World’s first basic income pilot for Indigenous peoples in the Amazon

Program overview

In a pioneering move, Cool Earth, with support from AidKit and funding from Liberty Specialty Markets and People’s Postcode Lottery, launched the world’s first basic income pilot for people living in the Amazon. This groundbreaking initiative was co-created by the National Organization of Indigenous Women of the Andes and the Amazon of Peru (ONAMIAP) and the Organization of Indigenous Women of Asháninka People of the Central Jungle (OMIAASEC).

The goal is to provide income to people in three rainforest communities for two years, empowering them to sustain their livelihoods and remain on their ancestral territories. In doing so, they are helping to protect the rainforest and, by keeping forests intact, helping to tackle the climate crisis.

The Amazon rainforest is not only a rich reservoir of biodiversity but also home to communities whose way of life and survival are intertwined with the forest’s health. Despite their crucial role in safeguarding these ecosystems, people who live in rainforests often face the impacts of climate change, along with threats from loggers, miners, and large-scale farming interests seeking to exploit their lands. This pilot arose from a vital need to support these communities in a way that respects their culture and needs.

“To strengthen the autonomy of communities, it is important to work with them and with the grassroots organizations that support them. By strengthening our towns we will be able to confront the invaders who come to want to take away our spaces.”

— Kely Quicha, Member, Organization of Indigenous Women of the Andean and Amazonian Region of the Central Jungle (OMIAASEC)

Cool Earth wanted to find solutions that met the urgent needs of those living in the Amazon and to understand what support they needed to remain in the rainforest. The communities they approached overwhelmingly identified priorities such as access to income, food, safe drinking water, healthcare, and education—plus opportunities to invest in small-scale farming projects so they could sell produce and generate sustainable income.

Partnership in practice: How Cool Earth used AidKit to fill gaps in technological access

Cool Earth’s partnership with AidKit was born from a shared commitment to innovative and compassionate solutions to humanitarian issues. Recognizing AidKit’s expertise in facilitating secure and efficient direct cash transfers—especially in challenging contexts without traditional banking infrastructure or reliable internet connectivity—the collaboration was pivotal to the project’s success.

AidKit introduced new technical functionalities to ensure secure offline payment solutions. This innovation was instrumental in reaching remote communities, collecting sensitive information through mobile devices in offline mode, and processing transactions securely—enabling unconditional cash transfers directly to individuals in need.

From a technological standpoint, one key challenge AidKit encountered was figuring out how to know for sure when a device was “fully synced”—meaning it had successfully uploaded everything that was originally recorded offline.

To solve this, AidKit designed the system so that each device actively reports its sync status while online. Then, once back online after an offline period, the devices broadcast this information again, allowing the system to reconcile what has changed and what still needs to be uploaded.

“In many communities, there is no internet access, but with the platform, we can register the information and upload it later. This is important for data processing. In addition, it allows us to complement the information with photographs and notes, all in one place, to make known the reality of our communities.”

— Quicha

The partnership between AidKit and Cool Earth meant that participants could manage their own data and securely process their own financial transactions. Tablets and bespoke software, built in partnership with the community, enabled quick and efficient cash transfers to everyone who needed them—and were simple enough that the community could manage them independently.

“This is the first pilot in which we have been able to intervene with technology and this is important… People who live in the rainforest usually cannot access these materials due to costs and acquisition capacity, but collaborative work has allowed us to support, learn, and teach.”

— Quicha

Program impact

Since its launch, this initiative has directly empowered every adult member of the participating communities, granting them financial freedom to support their families, send their children to school, and care for elders—without compromising their environmental stewardship. This model of social justice has proven to be a triple win: for biodiversity, for the climate, and for the human rights of Indigenous peoples.

“The exchange of learning and information has been important, as well as the participation of young and old. We want to continue promoting and providing greater access to technology and resources. We all have the right to learn and, in practice, it makes a big difference.”

— Quicha, Member, OMIAASEC

The bigger picture

This collaboration has illuminated the potential of combining technology with empathetic, community-first approaches to aid distribution. The biggest takeaway is the clear demonstration of how empowering individuals directly can pave the way for sustainable environmental stewardship and social justice.

A community backed by income is more resilient and does not have to accept offers from loggers, miners, or anyone who wants them to leave their ancestral lands. The community has the power to resist.

“I am proud of my roots and the knowledge of my people.”

— Quicha

Cool Earth and AidKit want income to be possible for more people who live in the rainforest. They all have the right to meet their urgent needs, and this support makes a big difference to livelihoods and the future of the rainforest.

Looking ahead

Buoyed by the success of this pilot, AidKit and Cool Earth are exploring opportunities to expand the project to more communities across the Amazon. They remain committed to the long-term goal of leveraging direct financial assistance as a tool for environmental conservation and social empowerment.