Our Journey: A People-Centred Approach to Conservation
Jamma International was born in 2010 from a deep appreciation for wild places and a growing recognition that conservation cannot succeed without people at its heart. After spending time in Southern Africa—experiencing its vast ecosystems, its incredible wildlife, and the realities of life for those who share the land with it—one truth became clear: the future of wildlife is inseparable from the future of the people living alongside it.
In its early years, Jamma provided financial support to major conservation efforts across Southern Africa and the United Kingdom. But over time, it became evident that many well-intentioned efforts struggled to create lasting change because they did not fully recognise the knowledge, needs, and rights of communities. If conservation is to endure, it must be driven by those most affected by it.
In 2019, Jamma moved beyond traditional funding to take a more active role— working directly with communities, conservationists, and policymakers to create solutions that balanced ecological, social, and economic sustainability. With a small, hands-on team, Jamma focused on building relationships, strengthening expertise, and bridging the disconnect between decision-makers in the Global North and those living with the realities of conservation in the Global South, in particular southern Africa. The goal was clear: to ensure that people most impacted by conservation decisions have a stronger voice in shaping them.
As Jamma’s work expanded, so did its structure. In 2024, recognising the diverse but interconnected challenges facing people and the planet, Jamma International became three distinct organisations—Jamma Conservation & Communities, Jamma Wellbeing, and Jamma Innovation—each with a focused mission. While Jamma Wellbeing and Jamma Innovation engage with broader social impact initiatives, Jamma Conservation & Communities remains dedicated to supporting conservation approaches that respect local rights, grow biodiversity economies, and create realistic, workable solutions for conservation and sustainable resource use.
Today, Jamma Conservation & Communities is committed to ensuring that the voices of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities are heard in conservation dialogues, supporting evidence-based solutions, and championing approaches that acknowledge the complexities of living with wildlife.
