BasicNeeds US

BasicNeeds US (BN US) provides technical assistance, seed grants and support for the BasicNeeds Network of programs in low resource settings around the world. The BasicNeeds model has been widely recognized by international consumer groups, the World Health Organization, DFID, and global foundations such as Ashoka, the Skoll Foundation and Grand Challenges Canada. The implementing members and leaders of the new BasicNeeds Network (BNN) are from 6 low-resource countries including Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, India, Pakistan and Vietnam. They support 622 community mental health and peer support groups, providing direct services to more than 56,000 individuals and training more than 88,000.

Over the last 15 years, BasicNeeds US has provided more than $500K in targeted financial support, technical assistance and advocacy for the community mental health programs in the network. In 2022-3 this included a small grant to CBM UK, the host of the new BasicNeeds Network, supporting the web site and collection of impact data for the network. In 2023-4, we also provided special grants to our affiliates in Kenya and Ghana for community support and inclusive village savings and loan associations (VSLA) with agricultural cooperatives. Our work with distributors, local growing cooperatives and government to educate farming families in mental health and establish community support groups with VSLAs is unique. We seek to expand these and other innovations through the global BasicNeeds Network of mental health and development.

Join with us in collective action for global mental health and well-being.