Partners and funders

Malawi's joint governance fund, established in 2009, that supports civil society and citizen-led action for accountable, inclusive governance. Tilitonse has backed community voices in natural resource decision-making, helping member associations hold duty-bearers to account on forest, wildlife and land matters.

The Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, founded in 1977, is an Indigenous-led non-profit supporting grassroots self-determination, healthy environments and community well-being across the Americas and beyond. It brings an Indigenous worldview of seven-generation stewardship to its partnerships with community organisations.

The African network for Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas. AICA champions recognition of the territories and areas conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities, and supports their governance by the communities who hold them — directly mirroring the Forum's co-management model.

The Community Leaders Network is a Southern African network of community representatives from seven countries advocating for community rights in natural resource management. It strengthens the Forum and its peers to negotiate fairer benefit-sharing and secure tenure for communities living in and around protected areas.

The United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — the UK's development ministry — funds long-term programmes in Malawi spanning governance, climate and natural resources. Its support has underpinned efforts to strengthen community governance of Malawi's forests, wildlife and fisheries.

The UK charity that raises and grants funds for grassroots organisations in Africa and the UK. Comic Relief has funded community-based conservation and livelihoods work in Malawi, supporting the kind of community-led action the Forum exists to coordinate and amplify.

The Government of Malawi hosts the policy environment in which the Forum operates. Through its ministries and departments it co-chairs national co-management dialogue and oversees the legal and regulatory frameworks for community participation in natural resource management.

Jamma supports conservation that works for communities — advising community organisations, governments and funders on community-centered natural resource management across Africa. It has accompanied the Forum in strengthening member association governance and operations.

Malawi's Ministry of Agriculture is a key government counterpart for the Forum's livelihoods pillar. Its extension services, irrigation and farm development programmes intersect directly with the community enterprises and land-use decisions member associations manage.

A Southern African organisation supporting community-based natural resource management in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania and beyond. Resource Africa shares decades of community conservancy experience across the region with the Forum's member associations.

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife regulates Malawi's protected areas and statutory councils. Through joint management and co-management agreements it works hand-in-hand with the Forum's member associations around Nyika, Vwaza, Majete, Lengwe, Liwonde and other protected areas.