On the Zambian plains, a new story of possibility is taking shape. Isonde, its name drawn from the Bemba word for earth, is a joint venture born of local insight and regional ambition.

Rather than launch yet another standalone project, Alinea and Forever Wild, have set out to build a purpose-made venture capable of drawing together donor capital, public funding, and private investment into a single, coherent flow of nature finance.

“Through Isonde, Alinea and Forever Wild are combining deep local knowledge with global innovation to unlock nature finance for lasting impact.”

Kerri Rademeyer
Chief Executive Officer, Alinea

The goal is straightforward: unlock the resources needed to protect Southern Africa’s biodiversity while delivering tangible, lasting benefits for the communities who steward it.

The venture’s work will begin where it matters most: on the ground. Early pilots will test new finance models in Southern Africa’s diverse landscapes, proving that conservation returns can be measurable, investable, and equitable.

Those lessons will feed directly into policy dialogue, helping governments craft rules that reward high-integrity approaches and channel capital to the places it can do the most good. At the same time, Isonde will serve as an advisor, sharing hard-won expertise with public agencies, private investors, and grassroots organizations eager to scale similar solutions.

What sets Isonde apart is the partnership behind it. By blending regional knowledge, strong governance, and deep environmental-finance know-how, the venture offers an African-led response to the region’s biodiversity funding gap, one focused less on rhetoric and more on practical results. In the process, it invites investors, policymakers, and conservation champions alike to imagine a future where healthy ecosystems and thriving communities are financed together, not traded off against one another.

The earth beneath our feet is both the venture’s namesake and its purpose. With Isonde, we stand ready to demonstrate that when finance is structured for impact and guided by local insight, nature and people can flourish side by side, and the benefits can ripple well beyond national borders.

“Together, we will work to drive finance for nature in a truly equitable way, where communities and nature are central stakeholders.”

Fiachra Kearney
Executive Director, Forever Wild Initiative (Group)

We recently held the second annual Alinea Platform Meeting in Hoedspruit, South Africa.

Platform meetings enable partners within the Alinea Regional Network to come together, connect and learn in a collaborative environment.The Alinea network now boasts 9 conservation partners across multiple landscapes in Central and Southern Africa.

This year’s theme was “Pivot Points” – key moments for adaptation and change. The meeting catalyzed discussions and learning opportunities vital for organisations facing complex issues in an ever changing world.

Guest speakers included Julian Rademeyer from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, organisational and security consultant Fiachra Kearney and financial investigations expert Neil Bennet.

As the Alinea Network grows we are inspired by these words:
There is no power for change greater than a community – Margaret J. Wheatley

GKEPF’s Project Manager recently travelled to the WCP Zambia headquarters in Zambia to discuss capacity building strategies to counter illegal wildlife trade. He also connected with other team members to broaden the learning experience.

This sharing of expertise will help GKEPF develop effective strategies that are tailored to our local context. Alinea, a landscape intermediary developed from WCPs regional collaboration programme, promotes collaboration and knowledge exchange, recognising that while there are many ways to counter wildlife crime, greater coordination and adoption of best practices are needed.

Learning from WCP/Alinea’s teams and gaining a deeper understanding of their systems and tools will help GKEPF to further develop our own model while aligning it with proven methods to better achieve our conservation goals.

On a lighter note, we also joined a local football match, playing alongside people of all ages and languages. It was a powerful reminder of sport’s ability to unite people, and an inspiration to continue growing the GKEPF Sports Programme.

Thank you, WCP and Alinea, for providing and facilitating such a valuable learning experience.

Regional collaboration across multiple borders is essential in conservation efforts due to the environmental issues that often transcend national boundaries. It allows conservation organisations to pool resources, share information and expertise, and develop coordinated strategies for conservation.
It is for this reason that WCP Zambia established its regional programme – Alinea, which is not just a conservation entity but a vital link supporting grassroots organisations in their fight against the exploitation of wildlife, ecosystems, and communities.
Its mission is to unite organisations and affiliates for a shared goal: ensuring natural security by disrupting exploitation and securing landscapes and the people that live and depend on them.
In 2023, Alinea made significant strides by securing US$9.5 million to combat illegal wildlife trade across Southern Africa. This funding enhances ongoing financial and technical support to 10 organisations and technical assistance to 14 others, strengthening its collaborative efforts in the region. In 2024, Alinea plans to expand its support, investing in and nurturing the growth of grassroots organisations across Africa.