Frequently Asked Questions

What is CoRe?

Collaborating for Resilience (CoRe) is an international, entrepreneurial change initiative working to strengthen governance, address natural resource competition, and improve livelihood resilience in interconnected resource domains and landscapes. CoRe has developed an evidence-backed approach to multi-stakeholder dialogue designed to improve collaborative natural resource governance. Originally an initiative of CGIAR, the global science network for food security and sustainable natural resource management, CoRe launched as an independent organization in 2019.

What problem does CoRe aim to address?

For the most pressing environmental problems that we face today, the vast majority of the technological solutions are known. But these solutions are not adopted at a scale or pace that meaningfully protects rural communities from environmental risk. These failures stem primarily from social, political, and institutional blocks—not technical or informational ones. The risks, from food insecurity to climate change to poor governance, are all deeply interconnected— and so are the solutions. CoRe’s model specifically targets these social, political, and institutional blocks to effective natural resource management, environmental security, and resilient livelihoods.

How does CoRe solve this problem?

Through creating collaborative space for key actors who don’t typically work together, CoRe enables communities to explicitly address the root causes of resource competition and conflict, and to promote sustainable livelihoods and vibrant rural economies. This multi-stakeholder dialogue process is achieved at scale through three connected actions: strategic partnerships and capacity building, cross-regional learning and exchange, and policy dialogue and investor engagement.

How does multi-stakeholder dialogue work in practice?

CoRe’s multi-stakeholder dialogue process prompts diverse resource users—from rural communities to private businesses to governments—to jointly analyze their resource systems. This includes critically evaluating resource user networks and their power dynamics, the main groups impacted by the resource system, and who to involve in the resource management moving forward. This model can be applied to a wide variety of convenings, from one-day meetings, to multi-day workshops, to extended policy processes or platforms. Our focus is on long-term processes of engagement that build up commitment to collective action.

What makes CoRe distinctive?

Conventional legal, financial, and institutional models are often incomplete: governing bodies have limited capacity, technologies are not adopted at scale, and economic responses exacerbate power imbalances. CoRe accepts that natural resource and governance decisions are not solely motivated by a rational understanding of benefits or by new information, but also by emotional attachments and commitments that build up from experience and relationships. As a result, we actively target the experiences and relationships of key actors and decision-makers to prompt change, unlock community potential, and foster equitable governance arrangements.

What can I expect if I parter with CoRe?

CoRe undertakes work that is integrated, focused, catalytic, and evidence-based. We seek out partners that are committed to systems change, grounded in their regional context, and open to learn and adapt. Our partners receive tailored analyses and trainings, evidence-backed tools and research, and access to an international community of practice that is influencing the future of natural resource governance and policy. CoRe’s agile team, with multilingual specialists across five continents, provides partners with customized guidance and support for developing and implementing multi-stakeholder dialogue processes in landscapes, cross-organizational partnerships, and broader social-ecological systems. We are committed to openly sharing knowledge, evidence, and insights from all our partnerships.

How is CoRe's work funded?

We are funded through three primary mechanisms: program grants, partnering for co-investment, and service agreements. This funding diversity allows us to engage in both short- and long-term activities with organizations to design effective initiatives, build necessary capacities, implement existing programs, and evaluate program success. See our “Ways we engage” section for more details on our funding modalities.

What is CoRe's legal status?

CoRe has tax exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit status through a fiscal sponsorship arrangement with the Fund for the City of New York. The Fund for the City of New York, established by the Ford Foundation in 1968, undertakes financial, legal, and fiduciary responsibilities on behalf of CoRe.

Where is CoRe located?

CoRe is based out of the Open Gov Hub, a co-working community in Washington, D.C. that serves as a network of organizations promoting transparency, accountability, and civic engagement around the world. Global affiliate hubs are presently in 12 countries across 5 continents, building the social infrastructure for civic innovation. While our office is in Washington, D.C., our team members are distributed around the world, presently in 9 countries in Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Europe and North America.

How can I partner wtih CoRe?

If you’re interested in improving dialogue, collaboration, and governance processes in your organization or country, reach out through the Contact page on this website. We are always interested in exploring new partnerships and opportunities.

How can I work for CoRe?

We are always open to hearing from those whose commitments and goals align with our mission. For those with significant experience and a Master’s degree or higher qualifications, we invite you to submit a cover letter explaining your specific areas of interest and why you feel that CoRe is a strong fit with your personal ambitions and skills. Please include your resume and a writing sample and submit to jobs@coresilience.org.

CoRe also has an ongoing internship programming, available for remote appointments. Successful interns are typically enrolled in a Master’s degree program and demonstrate a strong interest in environmental security, climate and resource policy, and livelihood resilience. We also have roles for interns with interest or experience in communications, marketing and program development. See our Careers page for specific listings and application instructions. We look forward to hearing from you.

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