Partners

The Rwandan Development Board (RDB)

The RDB is the government agency responsible for managing Rwanda’s national parks and protected areas. Its mission is to transform Rwanda into a dynamic hub for business, investment and innovation, with a mission to fast-track economic development in Rwanda by enabling private-sector growth. We recognise Ms Claire Akamanzi for her unwavering support of Akagera and Nyungwe.

Hempel Foundation

The Danish Hempel Foundation is a shareholder of the Hempel Group and a dedicated philanthropic organisation. The Foundation is committed to making a difference by empowering children to learn, and by addressing the biodiversity crisis, focusing on three crucial areas: sustaining specific key biodiversity areas, the development of new sources of finance for biodiversity conservation, and strengthening collective efforts. The Hempel Foundation has supported African Parks since 2022, starting with Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda, followed by Boma-Badingilo in South Sudan in 2023 and Gambella National Park, Ethiopia, from 2024.

Stichting Natura Africae

A charitable foundation established in 2017 by Jan Verhagen, a Dutch entrepreneur, Natura Africae is dedicated to the conservation of national parks and protected areas in Africa, recognising the reciprocal relationship between the livelihoods of local communities and the successful protection of an ecosystem’s wildlife. The Foundation provided €4.1 million in 2023, supporting park operations in Liuwa Plain, Odzala-Kokoua, Matusadona, Nyungwe and Ennedi. The grant also provided catalytic funding to strengthen African Parks’ community development work, particularly related to education.

Pho3nix Foundation

The Pho3nix Foundation is a global non-profit inspiring children to be active and realise their potential through sport. Believing that opportunity should be defined by potential, not privilege, Pho3nix creates programs that make movement accessible, enjoyable, and life-changing for children everywhere.

In Rwanda, the Foundation supports the Nyungwe Kids’ Football for Conservation initiative, delivered by the Nyungwe Management Company (NMC) under the management of Nyungwe National Park. Established through a government contract between the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and African Parks, NMC runs a weekend football program for children aged 5–15 that combines sports training with conservation education. Together, Pho3nix Foundation and NMC are helping foster physical activity, healthy lifestyles, and environmental awareness among local youth—uniting communities and empowering the next generation to thrive through sport and stewardship.

The Wyss Foundation

The Foundation is a private charitable organisation dedicated to supporting innovative, lasting solutions that improve lives, empower communities and strengthen connections to the land. The Foundation’s relationship with African Parks began in 2015 with a grant to support the restoration of Akagera National Park, followed by a significant investment in Malawi’s Liwonde National Park and Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. In 2017, the Foundation made a ground-breaking commitment of US$65 million to provide ongoing support for Akagera and the Malawi parks, along with start-up funding for five new parks. This enabled the addition of Pendjari and W in Benin, Bazaruto Archipelago National Park in Mozambique, Iona National Park in Angola and Matusadona National Park in Zimbabwe. In 2021, the Foundation furthered its support of African Parks with another extraordinary commitment of US$108 million, which will provide for the continued support of current Wyss-funded parks, as well as start-up funding for another five new parks. Three new parks in the African Parks portfolio – Kafue National Park in Zambia, Badingilo and Boma National Parks in South Sudan – are benefitting from the Wyss Foundation’s latest commitment and two are benefiting from renewal commitments – Bazaruto and Pendjari.