Conservation Synergies has developed a framework and expertise in helping organisations find a way forward in complex situations. We couple rigorous social science analyses with regular feedback, co-planning, and varied expertise from other fields to develop practical plans that help to unlock difficult problems. Our approach draws on our broad experience, together with those in the situation, to first frame the problem, and then to conduct detailed interviews to understand deeply the problem and its drivers from those experiencing it. We use thematic analysis to describe the findings from a social-ecological perspective, and then package this in simple understandable ways. A critical step involves ground truthing the results to see if the understanding makes sense and then, using those results, to co-develop practical solutions. This often involves seeking expertise from other fields for tried and trusted approaches used in similar contexts. We help to develop implementable action plans that test solutions to alleviate the problem and improve the situation by tackling immediate issues as well as key drivers. We have been successful with this approach in a number of places.

Conservation Synergies takes a novel approach to understanding the dynamics and risk of corruption in organisations. We have developed a framework approach that starts with social research and analysis to understand the dynamics, drivers and perceptions of the issues, moves to co-designing practical actions to address priority drivers and problems, and then helps to establish implementation systems. We draw from five key approaches that we have identified to reduce and address corruption. We focus on practical responses that will function at both organisational and individual levels.

We piloted this approach in Kruger National Park and are supporting implementation of the approved Integrity Management Plan that resulted. We are further testing this approach in two other large Protected Areas in South Africa and Zambia and with wildlife crime units.

We provide support to build values-driven, stronger and more effective conservation organisations.  Our process starts by understanding internal dynamics, risks and opportunities. At its simplest, our approach emphasises engaging with individuals’ sense of purpose and motivations by strengthening the culture, ethics and values of organisations, and management and leadership styles in particular. We also help to strengthen selection processes that choose people with the values and attributes needed for the organisation and role, and then reward and develop these appropriately.

We help to design partnerships, policies and plans that bring organisations and people together to better govern and manage Protected Areas. We take a people- and values-centred approach to improve shared conservation impact. We focus on sense of purpose to improve the professionalism, accountability and integrity of the people working in Protected Areas.

Conservation Synergies conducts detailed political-economic, governance and organised crime analyses that include specific and targeted recommendations. Whilst our main focus is wildlife crime, we have undertaken analyses of illicit economies, general trafficking (including humans, drugs, gold, precious stones, waste, etc.), funding of Islamic extremism and crime convergence in multiple countries in the southern and East Africa region. We take a three-pronged approach to triangulate information, using in-country and regional experts, experienced regional analysts, and then couple this with academic expertise. In some cases we are able to access the illicit networks or corrupt facilitators to build a more detailed understanding. We couple analytical and academic rigor to produce deep analyses and balanced practical recommendations. To-date this work has been undertaken on contract with the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime – see the analyses and practical recommendations in the following reports: ‘A triangle of vulnerability: Changing patterns of illicit trafficking off the Swahili coast’, ‘Insurgency, illicit markets and corruption: The Cabo Delgado conflict and its regional implications’, and ‘Convergence of wildlife crime and other forms of organised crime in Eastern and Southern Africa’.