About the Mpingo Conservation & Development Initiative : Our Sponsors

Our Sponsors

A big thank-you to all our sponsors over the years. On the budgets at which we operate every single contribution makes a big difference. You are too numerous to list exhaustively, but we would like to take this opportunity to particularly acknowledge some of our biggest and most loyal sponsors below.

Comic Relief

In 2008, MCDI, through its UK partner, Environment Africa Trust, received its largest grant to date; £282,000 over three years from Comic Relief under the title "Fair Trade for African Blackwood". This had been presaged by a smaller Project Development Grant in 2007 under which we explored various aspects of the blackwood trade in the UK, and developed some of the key elements of the proposal for the main grant. Comic Relief is a British charity, supported by prominent British comedians, whose vision is a "a just world free from poverty".

The Darwin Initiative

The Darwin Initiative awarded a partnership between Fauna & Flora International and the Mpingo Conservation & Development Initiative (then known as the Mpingo Conservation Project) a grant of over £140,000 to cover core costs of the project's activities in Kilwa district between May 2005 and March 2008. The Darwin Initiative seeks to help safeguard the world's biodiversity by drawing on UK expertise to work with local partners in countries that are rich in biodiversity but poor in financial resources. The fund is supported by the UK Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (Defra).

The BP Conservation Leadership Programme and BP Tanzania

The very first expedition in 1996 won a prize in the prestigious BP Conservation Awards programme, and the 1998 and 2000 expeditions were short-listed for follow-up awards. Then in 2004 the project was awarded one of the top consolidation awards, allowing us to start practical conservation activities. In addition BP Tanzania generously supported several expeditions through donation of free fuel, and helped us generated publicity in Tanzania through newspaper articles.

The Panton Trust

Our most loyal sponsor, the Panton Trust supports wildlife conservation all over the world. They do not normally fund projects of this kind and we are particularly grateful for their support over the years.

Fauna & Flora International

Fauna & Flora International (FFI) are one of our key partners. In 2006, through FFI's Communities, Livelihoods & Governance Programme we received a portion of a grant from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Entitled Resources for Improved Livelihoods, the grant enabled FFI and its partners such as MCDI to reflect on how and why we are addressing human needs, to monitor achievements and to develop best practice in combining poverty reduction with conservation. In 2008, FFI provided critical bridging funds to MCDI between the end of the Darwin grant and the start of the Comic Relief grant.

Wild Things Safaris

Wild Things Safaris are a safari company based in Dar es Salaam offering high-quality bespoke safaris throughout Tanzania. Wild Things provide the project with a cost price car repair facility, and various logistical and technological assistance.