We are a THRAIF Research and Innovations Facility. We use available knowledge and conduct additional research (including collaborating with research institutions) to design, demonstrate, and monitor innovations toward securing livelihoods for a resilient human society. We co-create knowledge and co-design action for tackling issues that confront human societies. This prompts us to operate at the interface between academia and the local community: we strive to bolster and sustain livelihoods as well as foster resilience by providing evidence-based lasting solutions that counteract vulnerabilities. We approach this from an endogenous (development) approach and so we are intrigued by and thus contribute to the sustainable development agenda. Our vision is to contribute to a well self-sustainable sovereign (i.e., thriving) human society.

We use three key guiding or methodological approaches toward achieving our mission and ultimately our vision:

  1. Acting as brokers between science, technology, and innovation in reducing vulnerabilities and building resilience to societal and biophysical hazards. Here, we synthesize scientific evidence on livelihood improvement vulnerability reduction, and resilience building from scientists to provide policy briefs/manuals for innovative actions.
  2. Demo evidence-based enterprises or programs towards bolstering endogenous innovative actions among communities at risk of societal and/or biophysical risks. Here, we aim to demonstrate how the four capitals of sustainable development (Human, Social, Physical, and Natural) can be mobilized to foster resilient communities. We consider the four capitals as prerequisites for economic sovereignty to build resilience and reduce vulnerability to the various forms of hazards that breed disasters as well as their inherent risks.
  3. Advocacy, partnerships, and networks for sharing as well as the transfer of knowledge and innovations towards building resilient human societies. We believe that a single individual or community might not be self-sufficient enough to tackle the societal and biophysical issues that confront humanity. We thus advance health networks among groups of people and communities towards all the areas of sustainability: economy, society (including health, education), and environment. In that regard, THRAIF also makes partnerships and networks (including with community-based associations as well as other institutions) to better operate and achieve her mission.

Our philosophy: THRAIF activities are based on the understanding that the foundation of sustainable development is right-reasoned endogenous-based strategies, but also inclusivity. Thus, minds must be engaged to embrace the right reasoned ways of life, including preserving the right reasoned local as well as indigenous values and practices. Thereto, we follow an endogenous development approach in our programs.

In line with these guiding approaches and our philosophy, we have various thematic areas of action: 1) Action Research, 2) Training and Education, and 2) Livelihoods (Specifically, Innovations for Livelihoods Improvement). These cut across our current and pipeline programs, projects, and activities. Along with these, we run a community engagement program that enables us to be a bridge between academia and practice.

Are you passionate about what we do and would like to get involved? Would you like to provide your kind support for our activities or work on an enterprising project within our programs? Please reach out to us through our contacts (E: info@thrive.ac.ug |T: +256393252595 or +256200905273)