African Conservancies Fund (ACF)

The African Conservancies Fund (ACF), established by Conservation International (CI), provides debt capital to the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT) to fund sustainable revenue-generating activities like eco-tourism and carbon credit generation. Having provided USD 500,000 in loan capital, CI aims to scale this to USD 5 million over two years and eventually USD 100 million. The model relies on local land ownership and a legal trust structure to ensure community-led management and income generation, with plans to expand the concept across Sub-Saharan Africa.

• The African Conservancies Fund (ACF) provides debt capital to the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT) to fund sustainable activities including eco-tourism, sustainable agriculture, and carbon credit generation, with loans to be repaid from the resulting revenue.
• Conservation International (CI) and its affiliates have provided USD 500,000 in loan capital to date, with a target to increase this to USD 5 million over two years and a post-proof of concept goal of USD 100 million.
• The success of the Trust model depends on local community authority over land management and a legal framework that allows Trusts to borrow money, take investments, and distribute funds.

APA

Climate Policy Initiative (2021). African Conservancies Fund (ACF). https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/gca-africa-adaptation-finance/case_studies/african-conservancies-fund-acf-2/

Chicago

Climate Policy Initiative. African Conservancies Fund (ACF). 2021. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/gca-africa-adaptation-finance/case_studies/african-conservancies-fund-acf-2/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Policy Initiative |title=African Conservancies Fund (ACF) |date=16 September 2021 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/gca-africa-adaptation-finance/case_studies/african-conservancies-fund-acf-2/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatepolicyinitiative2021african, author = {{Climate Policy Initiative}}, title = {{African Conservancies Fund (ACF)}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2021}, month = sep, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/gca-africa-adaptation-finance/case_studies/african-conservancies-fund-acf-2/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }