Samdhana aims to support Indigenous and Local  women and women’s groups confront gender-based violence that is exacerbated by core issues they face, such as lack of tenure rights, no recognition of women’s rights, and lack of economic opportunities. We also aim to support women in the frontlines of the struggle to defend their community’s natural resources, and push for the recognition of women’s rights, their roles and contributions to change gender-based discrimination and violence; and help foster a network of women, including young women, that promote and strengthen calls for protecting tropical forests, reviving traditional food systems, and supporting agro-ecology based or sustainable agriculture, and forest-friendly livelihoods.

Samdhana had provided grant support to Indigenous women to participate in all-women group exchanges and leadership trainings, where the opportunities for sharing and exchanging of thoughts, experiences, and information, and more importantly, opportunities for bonding and fostering solidarity amongst them have been very valuable in continuing their work as women, including the young and emerging, leaders. Access to information and building of basic skills, such as facilitating meetings, planning, social analysis, and networking are very important for women leaders and defenders in continuing and broadening their work.