- Mara North Conservancy
- Wildlife management
- Mara ecosystem
- Wildebeest migration
- Maasai People
- Seasons
- Wildlife blog
Partners
Karen Blixen Camp is partnering with international as well as governmental agencies. NGOs provides expertise and special know-how, whereas our tourism partners and local communities offer network and valuable capacity building
Danida
Danida is the Danish International Development Assistance to developing countries. Its legal mandate is to provide economic and technical support to developing countries with the objective to achieve economic growth, social development and political independence within the framework of the principles of the United Nations.
With the Africa Commission of 2008 the Danish Government decided to focus its international development assistance to the Sub-Saharan African countries and address the social and environmental challenges these countries are facing. Investing with private companies is a very important part of Danida’s development programs, as these partnerships ensure the creations of new jobs, contributing to the reduction of poverty. It is estimated that Africa needs 11 million new jobs every year to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals of 2015.
Learning for Life, Responsible Tourism at Karen Blixen is a community educational project funded by Danida through its IPD Programme. The Innovative Partnership for Development Programme provides economic support to companies who have the ambition to facilitate corporate social investments for the betterment of people living in the developing countries. The overall objective is to contribute to poverty reduction by promoting economic growth and social development through innovative investments. The IPD Programme operates within the framework of the UN's Global Compact.
Karen Blixen Camp has been granted the funding to facilitate better tertiary education for the local Maasai youth. We are very grateful for the recognition and will make every effort possible to honor Danida and the Danish Government. Please go to www.ambnairobi.um.dk for more information about Danida’ IPD Programme.
IFU, Investment fund for developing countries
Karen Blixen Camp is a Kenyan registered company owned by Danish shareholders. Its main investor is IFU, the Investment fund for developing countries, which was established by the Danish Government in 1967. The main objective is to promote economic and social growth in developing countries in collaboration with Danish trade and industry.
Companies that IFU has invested in with share capital or loan must integrate an ambitious CSR policy adhering to the principles of the UN Global Compact, seven international conventions and support the UN Millennium Development Goals of 2015. This ensures high standards in respect of environment, labour principles, human rights and anti-corruption.
Research shows that nine out of ten jobs in developing countries are created in the private sector. Private sector growth is therefore needed if development in Africa is to be achieved.
IFU has invested with Danish companies in Africa for nearly 40 years and is one of the most experienced institutions when it comes to investing in and setting up businesses on commercial terms on the continent. Please visit www.ifu.dk more information.
UN Global Compact
The UN Global Compact has established networks throughout the world assisting private companies to network, attend seminars and learn more about the framework of the UN Global Compact.
Kenya Association for Manufacturers provides the platform for the UN Global Compact Local Network in Kenya. KAM organize seminars to align business operations and strategies with the ten UN Global principles in the areas of human rights, labour standards, environmental safeguard and anti-corruption for Kenyan companies supporting the principles of the UN Global Compact.
Karen Blixen Camp attends specialized workstreams to access the UN Global Compact extensive knowledge of moral authority and experience with sustainability and development issues. Please visit www.unglobalcompact.org and www.kam.co.ke for more information.
Mara North Conservancy
Karen Blixen Camp is founding member camp of Mara North Conservancy. We protect 32,000 Ha of pristine wildlife area in close partnership with the local Maasai communities and our nine tourism partners. Mara North Conservancy was established with the ambition to create a best practice, world-class conservancy with long term commitments to the environment, wildlife and local communities.
Prior to the establishment of the conservancy, the area was known as Koyaki-Lemek District. Nine different organizations managed and protected the area, which meant reimbursement of the conservancy fee collected was uncoordinated and unreliable. It is estimated that 80 percent of the total yearly conservancy fees disappeared due to mismanagement and corruption. Furthermore cattle grazing, human settlement as well as development of new tourist establishment was uncontrolled and mushrooming.
Today, the Maasai landowners are provided with the economic incentives to set aside their land for wildlife conservation. 80 percent of every dollar paid is forwarded to the Maasai landowners as fixed monthly lease payments and 20 percent is allocated for paying salaries for the 30 rangers employed protecting our wildlife area.
Mara North Conservancy is managed by a board of directors, elected by the camp owners. The board works in close partnership with the Masai Landowner Committee to meet short and long term objectives for the future. The Landowner Committee reports to all landowners for their final approval. Twice a year full community meetings are held whereby all landowners are able to voice their opinion on the way forward. Please visit www.maranorth.com for more information.
Martin Sonderby Nielsen, director and owner of Karen Blixen Camp, is member of the Executive Board of MNC and hold the position as Treasurer. He is responsible for the daily management of MNC and the lease payments. Katrine Jessen, Project Manager of Karen Blixen Camp is assisting Mara North Conservancy with information and fundraising. Karen Blixen Camp is obliged to pay 340,000 USD per year in fixed lease payments.
The Woodlands 2000 Trust
The Woodlands 2000 Trust is a Kenyan based organization that offers afforestation consultancy services to private companies, farmers and landowners who are interested in commercial and environmental sustainable woodlot farming. The overall objective is to create a sustainable and profitable tree products industry that contributes towards poverty alleviation, environmental conservation and increased bio-diversify in semi-arid regions.
The tree growing and processing industries project is an ambitious initiative by the Woodlands 2000 Trust to promote small, medium and large scale private sector afforestation ventures and to sustainable ensure local and regional demand for woodland products. Thus participants access land-planning services, seeds and seedlings, planting materials, tree survival and woodlot management services.
The Woodland 2000 Trust was established in 2001 with a grant from the British Government, DFID, Department of International Development’s Business Partnership Program, in close partnership with the Tamarind Group.
Karen Blixen Camp is partnering with the Woodlands 2000 Trust to establish a Forestry School. The ambition is to offer education for the Maasai youth on how to plant and grow sustainable woodlots for the restoration of the Mara woodland areas. The Forestry School will offer theoretical tuition as well as practical demonstrations emphasizing on wood farming and micro financed enterprises. Please visit www.woodlands2000trust.org for more information. Karen Blixen Camp is guaranteeing the payment of 340,000 USD per year as fixed lease payments.
Karen Blixen Camp Ltd.