Our mission: The African People & Wildlife Fund (APW) works to conserve Africa’s wildlife, protect their natural habitats, and to promote village development through innovative, multidisciplinary strategies that emphasize coexistence with the natural world.

Our goal: APW aspires to help build the capacity of rural Africans to engage in environmental conservation and sustainable livelihood strategies that promote the dual objectives of biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation.

At APW, we emphasize place-based efforts that maximize villagers’ participation and hands-on involvement in all aspects of our work. Our concern for the people of Africa is explicit and reflected proudly in our name!

With our unique, village-based approach to conservation, we plan to change the face of African conservation!

And, at APW, we practice what we preach ~ Over 85% of our staff are African.

A Brief History

APW was founded in 2001 as the People & Predators Project, a non-profit organization based at Yale University. Originally focused on applied research and the challenges of conserving Africa’s large carnivores, in 2005, the organization made a transition from its research project structure into a broader-reaching non-profit called the People & Predators Fund. At this time, the fund was registered as an independent non-profit based in New Jersey. The Fund continued with the groundbreaking work of collaborative carnivore conservation begun earlier, while expanding the programs the organization offered in support of integrated conservation and village development. In 2008, the organization made its final transition to the African People & Wildlife Fund, reflecting both its expanded mission and long-term commitment to the African continent.