The Ogiek Peoples’ Development Program (OPDP) works to protect the rights and cultural heritage of Kenya’s Ogiek people while conserving the Mau Forest ecosystem. As an indigenous peoples’ organization, they combine environmental conservation with advocacy for land rights and cultural preservation.

OPDP implements integrated programs including: forest protection and restoration; indigenous rights advocacy; sustainable livelihood development; and cultural preservation initiatives. Their approach emphasizes the crucial connection between indigenous rights, traditional knowledge, and effective forest conservation.

The organization has achieved significant successes in advancing indigenous land rights while protecting critical forest areas. Their work has helped secure legal recognition of Ogiek land rights, protected thousands of hectares of forest, and developed sustainable livelihood opportunities that support both conservation and cultural preservation.