Podcast | Navigating conservation challenges in Africa | Ademola Ajagbe

How The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Africa use partnerships, science, and sustainable finance to tackle the biodiversity crisis, with our guest Ademola Ajagbe.

Today we’re speaking with an old friend and colleague Ademola Ajagba, the Regional Managing Director at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) for Africa.

Ademola discusses the urgent challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, emphasizing the need for scalable solutions and partnership-based approaches for meaningful impact.

He shares TNC's mission, its’ conservation model, and strategies for using partnership, science, and sustainable finance to tackle the biodiversity crisis.

We also discuss TNC's work in Africa, highlighting specific conservation efforts in the Congo Basin and innovative projects like the Nairobi Water Fund.

Ademola then recounts his journey from a childhood fascinated by nature to his career in conservation - offering insights into effective leadership, the importance of partnership, and the transformational power of
local capacity building in conservation efforts.

Finally, Ademola provides career advice for those aspiring to work in conservation, underscoring the importance of passion, impact, people skills, and resilience in the face of challenges.

It’s a wide-ranging, impactful and Africa-focussed podchat. Enjoy!

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Timeline:

● 00:00 Opening Remarks and Introduction
● 00:17 Addressing Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss
● 01:46 The Nature Conservancy's Mission and Strategies
● 05:45 TNC's Impact and Projects in Africa
● 10:27 Conservation Approaches in Africa
● 15:54 Personal Journey into Conservation
● 19:42 Career Path and Professional Insights
● 23:35 Exploring TNC's Mission and Challenges
● 24:52 Building a Global Team: Successes and Struggles
● 25:29 Cultivating a People-Centric Culture at TNC
● 27:14 Hiring for Impact: Skills and Values at TNC
● 30:05 Advice for Aspiring Conservationists
● 36:53 Personal Reflections and Career Advice
● 39:00 Strategies for Greater Conservation Impact
● 41:48 Staying Optimistic in Conservation Work

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