Why local conservation challenges require local solutions

© Merline Touko Tchoko

By , , |2024-02-13T16:24:05+00:00February 13th, 2024|Affiliates, Capacity Building, Congo Basin, Interviews, Our Team|Comments Off on Why local conservation challenges require local solutions

In the second part of the series, we continue our interview with Julie Gagoe Tchoko and Merline Touko Tchoko, two sisters from Cameroon, who have been working with Synchronicity Earth as affiliates in our Congo Basin Programme since 2021.

In the first part of our discussion with Julie and Merline, we learnt about the personal experiences that drew them into conservation in the Congo Basin, and the complexities of working in this environment.

Here, we take a deeper look at the context of their affiliate work and conservation approaches in the region, exploring the challenges local organisations face, the successes of community-led action, and what funders can do better.

Q: What does it mean to be an ‘affiliate’ with Synchronicity Earth?

Merline: Our role is to work with and support the organisations that Synchronicity Earth funds in the region. We are present on the ground with those partners, helping to resolve problems, identify capacity needs, and present their results effectively.

Affiliates often live in the same region as partners, so they are familiar with the challeng