The African Wildlife Foundation ( www.awf.org ) has been at the centre of the Economic, Community, and Conservation Development endeavour at Kijabe. With grants from the US Agency for International Development (www.usaid.gov), it has provided funding for tourism development, and more importantly has worked unstintingly to sensitize and support the community in its Conservation work. AWF continues to provide advice and services to all of us here.
Regenesis Ltd. is a Kenyan company set up in 2004 by British couple John and Gill Elias to invest in community-based conservation and tourism projects. Gill is a lawyer-turned-teacher, and as well as being our General Manager takes an active role in community development. John is a former Director in a number of well-know international companies, with experience in Marketing, Operations and Human Resources in many countries. He brings a wealth of management and leadership experience to this project.
The Kijabe Trust was set up by the community with support from AWF. The Trust manages the Ol Lentille Conservancy, attracts donor and social and conservation investor funds, and applies these funds for the benefit of the Community. The Ranch nominates three Trustees who, along with three nominees of Regenesis, a nominee of AWF, and the current Chairman, Hon. Mr. F.X. ole Kaparo (the Speaker of the Kenyan National Assembly), make up the Board of Trustees. The Board appointed John Elias as the Director of the Trust in late 2005. The Trust is in the process of establishing The Kijabe UK Trust and The Kijabe Americas Trust.
As well as being an investor and an employer at Kijabe, Regenesis is also a donor to the Kijabe and neighbouring communities.
In December 2005 Regenesis was also successful in attracting for the Ranch one of the largest ever Grants from the EU's Tourism Trust Fund ( www.ttfkenya.org ) for the expansion and completion of the tourism project.
Kijabe also enjoys some financial assistance through the Naibunga Conservancy from the IBAR programme of the African Union using UN GEF funds.
Regenesis and The Kijabe Trust are members of the Laikipia Wildlife Forum ( www.laikipia.org ), one of the leading conservation organisations in East Africa.
Other donors ( and we hope to be able to add often to this list ) include:
