AFRICA: ACCF and Tusk raise $500,000 for biodiversity conservation

The Hamptons, a resort town north-east of New York City in the United States of America, was alive and kicking on the evening of 19 August 2022 for African wildlife conservation. The charity event, called “Karibu Africa”, was attended by many celebrities, including Quinton Aaron, the actor from the film The Blind Side, and mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins. The event raised over $500,000 to help fund the activities of two charities in eastern and southern Africa.

These are the African Community & Conservation Foundation (ACCF) and Tusk, a UK-based conservation organisation funded since 2005 by Prince William. “After the huge success of the Hamptons Lion Trail last summer, we are delighted to once again come together with our partner ACCF to co-host this summer event to raise vital funds for our combined conservation efforts across Africa,” says Charles Mayhew, CEO of Tusk.

This satisfaction was also expressed by Brady Forseth, CEO of ACCF, who also outlined the areas of focus for their funding. “The funds raised will help us fuel capacity building programmes in food security, humanitarian aid, anti-poaching and conservation in our projects in rural Africa,” says Brady Forseth.

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The funding obtained by ACCF and its partner Tusk comes in an African conservation context made difficult by several exogenous factors. The Covid-19 pandemic has devastated jobs and livelihoods across the continent and simultaneously jeopardised years of conservation projects. In addition, the Russian-Ukrainian war is collaterally creating a global food crisis, with shipments of wheat and other grains to Africa halted.

Boris Ngounou