Reimagining Intermediaries: Shifting Power Dynamics in Conservation Funding

Shreya Chakrabarti, Resson Kantai Duff, and Jessie Davie critique the persistent inequities in conservation funding, which distance resources from frontline actors. 

Historically, conservation has favored centralized, colonial structures, displacing local and Indigenous communities and concentrating power among distant institutions. Despite managing critical biodiversity regions, Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) receive minimal direct financial support, exacerbated by myths around their financial management capacities. They argue this "capacity myth" perpetuates structural barriers and biases that unfairly limit local organizations' access to meaningful funding. 

Real-world examples from Namibia, Madagascar, and Kenya showcase the effectiveness of direct community governance models, demonstrating superior ecological and socioeconomic outcomes compared to traditional conservation methods. The success of Namibia’s communal conservancies, Madagascar’s locally managed marine areas, and Kenya’s Maasai Mara conservancies underline the critical need for flexible, direct funding that empowers community leadership and governance. These models illustrate that trust-based investments in local organizations foster more sustainable conservation outcomes by aligning ecological goals with local priorities, enhancing long-term resilience and equity. 

The authors call for transformative funding approaches, urging governments, philanthropists, and conservation organizations to adopt equitable funding models that recognize local leadership, reduce bureaucratic barriers, and provide long-term, flexible financial support, ultimately positioning local communities as genuine leaders in conservation.

Interested in the full article? Check out the next issue of Policy Matters, coming October 2025.