Partner selection

Home > Partners > Partner selection

We work with the best African conservation organizations that care about both people and places →

Our partners are developing the solutions that African societies and communities need to make conservation work in the face of rapid change and multiplying pressures. They are providing leadership, building diverse partnerships, and integrating conservation with human rights and economic opportunity.
Maliasili strengthens organizations, builds leadership capacity, and helps local community conservation actors increase their influence and their income. The result: increased impact for people, climate, and wildlife.
1. Source
Find the kinds of organizations that we want to invest in. Maliasili’s deep experience and technical understanding of the African conservation field, combined with diverse local and global networks and strong relationships, provide a strong foundation for sourcing our portfolio.
2. Screen
Carry out an initial screen of organizations that want our support, including reviewing an Expression of Interest, holding initial discussions, and tapping into our networks for references and due diligence.
3. Select
Apply a set of criteria that define the kinds of attributes we are looking for in organizations we choose to support and invest in. We also consider wider strategic factors in terms of the overall composition of our portfolio in addition to assessing the potential of any single organization.

How we select our partners →

Conserving African ecosystems is our ultimate goal. We look for leading African organizations that are doing something special and important in the African conservation and natural resources field, with the potential to grow and achieve more, and to inform and inspire others.
Our specific selection criteria are as follows:

Commitment →

Organizations must be passionate and committed to their mission, to achieving impact, and to improving their organizational performance so that they can become better at what they do.

Leadership →

Organizations must have capable and motivated leadership with a compelling vision, and the desire to work with others to achieve that vision.

Conservation Model →

We look for effective conservation models that primarily work to address:
  1. Strengthening local rights over land and natural resources.
  2. Building stronger local management and decision-making institutions.
  3. Delivering economic incentives for communities to invest in conservation.

Geographic Focus →

We look for organizations that are working in landscapes, ecosystems or countries where conservation outcomes are particularly important.

Track Record →

We look for tangible results and outcomes based on a track record of delivery, or a clear and compelling vision of future impact for early-stage organizations.

Growth Potential →

We look for organizations that have the potential to grow and deliver impact on a significant scale, even if that is within a single landscape or country.
Maliasili exists to help talented local conservation organizations overcome their challenges and constraints so that they can become more effective agents of change in their landscapes, communities, and nations.

Subscribe to our Quarterly Newsletter

Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.

© Maliasili 2014 - 2025

4 Carmichael St, Suite 111-193, Essex Junction, VT 05452

Maliasili is designated as a public charity (501c3) organization by the Internal Revenue Service.