La Fondation Des Savanes Ouest-africaines

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: €750,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: Small grants to large institutional grants (€500,000+ annually for major protected areas)
• Geographic Focus: W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger

Contact Details

• Website: https://fsoactf.org/en/
• Email: fsoa041012@gmail.com / contact@fsoactf.org
• Phone: +22997727515
• UK Registered Address: 10 Queen Street Place, London, EC4R 1BE
• Benin Office: Cadjèhoun, Cotonou, Benin

Overview

LA FONDATION DES SAVANES OUEST-AFRICAINES (FSOA), also known as the West African Savannah Foundation (WASF), was established in November 2012 as a UK limited liability company and registered as a UK charity (number 1153809) in 2013. The foundation operates as a conservation trust fund dedicated to providing sustainable, long-term financing for biodiversity preservation in the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex—a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning approximately 50,000 km² across Benin (43%), Burkina Faso (36%), and Niger (21%). The foundation was created with financial support from the Government of Benin (contributing 11 billion CFA francs/€1.5 million during 2008-2010), German Cooperation (KfW), and technical support from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Since its inception, FSOA has received approximately €32 million from KfW and distributes approximately €750,000 annually in grants. The WAP Complex is home to the only viable population of the endangered West African lion and 85% of all savannah elephants in West Africa, making FSOA's conservation funding critically important to regional biodiversity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

FSOA operates two primary grant channels (“wickets”):

1. Protected Areas (PA) Grants: Large institutional grants for national park management organizations based on Development and Management Plans and Annual Work Plans. In 2023, FSOA contributed €1.12 million to Pendjari and W National Parks in Benin. The foundation commits approximately €500,000 per year per major protected area.

1. Small Grants Program: Funding for NGOs, community associations, cooperatives, and academic/research institutions working on biodiversity preservation and sustainable natural resource management in the WAP Complex.

1. Cross-Border Activities Wicket: Funding for transboundary conservation activities across the tri-national WAP Complex.

Application Methods: Not publicly advertised. The foundation works primarily with legally recognized institutions and organizations already operating within the WAP Complex protected areas.

Priority Areas

• Biodiversity conservation in the WAP Complex protected areas
• National park management and operations (Pendjari National Park, W National Park, Arly National Park)
• Sustainable natural resource management
• Community co-management of protected areas
• Wildlife protection and anti-poaching efforts
• Micro-development projects that improve local population living conditions while supporting conservation
• Climate change adaptation measures in protected areas

Strict Geographic Limitation: Only Protected Areas within the WAP Complex with official protection status are eligible for FSOA funding.

What They Don't Fund

• Projects outside the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex
• Protected areas without official protection status
• Organizations not legally recognized by official services of Benin, Burkina Faso, or Niger
• Organizations without at least two years of experience managing similar conservation projects

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Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Alfred Koffi Allogninouwa has served as the first Executive Director of FSOA since 2013. He leads the foundation's strategic partnerships with the governments of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger, coordinates development partners, and oversees collaboration with African Parks Network for the effective conservation of national parks in Benin.

Governance Structure:

• General Assembly
• Board of Directors
• Executive Direction
• Investment Committee
• Committee of Grants

Key Partners: The foundation works closely with the World Bank, European Union, KfW (German Development Bank), GIZ (German technical cooperation), African Parks Network, IUCN, and the governments of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

How to Apply to La Fondation Des Savanes Ouest-africaines

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: FSOA does not operate a public, open application process. The foundation works exclusively with organizations already operating within the WAP Complex protected areas that meet strict eligibility criteria.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Geographic: Must work in Protected Areas within the WAP Complex with official protection status
2. Legal Recognition: Must be legally recognized by official services of the Republic of Benin (or Burkina Faso/Niger for their respective territories)
3. Experience: Must have at least two years of experience managing similar conservation projects
4. Capacity: Must demonstrate real motivation and ability to carry out the proposed project

Evaluation Criteria:

For Protected Area Management Institutions (CENAGREF, DPN):

• Analyzed based on seven “good governance” criteria
• Assessment of conservation and co-management performance
• Funding gap analysis (difference between annual work plan/budget and allocated resources)

Prioritization of Protected Areas:

1. Biodiversity wealth
2. Site status and threats
3. National and international labels (e.g., UNESCO World Heritage status)
4. Management institution's status and capacities
5. Funding gaps between planned activities and available resources

Getting on Their Radar

Establish Operations in the WAP Complex: FSOA funds organizations already active in the region. Organizations must first establish a track record of conservation work within the Pendjari, W, or Arly National Parks or their buffer zones.

Legal Recognition: Ensure your organization is legally registered with official government services in Benin, Burkina Faso, or Niger and can demonstrate at least two years of relevant project experience.

Partnerships: FSOA works closely with African Parks Network, CENAGREF (Centre National de Gestion des Réserves de Faune in Benin), and established community associations like AVIGREF (Association Villageoise de Gestion des Réserves de Faune). Building relationships with these established partners may help new organizations understand FSOA's priorities.

Direct Contact: Organizations working in the WAP Complex may contact FSOA directly at contact@fsoactf.org to inquire about funding opportunities, though the foundation primarily identifies and approaches eligible partners rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly specified. The foundation operates through participatory processes with stakeholders to establish grants based on annual work plans for Protected Areas.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation works with a limited pool of eligible organizations within the WAP Complex.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified.

Application Success Factors

Geographic Specificity is Absolute: FSOA's eligibility criteria explicitly state that “Only Protected Areas within the WAP Complex with official protection status are the only targets for FSOA funding.” Organizations working in other African conservation areas, even with similar biodiversity importance, are not eligible.

Institutional Capacity Matters: The foundation prioritizes organizations with strong governance structures and demonstrated conservation performance. The seven “good governance” criteria and conservation performance assessments indicate that organizational capacity is as important as project design.

Long-term Partnership Model: FSOA provides ongoing annual funding rather than one-off project grants. In 2019-2020, FSOA provided 85% of funding to implement a Priority Action Plan for W National Park. This sustained commitment suggests the foundation seeks reliable, long-term implementing partners.

Alignment with Strategic Plans: Protected Area grants are based on official Development and Management Plans and Annual Work Plans. Organizations must demonstrate how their work implements these strategic documents rather than pursuing independent agendas.

Community Co-management Approach: The foundation supports organizations like AVIGREF (village associations for natural resource management), indicating value for community participation and co-management models that balance conservation with local livelihoods.

Demonstrated Conservation Results: The foundation's focus on “performance in terms of conservation and co-management” suggests that organizations with measurable conservation outcomes (wildlife population increases, reduced poaching, habitat restoration) are prioritized.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a specialized conservation endowment fund with extremely narrow geographic eligibility—only organizations working in the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger are eligible
• No public application process exists—the foundation identifies and approaches eligible partners based on their presence and performance in WAP Complex protected areas
• Legal recognition in Benin/Burkina Faso/Niger and at least two years of relevant experience are mandatory minimum requirements
• The foundation provides sustained annual funding rather than short-term project grants, making it a potential long-term financing partner for organizations working in the region
• Strong governance, transparency, and demonstrated conservation performance are critical—applicants are evaluated on seven governance criteria and conservation outcomes
• Organizations should establish direct contact with FSOA leadership if working in the WAP Complex rather than waiting for open calls for proposals
• This funder is NOT suitable for UK-based organizations or international NGOs seeking funding for conservation work outside West Africa—it exclusively funds on-the-ground conservation in a specific 50,000 km² region

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Rufford Foundation
• Wateraid
• Exodus Travels Foundation
• Fondation Chanel
• Wilmslow Wells For Africa
• The Neon Foundation
• Christian Aid
• The Jephcott Charitable Trust
• Catholic Agency For Overseas Development
• Global Greengrants Fund Uk

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales. (2025). LA FONDATION DES SAVANES OUEST-AFRICAINES - Charity Number 1153809. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5040602/contact-information []

• West African Savannah Foundation. (n.d.). WASF – Conservation Trust Fund. https://fsoactf.org/en/ []

• West African Savannah Foundation. (n.d.). Grant Eligibility Criteria. http://fsoactf.org/en/grant-eligibility-criteria/ []

• West African Savannah Foundation. (n.d.). Financing Mechanism. https://fsoactf.org/en/financing-mechanism/ []

• West African Savannah Foundation. (n.d.). Funding Capabilities & Modalities. https://fsoactf.org/en/funding-capabilities-modalities/ []

• West African Savannah Foundation. (n.d.). Our Beneficiaries. https://fsoactf.org/en/our-beneficiaries/ []

• KfW Development Bank. (2018). A model for conservation cooperation in Benin. https://www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de/International-financing/KfW-Development-Bank/News/News-Details_481408.html []

• KfW Development Bank. (2022). KfW promotes biodiversity conservation in West Africa. https://www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de/About-us/News/News-Details_739776.html []

• African Parks. (n.d.). Pendjari Partners. https://www.africanparks.org/the-parks/pendjari/partners []

• African Parks. (n.d.). W Partners. https://www.africanparks.org/the-parks/w/partners []

• African Parks. (n.d.). Alfred Koffi Allogninouwa - Executive Director. https://www.africanparks.org/about-us/our-people/alfred-koffi-allogninouwa-0 []

• African Parks. (2020). Benin Government Commits to Long-term Protection of W National Park in Benin. https://www.africanparks.org/benin-government-commits-long-term-protection-w-national-park []