We’re excited to share that we’ve launched a new phase of our work supporting communities in southeast Angola to co-develop a fire management plan that is grounded in local realities and knowledge. At the heart of this effort is Legislative Theatre, an innovative, participatory method that brings people together to explore challenges and shape policy through performance and collective discussion.

Thanks to the People Powered Climate Democracy Accelerator Program, we’ve received not only financial support, but also training in Legislative Theatre as a tool to tackle climate governance issues in ways that center local experience and agency.

In these landscapes, the use of fire is not only common, it is fundamental to agriculture, honey production, hunting, and the management of vegetation. Supporting communities to discuss, reflect, and make decisions about fire is not just about environmental governance, it is also about respecting the sovereignty of local peoples, their knowledge systems, and their right to shape the future of their territories.

This initiative is made possible through our collaboration with Fundação Kissama, Fundação Lisima, The Wild Bird Trust, and the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project, whose mission to protect the water towers of east Angola and the wider Okavango Basin aligns with our own commitment to amplifying local voices and promoting that conservation efforts are equitable, inclusive, and grounded in the lived experiences of those who depend on these ecosystems.