ADAP - Association for the Development of Protected Areas

What ADAP - Association for the Development of Protected Areas does

ADAP (Association pour le Développement des Aires Protégées) is a Geneva-based Swiss non-profit association established in 1997, operating under articles 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code. The organization implements community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) programs in protected areas across sub-Saharan Africa, with current field activity concentrated in western Tanzania (Inyonga Game Reserve, Ipole Wildlife Management Area, and Rungwa River Game Controlled Area — together covering more than 10,000 km² of miombo forests and floodplain grasslands) and earlier or smaller programs in Madagascar, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic.

ADAP's field operations combine patrol-based anti-poaching activities run jointly with government rangers and village-level écogardes, alternative-livelihood initiatives (notably beekeeping through the Inyonga Beekeepers Association and the Mlele Beekeeping Zone), and ecological monitoring using camera traps combined with SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) software. Long-term monitoring since 2008 has documented 47 of 56 mammal species recorded in the Mlele block managed zone. Technical support for monitoring methodology is provided by hepia (Geneva University of Applied Sciences), and a memorandum of understanding with the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) was signed in October 2025, while lion population work is conducted jointly with Panthera.

ADAP is funded through three streams: institutional grants (notably Lion Recovery Fund, Fédération Genevoise de Coopération, Loterie Romande), individual donations collected via Twint, PayPal and postal bank transfer, and a tiered membership program priced at 80 CHF (adult), 30 CHF (student) and 250 CHF (institutional) per year. According to its own 2024 transparency reporting, only 7.45% of expenses were administrative/communication-related in Switzerland, indicating a field-heavy cost structure. The organization employs 27 people, led by Natural Resources Manager Valeria Shirima in Tanzania and Switzerland-based head Yves Hausser.

Name

ADAP - Association for the Development of Protected Areas

Legal name

Association pour le Développement des Aires Protégées (ADAP)

Website

https://adap.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ADAP is a Geneva-based Swiss non-profit founded in 1997 that supports community-based conservation of protected areas in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on lion conservation, beekeeping-based livelihoods, and ecological monitoring across over 10,000 km² in western Tanzania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Community-based conservation
• Protected areas management
• Wildlife monitoring
• Sustainable beekeeping
• Natural resource management

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from individuals (adult and student) and institutional members, providing recurring revenue and member engagement.
2. Donations: Individual donations received via Twint, PayPal, and postal bank account. One-time and recurring donation options available.
3. Foundation and Institutional Grants: Funding from organizations such as Lion Recovery Fund (LRF), Fédération Genevoise de Coopération, and Loterie Romande for specific conservation projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ADAP is a Swiss non-profit association that implements community-based conservation programs in protected areas across sub-Saharan Africa, supporting village rangers, anti-poaching patrols, ecological monitoring (camera traps, SMART software), and sustainable alternative livelihoods such as beekeeping to improve rural community wellbeing and preserve ecosystems.

Product overview

ADAP (Association for the Development of Protected Areas) is a Swiss non-governmental organization established in Geneva since 1997, focused on conservation of protected areas and biodiversity through community-based natural resource management in sub-Saharan Africa. The organization does not offer a unified software product but rather delivers conservation programs including community projects in Tanzania, Madagascar, Burkina Faso, and former projects in Central African Republic and Selous-Niassa. Its public-facing offerings consist of educational initiatives (the 'Coexister?' exhibition), research tools (camera trap photo galleries), communication services (newsletter), and membership/donation programs. The organization supports patrol activities using SMART software for surveillance management and conducts ecological monitoring using camera traps, but these are internal operational tools rather than user-facing products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• « Coexister ? » Exhibition Immersive photo exhibition featuring camera trap imagery, an interactive map, scientific data and testimonials that educates Swiss audiences about human-wildlife coexistence challenges in Tanzanian protected areas.
• Membership Program Annual membership offering for supporters, with adult (80 CHF/year), student (30 CHF/year), and institutional (250 CHF/year) tiers payable via PayPal or form submission.
• Donation System Donation collection service accepting contributions via TWINT, RaiseNow platform, and postal account (CCP 17-212756-1 / IBAN CH30 0900 0000 1721 2756 1).
• Conservation Project Portfolio Documented conservation program portfolio covering community-based natural resource management, beekeeping reserves, and lion conservation across multiple African countries.
• Camera Trap Photo Gallery Publicly accessible photo gallery showcasing wildlife captured via camera traps during ADAP's ecological monitoring in Mlele BKZ and adjacent reserves, documenting 47 mammal species out of 56 recorded in the area.
• ADAP Newsletter Periodic email newsletter providing updates on ADAP activities in Switzerland and in field projects to members and subscribers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lion populations confirmed in three protected areas covering over 10,000 km²
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025ADAP signed a memorandum of understanding with TAWA in October 2025 formalizing collaboration on wildlife conservation. TAWA rangers work jointly with village écogardes on patrol activities.
• PantheracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Collaboration on lion population monitoring. Panthera conducted footprint-based studies in October 2025 and coordinates with ADAP within the protected area complex for lion recovery efforts.
• WasimaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NGO active in the protected area complex, coordinating with ADAP and Panthera within the lion conservation initiative.
• JUHIWAIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization managing the Ipole village wildlife reserve, with whom ADAP coordinates activities under the lion conservation project.
• Inyonga Beekeepers AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal association managing the Mlele Beekeeping Zone, a beekeeping reserve established through ADAP's project support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• African Wildlife Foundation: AWF is a larger, established Africa-focused conservation NGO running community-based and landscape-level conservation programs across multiple countries including Tanzania. Compared with ADAP, AWF has substantially more staff and budget but pursues a similar community-engagement model around protected areas and wildlife.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: WCS runs one of the world's largest networks of field conservation programs, with significant presence in Tanzania supporting community-based conservation around protected areas. It is comparable in mission (biodiversity protection with community engagement) but vastly larger in scope and resources than ADAP.
• Fauna & Flora International: FFI is a UK-based conservation NGO working across Africa and beyond on protected area management and species recovery, frequently partnering with local communities and government wildlife agencies. Its community-led, science-driven approach parallels ADAP's operating model, but at considerably larger scale.
• Tusk Conservation Trust: Tusk supports community-based conservation and species protection across Africa, including grants to field projects and conservation education. Its portfolio model and focus on community-led wildlife protection closely parallels ADAP's mission, though Tusk operates as a UK-headquartered fundraising and grantmaking organization.
• Frankfurt Zoological Society: FZS operates large landscape conservation programs in Tanzania including the Serengeti and surrounding ecosystems, supporting anti-poaching and community-based natural resource management. Like ADAP, FZS works with government wildlife authorities on protected area management, but at significantly greater scale.
• International Fund for Animal Welfare: IFAW is a global animal welfare and wildlife conservation NGO with active community-based programs in Africa, including human-wildlife conflict mitigation work that directly overlaps with ADAP's mandate. IFAW is much larger and broader in scope.

Direct peers

• Panthera: Panthera is a direct partner of ADAP, conducting footprint-based lion monitoring studies in the same western Tanzania protected area complex. Both organizations focus on wild cat conservation with field-based data collection, making Panthera a tight operational peer.
• Ruaha Carnivore Project: RCP is a Tanzania-based research and conservation NGO focused on large carnivores (notably lions) in the Ruaha ecosystem, combining long-term ecological monitoring with community engagement. Its mission, geographic focus, and small-NGO operating profile make it the closest direct peer to ADAP.

Regional players

• Peace Parks Foundation: Peace Parks Foundation focuses on transboundary protected area development in southern Africa, with a comparable focus on community engagement and joint management structures, but operates in a different geography (SADC region) than ADAP's Tanzania-centric footprint.

Emerging players

• Sahara Conservation Fund: Sahara Conservation Fund is a smaller, species-focused NGO (mainly addax and Saharan wildlife) running community-based conservation in challenging African geographies. Its niche, field-driven profile is structurally similar to ADAP's small-footprint, project-driven model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ADAP-Association-pour-le-développement-des-aires-protégées-101506394655379
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adap

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ADAP - Association for the Development of Protected Areas