About the Mpingo Conservation Project : 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.

The Darwin Initiative

The Darwin Initiative awarded a partnership between Fauna & Flora International and 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 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 have 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 (other student expeditions are urged not to make unsolicited applications) and we are particularly grateful for their support over the years.

Fauna & Flora International

Fauna & Flora International (FFI) are one of our key partners. Through FFI's Biodiversity and Human Needs Programme we received a portion of a grant from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Entitled Resources for Improved Livelihoods, the grant is enabling FFI and its partners such as the MCP 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.

The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

The RGS-IBG are regular supporters of the Mpingo Conservation Project through the Expedition Research Grants scheme. Copies of all our reports are deposited in the RGS library; the report from the 1998 expedition was especially commended by Shane Winser, head of the Expeditionary Advisory Centre at the RGS, as "one of the best I have received in the past two decades!".

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.

Universities of Cambridge and East Anglia

All of our expeditions were approved by either Cambridge University or UEA as appropriate. This gave a big boost to fund-raising and opened up funds from the Cambridge Expeditions Fund and the UEA Travel & Expeditions fund. In addition the various colleges at Cambridge and Cambridge Commonwealth Travel Bursaries provided much appreciated sponsorship of individual participating students.