Maliasili

The end of the year is a natural time to celebrate hard work and #achievements. Yet, one task often fills people with a bit of dread: the annual performance #review. For many, it can feel reminiscent of getting a report card in school, with high stakes, as team members discover if they’ll receive a raise, a promotion, or even constructive feedback on areas for improvement. In our latest Reader, our Head of People and Culture, James Kiogora, shares clear, actionable steps to transform the year-end review into an open, engaging, and productive conversation that team members will find meaningful and #motivating rather than something they’d rather avoid.

An end-of-the-year checklist to make sure you end strong ? The end of the year is a busy time for many #conservation organizations. From finalizing programmatic and donor reports to running fundraising appeals and planning for the year ahead, this time can feel overwhelming and daunting. To help you think about the key things that need your attention - your actions, team, and funding - this Reader has a valuable checklist to help you finish the year strong ?? https://lnkd.in/dFeqPymB

Great and thoughtful reflections, Taku S. Gwitira. Learning and reflecting are integral to our culture, and your insights are incredibly valuable. Taku recently joined our team as a Portfolio Associate for the KAZA region, and we’re thrilled to see her bring her years of impactful experience as an environmental lawyer and advocate to our work with partners, and community conservation efforts more broadly.

"We are so lucky!" This was the sentiment shared by the second cohort of the Madagascar Environmental Leadership Program (MELP) as they concluded their first workshop, focused on?Leading Self. What began as a week filled with apprehension about their effectiveness as leaders transformed into a journey of hope and self-discovery. Through honest and courageous conversations, the group explored critical leadership topics such as?followership, trust, and power, drawing on their own experiences to enrich the dialogue. The peer-learning approach fostered a strong sense of support and nurtured their growth, helping participants uncover their unique leadership strengths while identifying blind spots to address. At Maliasili, we believe in elevating local African environmental and conservation leaders through programs like this - rooted in collaboration, insight, and a shared commitment to community conservation excellence. Together, we’re building stronger, more resilient leaders and organizations equipped to tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow. Alihasina RAKOTONDRAMANANA Liz Prémesnil Day Marianne Haritiana Randriamihaja Josia Razafindramanana #LeadershipDevelopment #ConservationLeadership #Madagascar #EnvironmentalLeadership #Maliasili

What is emotional intelligence, and why does it matter to conservation leaders? As a new leader or someone entering a professional environment, there's often a strong focus on strategic leadership. Yet, it's increasingly clear that great leadership requires not only strategic thinking but also emotional intelligence. This is crucial across all teams. This past edition of the Reader explores the core principles of emotional intelligence, featuring real-world examples from the #conservation and #environmental field that highlight the application of its five key components. https://lnkd.in/d7J5QSx5

Charcoal is the primary energy source for most Tanzanians, especially in urban areas, due to its affordability and widespread availability. However, traditional charcoal production methods are unsustainable, leading to widespread forest degradation, loss of biodiversity, and adverse impacts on communities dependent on forests for fuel, other products, and essential ecosystem services. One of our Tanzanian partners, MTANDAO WA JAMII WA USIMAMIZI WA MISITU TANZANIA (MJUMITA), is working hard to change this, with great impact. The African Visionary Fund highlights how in this article: https://lnkd.in/ddfYqBky

It’s never too early to plan your year-end conservation communications. Effective year-end messaging tells your organization’s story - achievements, successes, challenges - and engages your audiences meaningfully. Whether it’s a newsletter or outreach to top donors, here’s why it matters: ?? It provides your team with an opportunity for internal?thinking, reflection,?and?learning. ?? It supports?fundraising?efforts - especially around the giving season. ?? It promotes?stakeholder buy-in?by demonstrating your impact and achievements of the year. ?? It helps you to?recognize and thank?your partners, donors and supporters. ??And often, it boosts?team morale?by getting your team excited about what you’ve achieved together. Tips for success: ??Choose a theme: Center your communications around a compelling idea. ??Share great stories: Combine metrics with powerful narratives that connect and inspire. ??Be visual: Use photos, videos, and infographics to stand out. ??Tailor to your audience: Customize messages for donors, partners, and supporters. Learn more in this Reader - https://lnkd.in/dbeqnfpB #YearEndFundraising #Conservation #Communications

Last week, the Maliasili Kenya portfolio team had the privilege of traveling to Eldoret to meet with our newest partner,?Scope Intervention?(Saving and Conservation of Our Planet Earth Intervention), and to participate in their inaugural?International Conference on Climate Change and Ecosystem Restoration (ICCCER). Founded in 2012, SCOPE Intervention has been a pioneer in driving local environmental initiatives aimed at combating climate change and reversing ecosystem degradation. Their impactful work spans critical regions, including the?Mau Forest,?Baringo, and?Eldoret, where they are making strides in ecosystem restoration. SCOPE is also part of the?TerraFund for AFR100's Second Cohort, a critical initiative for scaling land restoration across Africa. During our visit, we aligned on the roles and responsibilities of our partnership, explored SCOPE's ambitious restoration plans, and discussed their influential role within the?Restoration Alliance. At the ICCCER conference, themed?“Rethinking Our Ecosystems,”?we attended thought-provoking sessions on?nature-based solutions for climate resilience and saw firsthand SCOPE’s unwavering commitment to environmental leadership. We left Eldoret inspired and energized by SCOPE Interventions' vision and work. We are excited to collaborate with them on this impactful journey toward ecosystem restoration and climate resilience.

This powerful article by Devex further emphasizes why localization is key to indigenous-led nature conservation despite the legacy and persistence of exclusionary, colonial-era conservation practices. Our very own Resson Kantai Duff highlights that: “Community conservation is not just an idea or concept. It is tried, it is proven, and it is working. You can see it in the tripling of Namibia's elephant population since the start of the community conservation movement there, and in the sevenfold jump in fish counts in Madagascar where such efforts have been put in place.” Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gXUPShwa

?? KopeLion is a dedicated organization that fosters lasting coexistence between pastoralist communities and lions in Tanzania's Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Their mission is crucial, addressing the delicate balance between human livelihoods and wildlife conservation, ensuring that both can thrive together. We recently spent time with the KopeLion team breaking down the essentials of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL). At first glance, MEL might seem like jargon, but as we unpacked each component, it became clear that it's about leveraging everyday actions to drive meaningful change. What is MEL? Why does it matter? How can a clear Theory of Change and well-chosen indicators tell a compelling story of impact? By the end of the workshop, progress was tangible. Over the past two years, KopeLion has faced challenges in establishing a robust M&E system, but after our sessions, there was a collective sense of optimism and a clear path forward. For a conservation organization, a well-structured MEL system is essential - it not only guides program effectiveness but also demonstrates impact, attracting essential support and collaboration. Supporting partners like KopeLion in building strong systems is key to helping them fulfil their mission. ?? #ImpactfulChange #MonitoringandEvaluation #ConservationLeadership #KopeLion #Conservation