wood Tracking System (GWTS) Industry Portal enabling timber companies to submit legality data directly to the national tracking system; and the ForestLink Real-Time Monitoring (RTM) mobile app used by trained community monitors to log illegal forest infractions. These tools are deployed in support of national-scale traceability and legality assurance, with 300+ community monitors trained across 51 communities to date.

NDF operates as a project-based non-profit funded entirely through grants and donations from international donors and partner organizations, including the European Union, UK FCDO, WWF, FAO, AstraZeneca, Swiss SECO, Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ITTO, and Coop/HALBA/SWISSCO. The organization does not charge for its services and has no pricing model. Its customer base is heterogeneous: timber Small-Medium Forest Enterprises (SMFEs) in Ghana and Liberia, Forest Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) and forest-fringe communities, the Forestry Commission of Ghana and related government institutions, and smallholder cocoa farmers in the Western North, Ahafo, and Bono East regions. Customer concentration is elevated given dependence on a relatively small set of Western institutional donors.

Name

Nature & Development Foundation

Legal name

Nature & Development Foundation

Website

https://ndfwestafrica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nature & Development Foundation is a Ghana-based non-profit (founded 2013) that implements donor-funded forest conservation, FLEGT timber legality compliance, agroforestry, and community livelihood projects across Ghana, Liberia, Cameroon, and Côte d'Ivoire, serving smallholder farmers, timber SMFEs, and government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forest Conservation & Sustainable Development Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAD

Forestry & Reforestation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYEUABABAC

Avoided Conversion & Ecosystem Protection (REDD+, Blue Carbon Conservation)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Carbon & Climate Solutions (Carbon Markets, Offsets, CCS/CCUS)/Carbon Project Development & Origination (Nature-based & Tech-based)

SECONDARYAFAMACAO

Monitoring, Survival Surveys & Carbon/MRV Services (Remote Sensing, Field Audits)

Agriculture & Food Production/Forestry & Logging/Reforestation, Afforestation & Tree Planting Services

SECONDARYIMAMAAAJ

Forest Carbon Projects & Ecosystem Services (Carbon Credits, Biodiversity)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Paper & Forest Products/Forestry & Logging

Keywords

• Forest conservation programs
• Sustainable land management
• Community agroforestry projects
• Legal timber trade compliance
• Forest landscape restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Accra

HQ country

Ghana

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations: NDF operates primarily through donor-funded projects from international organizations and governments. Major funders include EU, FCDO, WWF, FAO, AstraZeneca, and various Swiss government agencies.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Nature & Development Foundation is a Ghana-based non-governmental, non-profit organization that implements donor-funded projects for forest conservation, FLEGT legal timber trade compliance, forest landscape restoration, agroforestry with cocoa farmers, community livelihood improvement, and wildlife protection across West Africa (Ghana, Liberia, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire). It delivers these through direct field programs, capacity building for timber SMEs, multi-stakeholder platforms, and proprietary digital tools including the Ghana Timber Market App, GWTS Industry Portal, and ForestLink RTM monitoring app.

Product overview

Nature & Development Foundation (NDF) is a non-governmental organization in Ghana focused on forest conservation and sustainable development across West Africa. Established in 2013, NDF operates as a project-based organization rather than a product technology company. Its primary offerings include the Ghana Timber Market App (a mobile platform for legal timber trade), The Butterfly Newsletter (quarterly publication), and various publications and training materials covering topics such as shea nut processing, fire management, agroforestry, and forest governance standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ghana Timber Market Mobile App

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of Ghana's timber companies developed capacity to comply with FLEGT licensing scheme
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013NDF was created with support from WWF in 2013 as a local NGO to continue forest conservation work. Maintains ongoing cooperation agreement with WWF International for collaboration on the WWF Global Forest Programme. NDF is proud of its WWF heritage.
• Forestry Services Division, Ghana Forestry CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Memorandum of Understanding with Forestry Services Division for forest management development in Ghana. Collaboration on strategic management plans for production forest reserves.
• Resources Management Support Center, Ghana Forestry CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013MoU with RMSC for forest management development in Ghana. Collaboration on data collection, analysis, and mapping for forest reserve management planning.
• Kumasi Wood ClusterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner in FGMC Phase II project. Organization representing timber industry in Kumasi region.
• Liberia Timber Association (LibTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for capacity building of timber trade associations in Liberia. LibTA secretariat receives support for corporate governance and financial management.
• Liberia Chainsaw and Timber Dealers Union (LICSATDUN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner supporting chainsaw operators and timber dealers in Liberia. Project builds capacity in sustainable forest management and financial transparency.
• iNovalandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead implementer of Atebubu-Wiase Forest Landscape Restoration project. Part of global network of Living Labs for Nature, People and Planet.
• African Plantations for Sustainable Development (APSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for plantation development under AWFLR project. Collaborates on mosaic plantation systems integrating forest plantation with biodiversity conservation.
• Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBA establishes global network of Living Labs for Nature, People and Planet. AWFLR is part of this global network of landscape restoration initiatives.
• NGPTAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Generation Plantations approach focusing on social engagement and ecosystem integrity in plantation development.
• International Trade Centre (ITC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject coordinator for Sankofa project. Coordinates implementation across Fairtrade Africa, Kuapa Kokoo, WWF Switzerland, and NDF.
• Fairtrade AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for Sankofa project. Supports cocoa farmer organizations and fairtrade certification.
• Kuapa Kokoo Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Union Limited (KKFU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner providing access to cocoa farmer network for Sankofa dynamic agroforestry project in Western North and Ahafo regions.
• WWF SwitzerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for Sankofa project. Provides technical expertise on conservation and sustainable forest management.
• Ecotop Suisse GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner providing expertise in Dynamic Agroforestry (DAF) methodology for the Sankofa project.
• South PolecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner for carbon monitoring and quality assurance in Sankofa project. Conducts carbon monitoring on 120 plots.
• Arocha GhanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implementer of BRACE project focused on responsible mining and environmental protection in Ghana.
• WacamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implementer of BRACE project. Ghanaian environmental NGO focused on mining impacts and community rights.
• EMFED Farms and Trading Co. LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for COFORM project. Limited liability company providing farm management services to smallholder cocoa farmers.
• Forest Governance Markets and Climate (FGMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgramme coordination for multi-country forest governance project covering Ghana, Liberia, and Cameroon.
• Knowledge for World Conservation (KWC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner supporting forest and mineral governance activities.
• FECAPROBOIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCameroon partner building capacity to meet local demand for legal timber under government mandate for legal timber in public procurement.
• Tropenbos InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOverall coordination of EU NSA project. Dutch organization working on sustainable forest management and governance.
• Tropenbos GhanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for EU NSA project in Ghana. Supports non-state actor participation in FLEGT and REDD+ processes.
• Groupe National de Travail pour la Gestion Durable des Forêts et Certification Forestiers en Côte d'Ivoire (GNT-CI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for EU NSA project in Côte d'Ivoire. National working group for sustainable forest management.
• Volunteers to Support International Efforts in Developing Africa (VOSEIDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for EU NSA project in Liberia. NGO supporting international development efforts.
• Mole National Park, Wildlife Division of GhanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for Living with Wildlife project. Park borders communities where alternative livelihoods are being promoted.
• C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Science (CKT-UTAS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing technical expertise for Living with Wildlife project activities.
• Restore LocalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative by UK International Development to scale locally led restoration across Africa's vital landscapes. ReFoli project is part of Restore Local mission.
• New Generation Plantations (NGP) ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWWF-created dialogue platform engaging major plantation companies and governments to catalyze better plantation management and land-use decision making.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• A Rocha Ghana: Ghana-based conservation NGO and existing BRACE project co-implementer. Comparable on environment, conservation, and community engagement with strong West African forest landscape focus.
• Tropenbos International: Direct peer and existing partner. Dutch NGO coordinating the EU NSA project with NDF, working on sustainable forest management and governance across tropical regions including Ghana and West Africa. Same thematic focus on FLEGT, REDD+, and non-state actor engagement.
• Ghana Wildlife Society: Ghana-based conservation NGO focused on wildlife protection, habitat management, and biodiversity conservation. Several NDF staff previously worked at GWS. Comparable on Ghana-focused conservation, community engagement, and protected area management.
• Forest Trends: International NGO focused on market-based approaches to forest conservation including REDD+, community forestry, and ecosystem services payments. Comparable on forest carbon, biodiversity credits, and ecosystem services monetization in tropical forest countries.
• Proforest: UK-based NGO focused on responsible production and sourcing of forest-derived commodities. Highly comparable on FLEGT/VPA timber legality, smallholder support, and West African commodity landscapes (cocoa, palm oil).
• Solidaridad West Africa: International NGO with strong West Africa operations focused on sustainable commodity supply chains including cocoa, palm oil, and timber. Comparable on smallholder capacity building, agroforestry, and public-private partnerships in Ghana.

Broad incumbents

• IDH - The Sustainable Trade Initiative: Dutch sustainable trade organization that convenes multi-stakeholder initiatives on cocoa, timber, and landscape management. Comparable programmatic approach on FLEGT, landscape restoration, and West African smallholder supply chains, with much larger convening footprint.
• Rainforest Alliance: Global conservation and sustainable agriculture NGO with extensive West Africa operations. Comparable on cocoa agroforestry, forest stewardship certification, and smallholder farmer capacity building, but at much larger scale and broader geographic scope.
• SNV Netherlands Development Organisation: Dutch development organization with significant West African presence working on climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and sustainable land use. Comparable on smallholder cocoa farmer support, landscape restoration, and donor-funded multi-country program delivery.
• World Resources Institute (WRI) - Global Forests Program: Global research organization with major Global Forests Program covering land use, deforestation monitoring (Global Forest Watch), and sustainable commodity supply chains. Comparable on forest landscape restoration, jurisdictional approaches, and supply chain transparency tools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ndfwestafrica
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzImMZqayYL5i6q4_flD64w
• Facebookfacebook.com/ndfwestafrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ndfwestafrica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Nature & Development Foundation