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HWC workshop in Macaloge Locality. Credit - MWA.

Boosting female participation in Human-Wildlife Conflict workshops

At Mozambique Wildlife Alliance (MWA) and Elephants Alive, we believe that conservation is strongest when diverse voices come together, and opportunities are based on merit. While wildlife protection has traditionally been male-dominated, we are committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that the most dedicated and capable individuals, regardless of gender, can take an active role in conservation.

In 2024, MWA conducted 14 training sessions, equipping 691 participants (506 men and 185 women) with the skills needed to mitigate human-wildlife conflict (HWC) and protect their communities. These workshops focus on understanding wildlife behaviour, implementing prevention strategies, and developing effective response techniques. By encouraging women’s participation and selecting individuals based on merit, we ensure that conservation efforts remain inclusive, impactful, and sustainable.

Beyond our workshops, we are proud to collaborate with women leading the way in conservation research, particularly through our partnership with Elephants Alive. As the matriarchal elephant societies we study, Elephants Alive's dream team of five female PhD scientists leads groundbreaking research on elephant behaviour, providing crucial insights that guide conservation strategies. Their expertise, combined with MWA’s on-the-ground initiatives, ensures that scientific knowledge translates into practical solutions for communities living alongside wildlife. Together, we bridge the gap between research and community-led conservation, proving that protecting wildlife and empowering people go hand in hand. By working side by side, we are fostering a future where conservation is for everyone - where knowledge, passion, and dedication determine impact, not gender.

Shepherd Spotlight - Atanásio: A voice of the Earth

While empowering women is a crucial step toward inclusive conservation, uplifting local leaders on the frontlines of human-wildlife conflict is just as vital. One of those voices is Atanásio, an Elephant Shepherd from Incomati Rengue, whose deep commitment to conservation recently made him a standout figure at the Vozes da Terra (Voices of the Earth) seminar, a gathering that celebrated community-driven conservation efforts. As a key leader in one of our Protected Farming Communities, Atanásio shared how HWC mitigation strategies have transformed life in his village. His words weren’t scripted or rehearsed - they were raw, real, and deeply personal, offering a rare glimpse into the daily realities of farmers living alongside elephants.

To bring his story to life, we screened a short video at the seminar where Atanásio shared his journey in his own words.

The MWA booth at Vozes da Terra became a hub of curiosity and engagement, featuring essential HWC tools such as fireworks, airhorns, flashlights, and GPS collars for elephants and buffalo. One of the biggest crowd-pullers was a live demonstration of chilli bricks - an innovative, low-cost solution to keep elephants away from crops.

But perhaps the most powerful moment came when Atanásio held up a small bag of seeds gifted to him at the event and said, “Keep this photo for five years, and then we’ll take another one - with the tree already planted in the fence.”

In that moment, his words became more than just a statement - they became a symbol of hope, resilience, and the long-term vision at the heart of our Protected Farming Communities Initiative. His story isn’t just about protecting wildlife, it is about nurturing relationships over time such as between MWA and Elephants Alive, playing to each other’s strengths to empower the people who share the landscape with elephants, and ensuring a future where both can thrive.

Written by Adriana Pampulin, Katie Thompson, and Michelle Henley. For more information on this Darwin Initiative Capability & Capacity project 30-028 please click here.