EMPOWERING PEOPLE

"Together with the people of Africa." This declaration is a a promise, a philosophy, that lies at the heart of AWF’s mission statement.

AWF has always understood that Africa’s greatest resource is its people – and AWF invests heavily in education and sustainable development so that Africans can lead in conserving their natural heritage.

AWF supports the African people in three key ways:

• Developing conservation enterprises that benefit local communities
• Sponsoring education and training for current and future African conservationists and scientists
• Working with governments at every level to shape and support conservation policy

AWF works with communities to create commercially viable enterprises that conserve wildlife and its habitat while improving the livelihoods of people.

Conservation enterprises give communities economic incentives to conserve their lands – and treat wildlife not as a threat to their livelihoods, but as a boon to their prosperity. The greatest opportunities for conservation enterprises in Africa exist in two sectors: ecotourism, like the Koija Starbeds resort in Kenya, and agricultural production and marketing, like AWF’s partnership with Starbucks to bring African coffee to an international market.

AWF’s proactive work in conservation enterprise not only recognizes its capacity to serve as an effective tool for conservation development, but also its value as a tool for building demand for African products and services. As global markets accelerate their trend towards 'responsible buying,' businesses such as those started by AWF through its conservation enterprises, provided they are properly managed and marketed, will start to enjoy increasing levels of market demand. As AWF builds a critical mass of such enterprises, more attention can be given to how to leverage marketing opportunities at a portfolio level, beyond the individual marketing efforts of the each of the enterprises themselves.

>Read more about Conservation Enterprise.

From its very first project establishing Tanzania’s College of African Wildlife at Mweka in 1962, AWF has invested in the institutions and individuals who will make conservation happen in Africa. Each year, AWF selects native Africans with a demonstrated passion for wildlife conservation to receive support in pursuing Masters and PhD programs in conservation-related fields through the AWF Training Program that includes the respected Charlotte Fellows Program. AWF has contributed to the education and training of hundreds of African conservationists. Many have gone on to play important roles as national park administrators, park wardens, rangers, researchers and guides.

At the local and regional level, AWF also trains park rangers and game scouts through its ranger-based monitoring (RBM) program in the Virunga, Samburu and Kilimanjaro Heartlands. AWF conducts workshops and trainings at the community level to help local leaders manage their lands for conservation and economic development. In addition, AWF organizes trainings for local farmers and women on developing sustainable business ventures.

> Read more about Education and Training.

AWF works to influence policies that strengthen conservation at every level: local, national and international. AWF recommends legislation and facilitates land use that helps everyone – from small communities to entire nations – manage lands successfully and sustainably.

> Read more about Policy Initiatives.

Building innovative, conservation-based businesses, marketing African products and ecotourism attractions around the globe, supporting the education of young Africans who can make a difference in the future of conservation – all these efforts take resources. They take money to fund scholarships and provide seed capital to new enterprises. They take expertise to assess business viability and lead policy initiatives. They take cooperation from governments, individuals, and non-profit partners. AWF is tackling these challenges in order to fulfill the promise of wildlife conservation in Africa. Help AWF build the capacity of the African people.