The Mpilo Conservation Fund aims to redefine conservation in South Africa by placing people at the heart of our strategy. We created The Mpilo Conservation Fund to drive positive and measurable impact through targeted actions. Rather than treating conservation as a top-down initiative, Mpilo embraces an active co-ownership of stewarding the land and wildlife together with communities bordering reserves.
Our economic model is built on the premise that conservation must address socio-economic realities and deliver tangible benefits to local communities, specifically in areas where the State is not able to meet the communities’ needs. We employ a robust people development framework rooted in Occupational Intelligence to direct Mpilo’s programmes. These are designed to shift people from a dependency mindset toward agency—where “I can’t” becomes “I can.” This transformation happens through strategic partnerships and programmes that integrate tourism, agriculture, education, and other livelihood-enhancing sectors that provide income and reinforce environmental stewardship.
Only individuals who demonstrate readiness to grow will be accepted into Mpilo’s rigorous recruitment process. The selection process ensures that applicants are emotionally and mentally ready for the challenges ahead. Once enrolled, participants will embark on a curriculum that blends technical training with personal development. Modules include financial literacy, marketing, record-keeping, mentorship, and life skills. Special attention will be given to themes like gender-based violence and disability inclusion, reflecting the holistic nature of the programme. Once graduated, participants may be appointed as Programme Ambassadors who often return as programme facilitators, creating a virtuous cycle of peer-led development.
Occupational Intelligence (OI) is the applied science that will underpin our community work. It identifies how individual responses to life’s challenges affect personal growth, business performance, and community engagement, demonstrating that shifting these responses can create change. Mpilo will use OI to design programmes that cultivate resilience, adaptability, and leadership.
Our programmes will be structured around three measurable core principles:
Value Exchange – Participants must meet targets to ensure they build self-worth and accountability so that no opportunity becomes a handout.
Just-Right Challenge – Programmes stretch individuals just beyond their comfort zones, building willpower and self-esteem.
Zero-Tolerance for Rescuing – Facilitators support the journey to a better quality of life, and may not remove agency or perpetuate “I can’t” mindsets through rescuing behaviours.
From enterprise development to early childhood education, our core principles are reinforced through diagnostic tools that measure responsiveness, resilience, and gratification. A sophisticated impact measurement framework will track progress across 73 indicators, including:
These tools will allow participants to self-diagnose and take ownership of their development in their chosen programmes. The data will also enable us to refine programmes and demonstrate impact to funders and stakeholders.
Mpilo’s governance model ensures transparency and accountability. The Fund shares a management team with The Go Group to maintain consistency in programme delivery and impact reporting.
Board members and Trustees include stakeholders from conservation, education, and business sectors, ensuring diverse perspectives and strategic oversight.
The Mpilo Conservation Fund is not just conserving land and animals—it is cultivating human potential. Aided by occupational intelligence, Mpilo will provide communities with the tools to co-own the conservation agenda and, in so doing, create a dynamic and thriving social-ecological system.
Through strategic partnerships, rigorous impact measurement, and a commitment to dignity and agency, Mpilo aims to set a new standard for conservation in South Africa. Our model is constantly reminded that the protection of land and biodiversity is inseparable from the people who collaborate on achieving this reality.
