The Nature Conservancy focuses on community conservation

From the newsletter

The Nature Conservancy Africa (TNC) has expanded its operations in Africa by adding 62 new employees in the last one year out of 290 in total, placing a strong emphasis on community-based conservation strategies. An analysis of the organisation's profile over the past 12 months shows that community and social services account for 17% of the workforce, totalling 49 employees, which represents the highest figure in a single category.

• TNC's tagline emphasises their commitment to working with communities to overcome challenges and develop innovative solutions for addressing the urgent climate and biodiversity crises.

• In addition to its community focus, TNC Africa boasts a finance department that comprises 41 of the total 290 employees,highlighting their interest in conservation finance.

More details

• TNC has 290 employees across various fields, with 43% (125 people) in environment-related roles, 30% (87 people) in business, 14% (41 people) in finance, and 1% (3 people) in science, while 3% (9 people) work in other sectors. This distribution highlights that community and conservation finance are key elements in addressing environmental challenges for the organisation.

• Among TNC's top skills, Natural Resource Management is represented by 66 employees, Conservation Issues by 65, and both Environmental Policy and Wildlife Management by 57 employees each. This indicates that, while there is a strong emphasis on community involvement in conservation, the scope of conservation activities is diverse and encompasses various aspects of the environment.

• Over the past year, there has been a 25% increase in grant writing as a skill, alongside a 45% growth in Integrated Water Resources Management and a 25% increase in Cultural Resource Management. This underscores the organisation's evolving focus on securing diverse funding streams. As grant writing becomes essential, it reflects a growing need to support conservation projects and livelihood programmes while ensuring financial sustainability and expanding their environmental impact.

• The Nature Conservancy's attrition rates show varied turnover across job functions and regions. Community and Social Services have a low attrition rate of 2%, despite representing 17% of the workforce, while Research experiences a higher attrition rate of 7%, despite having a smaller team. Regionally, Gabon exhibits the highest attrition rate at 19%, suggesting potential challenges in employee retention, whereas Cape Town shows no attrition, indicating stability.

• The 19% attrition rate in Gabon may be linked to dissatisfaction regarding the controversial "blue bonds" programme in 2024. Criticism emerged when $500 million in bonds issued to refinance Gabon's general debt were mislabelled as "blue," implying a direct focus on marine conservation. This misrepresentation may have caused friction among staff involved in the project, especially as Gabon continues to rely heavily on oil revenue rather than environmental initiatives.

• Nonetheless, TNC distinguishes itself with a highly qualified workforce, with 57% of employees holding postgraduate degrees (Master’s or PhDs), significantly exceeding market standards. This emphasis on advanced education could explain TNC's leadership in conservation research, strategic planning, and securing critical funding. With only 30% of the workforce possessing undergraduate degrees, TNC’s commitment to expertise sets it apart in the competitive conservation sector.

Our take

• TNC Africa’s community-centred conservation model is set to play an increasingly vital role in tackling environmental challenges across the continent.

• By connecting conservation efforts directly to the well-being of local communities, the organisation is not only safeguarding Africa’s rich biodiversity but also generating economic opportunities for its people.

• When communities are empowered and involved, they become true stewards of the natural world, ensuring that conservation initiatives have a lasting impact.