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Frequently asked questions
We’ve answered common questions about our approach, partners, ethics and impact.
What do you mean by good solutions for people and nature?
By good solutions, we mean approaches that are rights-based, inclusive and environmentally responsible. They are designed with and for the people they serve, protect human dignity, and work in harmony with the ecosystems that sustain life. Good solutions are both principled and practical: equitable by design and measurable in their outcomes.
What types of partners does Rain Barrel work with?
We work with governments, United Nations agencies, civil society organisations, foundations and socially minded companies. While our partners are diverse, they share a commitment to delivering practical outcomes for people and nature through respectful, co-created approaches.
What kinds of challenges do you help address?
We support partners to understand how people live, think and act, and how systems can respond more effectively. Our work spans health, education, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, ending violence against women and girls, child protection and family wellbeing, disaster preparedness and climate resilience. We help partners clarify problems and design solutions that strengthen services, communication and systems.
What makes Rain Barrel different from other consultancies?
We combine deep social and behavioural insight with co-creation, strong communication expertise and responsible use of technology. Our work is grounded in lived experience and shaped by 18 years of global delivery. We focus on solutions that can be used in practice, not just written into reports.
Where does Rain Barrel work?
We have worked in more than 30 countries across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. Our global network allows us to draw on local expertise and partnerships while maintaining consistent standards of quality and delivery.
How do you approach working with partners?
Our approach is grounded in listening, clarity and collaboration. We work closely with local partners and stakeholders, combining their contextual knowledge with global experience to co-create and enable solutions that are realistic, culturally grounded and practical to implement.
Do you support both short-term projects and long-term partnerships?
Yes. We deliver short focused assignments such as applied research, studies, strategies, campaigns and training, and we also support long-term, multi-country programmes, institutional partnerships and capacity strengthening. Our model allows us to scale our support to match what the work requires.
How do you define and measure success?
We define success as meaningful and measurable change for people and nature. This may include improved understanding and use of knowledge, access to services, better engagement, increased trust, enhanced institutional capability, and adoption of co-created tools. We work with our partners to define relevant indicators and reflect on progress over time.
How do you ensure your work fits with our organisation’s culture and values?
We always begin by first learning about and understanding our partners’ mission, culture and ways of working. We look for alignment around respect, collaboration and transparency, and design the work so it fits naturally within existing teams and systems.
How will you work with our teams and stakeholders?
We work collaboratively with internal teams, community representatives and institutional stakeholders to build ownership and long-term sustainability. Our underlying co-creative methodology helps ensure solutions are relevant, trusted and more likely to be sustained.
What should we prepare before engaging with Rain Barrel?
It is helpful to have clarity on your goals, key stakeholders, existing evidence and constraints. This allows us to help you co-design an approach that is relevant and workable. We also welcome early conversations to explore fit and expectations.
Who will Rain Barrel work with directly?
We typically work with senior leaders, programme managers, communication teams and frontline staff, alongside community representatives and local partners, to ensure insights and solutions are grounded in lived realities.
What is your commitment to rights, ethics and climate-responsive practice?
Our work is grounded in human rights, equity and environmental responsibility. All our associates and partners are carefully vetted to match our values and policies for responsible practice. We co-create with communities, apply ethical and inclusive design principles, and use technology, including AI, responsibly. We also take practical steps to reduce our own environmental footprint and support climate-responsive programming, particularly in contexts most affected by climate impacts.
Creating impact starts with the right conversation
From new programmes to systems already in motion, we help partners translate complex goals into practical, co-created solutions that communities value and stakeholders trust.
