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A hippo's head partially comes above the water, with water being blown from its nostrils

Global Friends

Since 2003 our Global Friends programme has provided small grants to support the work of partner organisations.

Supporting education work carried out by partners across Africa increases our reach and promotes local solutions to wildlife and human challenges.

It is our belief that promoting tolerance and coexistence amongst communities living alongside wildlife – in environmentally fragile areas or areas supporting high biodiversity – enhances the long-term success of conservation efforts, and benefits both wildlife and communities.

Find out more about our partner organisations below.

GLOBAL FRIENDS PARTNERS

A giraffe stands eating leaves from a treeChipembele Wildlife Education Trust

Since early 2018, we have been partnering with Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust – a well-established grassroots conservation education organisation. This operates in communities close to Mfuwe in Zambia, adjacent to South Luangwa National Park, home to more than 60 species of mammals and almost 500 species of birds.

When large populations of wildlife live in close proximity to people, it can increase human-wildlife conflict. That makes this area an important focus for both people and wildlife. Chipembele runs a long-standing programme of engagement in approximately 50 schools in the greater Mfuwe area, along with many communities.

Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust

A close up of the head and shoulders of gorilla MugarukaPole Pole Foundation

The Pole Pole Foundation works to protect the critically-endangered eastern lowland (Grauer’s) gorillas and its habitat, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

They do this by working with the local communities to end their reliance on the unique rainforest habitat which is the gorillas’ home. Education and community-led sustainable development projects go hand in hand with conservation.

Pole Pole Foundation

Past partners

  • Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Uganda
  • Pole Pole Foundation, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, Malawi