About Ayara
We support practical skills, self-reliance and community-led action for people, livelihoods and nature.
Where the Name Comes From
The name Ayara is inspired by Ayé, which refers to the physical world, and Ara, meaning mystery or wonder, in Yoruba. For us, Ayara stands for a world that is understood, cared for and shaped together.
At the heart of Ayara is the relationship between people and nature. Healthy livelihoods depend on land, water, soil, forests, materials, skills and local ecosystems. We support projects that bring these dimensions together, creating income and opportunity while protecting, restoring and responsibly using the natural environment.
Ideas Into Fundable Projects
Our work focuses on projects that strengthen local knowledge, hands-on learning, women’s and youth opportunities, shared community infrastructure and care for the natural environment. We work with local partners to turn practical ideas into fundable projects that communities can use, own and grow.
What This Looks Like in Practice
Ayara’s current portfolio spans vocational training, community workshops, access to tools, sustainable building, circular economy enterprises, agro-processing and women-led livelihood initiatives, each one shaped by the specific local needs it responds to.
Projects currently run in Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, The Gambia, Nigeria and Kenya, each shaped with a local partner who leads implementation on the ground. Ayara’s role is to help turn a workable local idea into a project that funders can back and communities can sustain.
Every project carries a monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) component, so results are tracked honestly and lessons feed back into how the next project is designed.
See What We’re Working On
Explore our focus areas or get in touch about a partnership.