IFAW calls for strong partnerships for wildlife and people ahead of Africa Forward Summit

(Nairobi, 6 May 2026) A global conservation organisation is calling for closer collaboration between governments, the private sector and local communities to ensure wildlife and people are central to Africa's development.

The "Africa Forward Summit: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth" will bring together African and French leaders, business leaders, investors, and civil society representatives on May 11 and 12 in Nairobi.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is urging stronger cooperation across sectors so that biodiversity conservation is fully integrated in Africa's economic growth and climate plans.

This year's summit is the first to be held in a non-French-speaking country, marking an important new chapter in Africa-France relations. Discussions will focus on innovation, the blue economy, sustainable agriculture and green growth.

IFAW welcomes these priorities and stresses that lasting prosperity is not possible without healthy ecosystems and protected wildlife.

"The protection of wildlife and natural habitats is not a peripheral issue: it is an essential condition for climate resilience, food security, and sustainable economic development," says Ben Wandago, Director of IFAW Kenya.

IFAW works across Africa with governments, communities and partners to protect and restore wildlife habitats, tackle poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, and support local livelihoods. Its French and African teams work together to deliver conservation solutions that benefit both people and nature.

"Africa Forward represents a unique opportunity to align political will, funding, and innovation around solutions that benefit both nature and people. Through its entities in France and Africa, IFAW is ready to work with all stakeholders, including the private sector, to design and implement sustainable, high-impact solutions," says Nicolas de Boisgrollier, Director of Strategic Partnerships at IFAW France.

Through its global Room to Roam initiative, IFAW advocates for the preservation and reconnection of natural landscapes essential to the survival of many species, while supporting the livelihoods of local communities.

IFAW also collaborates with African authorities to combat wildlife crime and contribute to the recovery of threatened animal populations.

As part of the summit, IFAW calls on all stakeholders to:

• Systematically integrate wildlife conservation into decisions regarding climate, energy, food security, and infrastructure;
• Invest in landscape-scale conservation models centred on local communities;
• Further mobilise the private sector around nature-positive solutions, particularly through impact investments.

As climate, economic and food security challenges become more closely linked to the health of ecosystems, IFAW emphasises that protecting nature is not optional-it is essential for Africa's stability and prosperity.

Experts available prior to the summit and on-site on May 11:

• English-speaking expert: Ben Wandago, Director of IFAW Kenya
• French-speaking expert: Nicolas de Boisgrollier, Director of Strategic Partnerships at IFAW France

Press Contacts

IFAW France: Camille Vicet, +336 26 38 38 78, [email protected]
IFAW Kenya: Jacqueline Nyagah, +254 722 607640, [email protected]