(Posted 23rd October 2025)
We are pleased to share the latest update on Project Bomoko, our integrated management plan which aims to further embed a human rights-based approach to conservation across African Parks, and to drive compliance with international safeguards standards. In line with our commitment to stakeholders, we will regularly communicate progress in implementing actions that enable all African Parks employees to assess, prevent, and mitigate negative human rights impacts across our operations.
Overall, execution of Project Bomoko is on track and there is positive momentum across all areas. Multiple independent assessments of our existing systems and processes are underway. These include an evaluation of human rights risks related to conservation law enforcement activities – where we are reviewing the documentation of encounters between rangers and suspected poachers. The findings of these assessments will inform updates to our standard operating procedures and drive system changes over the coming months.
So far, a key learning is that off-the-shelf solutions are not available for many of the challenges we seek to address. For example, in the Republic of Congo there is no existing framework to guide the provision of remedy to victims of human rights abuses. Developing a viable remedy framework and other needed solutions will necessitate collaboration with experts and consultation with stakeholders. As a result, some of the actions may require more time than anticipated. This investment in time and effort is worthwhile, and we are committed to validating new systems and processes that will benefit not only African Parks, but potentially other conservation organisations.
Below are some of the latest actions taken under Project Bomoko:
Strengthening Governance and Oversight
To further reinforce its oversight of human rights and safeguards, the African Parks Network Board has established a sub-committee of the Board. This Rights and Safeguards Committee will include a dedicated human rights expert and will be responsible for guiding and overseeing the formulation and execution of African Parks’ safeguards strategy and policies. The executive team will report regularly to the new committee on the implementation of Project Bomoko, and on the integration of lessons into our operational and governance frameworks.
Building Knowledge and Capacity
At the recent African Parks Management Meeting, over seventy senior leaders participated in training on principles of human rights in conservation. The course provided an opportunity to review relevant international legislation and standards, as well as discuss their application in the complex operating environment of protected areas in multiple countries. This human rights training for African Parks management is an extension of the established curriculum for Conservation Law Enforcement teams.
The course was delivered by Dr. Makanatsa Makonese, the newly appointed African Parks Human Rights and Criminal Justice Advisor. Makanatsa brings valuable expertise in the law and human rights, coupled with extensive experience across Africa. She will provide technical support to the Independent Panel of the Grievance and Redress Mechanism (GRM-IP). Her advisory support to the African Parks executive will contribute to improved understanding of human rights, and increased compliance with standards across the organisation.
Assessing Risks and Mitigating Impacts
Evaluations of environmental and social risks will be conducted for all parks under AP management. For new park signings, this will enable identification of legacy issues and potential adverse human rights impacts that could arise from future AP operations. This independent evaluation was recently completed for Gambella National Park in Ethiopia. This is a key step in the transition plan following the signing of a management agreement at the end of 2024 between the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA), the President of the Gambella Peoples’ National Regional State (the Gambella State), and African Parks. The assessment included consultations with local communities and other stakeholders, and findings will inform the management plan for the park.
A similar assessment of environmental and social risks will be completed by end December 2025 in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, in the Republic of Congo. The independent consultants will repeat the evaluation conducted in 2021, to assess progress made in risk mitigation over the last five years. The findings will also inform the environmental and social action plan to guide further improvements.
Expanding Access to Natural Resources
Project Bomoko includes park-specific actions for Odzala-Kokoua National Park which are intended to improve access to natural resources for local people, and particularly for the Autochthone community (Indigenous People). Among these actions, important progress has been made in improving access to clean drinking water through the drilling of boreholes at Mbomo and Olleme. Two additional boreholes will be completed by November at Olloba and Mbandza.
In addition to boreholes, an alternative water capture system has been implemented in four communities, with eight more planned by the end of the year. The alternative system is suitable for areas where water can be captured from the natural flow of streams. Using these combined approaches, clean water access will be improved in over half of all villages around the park by the end of the year.
We are confident that these efforts represent meaningful steps toward ensuring that protection of biodiversity is consistent with upholding the rights of the local people who inhabit the conservation landscapes and contributing to their socio-economic needs.
Learn More About Project Bomoko
With all good wishes,
Peter Fearnhead
CEO
African Parks
