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Building an Elephant Aware Economy

There is an emerging Elephant Aware Economy in communities around the Okavango Delta that is generating benefits coming back to communities who share space and resources with elephants.

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Supporting
Sustainable SMME Opportunities

The Ecoexist Trust has been supporting elephant-themed start-ups and existing SMMEs to encourage sustainable business development among communities living with elephants to increase benefits, offset costs and promote coexistence.

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Promoting
Sustainable Farming Practices

Promoting sustainable, elephant aware farming practices for farmers that improve food security and present small-scale commercial opportunities.

About Us

We build an Elephant Aware Economy

Ecoexist is supporting elephant-themed enterprise development among communities living around the Okavango Delta, Botswana through a range of supporting services, including capacity building, resource inputs, linking to markets and partnership facilitation.


An Elephant Aware Economy supports elephant-themed start-ups and existing SMMEs to successfully establish, manage and market sustainable, non-consumptive products, activities and services that are tied to a life with elephants, thereby realising benefit opportunities in a life with elephants and promoting coexistence.


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What We do

Our Services

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Assist Start ups

We identify opportunities, assist entrepreneurs and groups or co-operatives fine tune their vision and walk them through the steps required to establish their enterprise.
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Business Plan Development

Critical to any start-up ins the development of a solid business plan, which provides the blueprint that will ensure business success. We engage experts to assist start-ups develop these business plans.
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Capacity build and skills development

We provide opportunities and expertise to build capacity and skills development among SMMEs, in management, financial, marketing and governance.
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Governance

Governance capacity is essential, particularly among syndicates or cooperatives and we facilitate governance training, constitutions and partnership agreements that help ensure good governance and partnership practice.
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Joint Venture Partnerships

A quick and less capital-intensive way to enter value chains and access existing markets in through the creation of partnerships with existing, larger corporates that want to assist and see mutual benefit in partnering with community start-ups. We facilitate such joint venture partnership, guiding the partners on the partner terms and conditions that will be outlined in signed agreements.
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Connecting to markets.

Many businesses in rural communities find it extremely difficult to connect to markets, in order to make their businesses viable. This is an essential component of support we carry out: developing new value chains, establishing new and linking to existing supply chains, and helping to negotiate entry and pricing in the marketplace.
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Establishing standards and quality.

We engage expertise to help establish product quality and standards adherence, which are monitored in order to ensure consistency and confidence in the marketplace.
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Elephant Aware
Farming Certification

The certification program aims to promote sustainable farming practices that will reduce the risk of human-elephant conflict and the loss of life and property. the program will also promote the conservation of elephants and their habitat through the use of elephant-friendly farming practices.

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What is being Elephant Aware?

We would define Elephant Aware as being conscious of the value and importance of elephants in the landscape and in contributing to sustained economic opportunity at local and national levels, while also being aware of the risks and challenges of living with them, and participating in efforts to mitigate risks and find solutions to these challenges, in order to better coexist with them.

What We Have Done

Our Achievements

Enterprises supported
13
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Total Revenue Generated (USD)
49 K+
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Local Beneficiaries
350
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Donors

Who Helps Us

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What we are Doing

Elephant Economy Current Enterprises

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Produce

Diyoveya Honey

Elephant Aware organic honey- bottled and produced in the Eastern Okavango Panhandle. Local farmers are using bees to protect their fields from elephants while also diversifying their livelihoods.

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Curios

Seronga Craft Shop

An outlet for elephant aware artisans creating beautiful crafts in the Eastern Okavango Panhandle. Our crafts have a unique story which makes them special- elephants help us to sustainably harvest our materials and provide inspiration for our stunning designs!

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Curios

Yikote Elephants

Producers of high-quality elephant patterned baskets based in Xaxao Village. Our intricately patterned elephant baskets are sought after locally and internationally.

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Cultural Tours

Life with Elephants Tour Group

An Ecotourism enterprise based in Eretsha Village offering Elephant Aware cultural tours. Activities include mokoro rides, learning about Conservation Agriculture techniques, experiencing traditional dancing, donkey cart rides, visiting a local blacksmith and storytelling with the village elders.

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To find out more