Transforming a territory requires more than good intentions: it requires depth, listening and a genuine connection with the people who live there. At Raízes Desenvolvimento Sustentável, we believe that no transformation happens from the outside in. That’s why we have developed our own methodology, based on collaborative, adaptable and results-oriented processes, both for our clients and for the beneficiaries of the initiatives.
This methodology is not set in stone. It is born and transformed from experience with each territory, respecting their identities, understanding their potential, listening to their pain and knowledge in order to actually build paths and solutions with those who really know the land. Rather than applying a formula, our work proposes a living process that combines technique, sensitivity and partnership.
Below, we tell you how this happens in practice, from the first contact to the legacy that remains.
Diagnosis and territorial immersion
The starting point for Raízes’ methodology is listening. Before proposing any action, we immerse ourselves in the territory to understand its reality in depth. We visit communities, listen to residents, identify leaders and collect formal and informal data. It’s a moment of sensitivity and presence, where we seek to understand not only the challenges, but also the potential, the local stories and the people in the territory.
This diagnosis goes far beyond numbers. It builds a solid foundation of trust and mutual recognition, which will be essential throughout the process. From this immersion, we can draw up an action plan that is truly connected to the context and respectful of local knowledge. This is where the methodology begins to take shape, shaped by the voices of the territory.
Methodology co-created with local actors
With the first layers of the territory mapped out, we enter the co-creation stage. Our projects are co-created with clients and beneficiaries, often being exactly the bridge between companies and communities.
We believe that projects only move forward when local actors actively participate in the construction of solutions. That’s why we bring together different voices, such as residents, collectives, organizations, local companies and other local players, in creative and participatory processes such as workshops, roundtables and think tanks.
Execution
This phase is one of the most powerful in our methodology, because it is where belonging is consolidated. When people recognize their contributions at each stage, engagement increases and actions become more relevant and viable; when disruptions happen, paradigms are broken, reconstructions emerge and results begin to materialize, connecting to what was planned, inspiring new actions and fostering a virtuous circle in the development process.
What’s more, this process activates local collaboration networks and encourages communities to take a leading role, which directly contributes to the continuity of projects after our direct work has ended.
Monitoring and memory
The last stage of our methodology is actually what underpins the whole process: monitoring and building the project’s memory. From the outset, we defined impact indicators and follow-up mechanisms together with local actors and clients. This data allows us to assess real progress and guide decisions more clearly.
But beyond the numbers, we value the stories, the lessons learned and the connections created. We build shared memories, record the journey and systematize experiences so that they can inspire new actions, in that territory or in others. This practice strengthens the project’s legacy and allows the fruits of the methodology to continue to be harvested in the future, even after our cycle of action has ended.
The Raízes methodology is, first and foremost, a way of walking together. It is born in the territory, built with the people and adapts as we learn, adjust and deepen our bonds. What we deliver at the end of each journey is not just a report or a set of implemented actions, but a living process that strengthens local capacities, generates real impact and inspires lasting transformations.
It is this combination of listening, co-creation, care, practice and memory that makes our methodology special. And it’s what guarantees more robust, humane results in line with the future we want to build: fairer, more diverse and more sustainable.
Do you identify with our purpose and believe that our services can help you and your organization achieve the impact you want? Get in touch.
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