The Issue: local communities—particularly women— are disproportionately affected by the negative impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, and human–wildlife conflict. However, less than 10% of conservation funding flows to the local level, and less than 0.2% of all philanthropic funding focuses on women and the environment.
The Opportunity: local communities play an irreplaceable role in conservation management—especially around South African wildlife areas. WEIF will accelerate the empowerment of local communities whilst elevating global consciousness on their role in combating biodiversity loss.
Key Projects / Initiatives:
- WEIF Conservation Stories Academy: as one of WEIF’s flagship projects, the Conservation Stories Academy will be a dedicated social enterprise for local communities to engage in activities related to nature conservation and storytelling.
- Women-to-Women Mentorship Programme: a dedicated resource for women from local communities to directly engage in nature conservation by connecting aspiring female nature conservationists with leaders in the field.