Coexistence and Livelihoods

We conserve landscapes and threatened species by ensuring that environmental stewardship provides tangible benefits and supports community livelihoods and wellbeing. As many communities see human-wildlife conflict as a major cost of protected areas, a major part of our work seeks to alleviate human-wildlife conflict and promote coexistence.

Village Savings and Loans Associations

We support livelihoods by expanding access to safe and reliable credit through Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs). These small community groups enable members to save and access loans, with capital generated from weekly share contributions. Our monitoring shows that VSLAs help members diversify their income sources, increase their earnings, strengthen household resilience to elephant crop damage, and foster more positive attitudes toward elephants.

83% of VSLA members report an increase in household income
69 VSLA groups

Conservation performance payments

Conservation agreements are voluntary agreements between STEP and villages, where communities receive tangible benefits in exchange for committing to specific conservation actions. These benefits are decided on in a participatory manner and, depending on community priorities, can go toward social services such as health and education. Following a year-long pilot of conservation agreements, STEP is currently expanding this program to new areas.

Conservation agreements piloted in 3 villages

Crop protection:

We work closely with farmers to pilot and implement novel and innovative ways to keep crops safe from elephant damage. Currently, we support farmers implementing beehive fences, solar-powered strobe lights fences, and metal strip fences. Previously, we trialled smelly repellent and chilli fences. We continually learn and adapt to find solutions that work for both people and elephants .

>8 km of crop protection fences installed

Elephant-proof
food stores:

In some villages, elephants damage crops stored at households after harvest. To safeguard farmers' harvests, we piloted an alternative food store design—originally developed in Zambia—with 20 households between 2022 and 2024. The trial demonstrated that these food stores not only effectively prevent elephant damage but also protect against insect damage and enhance food quality. Building on this success, we are now encouraging wider adoption of elephant-proof food stores, with households contributing 20% of the construction costs.

30 elephant-proof food stores constructed

Strengthening human-elephant conflict response by rangers:

Timely and effective response to human-elephant conflict incidents by trained and well-equipped ranger teams can help to reduce the impact of conflict, prevent dangerous situations for people and elephants, and improve relationships between communities and protected area staff. We provide training, fuel, and equipment to ensure that rangers have the right knowledge, skills and tools to effectively support communities when elephants enter village land.

71% of community members say that ranger response to HEC incidents is effective

Conservation education for students:

Today’s students are tomorrow’s farmers, land users, and decision-makers who will shape future human-wildlife interactions and conservation efforts. We teach a human-elephant coexistence curriculum in over 30 schools, where students learn about elephant ecology and behaviour, wildlife corridors, and solutions to human-elephant conflict. Through our park visits program, students have the chance to experience national parks, observe elephants in the wild, and connect with nature.

754 students supported to visit national parks
>10,000 students receiving conservation education
>13,000 students reached through student led awareness raising events

Conservation outreach with
youth and adults:

Our community outreach program shares information on elephant behaviour, safety around elephants and crop protection, positive attributes of elephants, and the benefits and importance of conserving elephants. We reach thousands of people every year through sports events such as the Tembo Cup, screenings of our human-elephant coexistence film, and household visits. People engaged by STEP’s outreach programs are more aware of the benefits of protected areas, say they are better able to maintain their safety around elephants, and have more positive attitudes toward elephants.

20% increase in the number of people who wish to see elephant numbers increase in national parks following film viewing