Conservation and human rights go hand in hand. ANI believes that environmental conservation and human rights are interconnected, and that sustainable conservation requires ensuring the well-being, benefit, empowerment and participation of local people and communities.
ANI is committed to preserving natural resources, while protecting and promoting people’s rights. We take efforts to prevent any negative human impacts arising from our operations, and we rapidly address any impacts that occur. We work continually to ensure our conservation efforts are beneficial to local populations.
​
Human rights front and centre in ANI's work
Human rights are an integral part of our work, and are mainstreamed and operationalised across our operations. ANI takes the following steps towards achievement of human rights:
-
ANI’s human rights policy sets out our approach to human rights; and human rights are re-affirmed in our employment handbook and codes of conduct.
-
Our staff including rangers and managers are provided with human rights training, and are trained on how to carry out their roles in human rights complaint ways.
-
A complaints mechanism has been established, through which community members, staff, and partners can make complaints. A process has been developed by which complaints are rapidly and effectively addressed.
-
Our partnerships are grounded in human rights principles. Our partnership agreements make provision for respecting human rights, and for avoiding negative human rights impacts. We evaluate prospective partners in terms of alignment with human rights principles, and refrain from partnering with those who fail to uphold these standards.
-
In early 2025, a comprehensive human rights assessment is being undertaken – as ANI seeks continual improvement in its approach to human rights.
​
Protecting local communities
ANI recognises the crucial role that local communities and indigenous groups must play in conservation efforts. Communities reside on land that ANI operates – and ANI is committed to protecting their lands, resources, and cultural heritage, and to ensuring that conservation efforts benefit them. We adopt strategies that balance conservation objectives, with community livelihoods, safety, and well-being.
ANI ensures communities’ free, prior, and informed consent for all activities that affect their lands, resources, or practices. Our engagement processes are transparent, inclusive, and carried out in culturally appropriate ways – ensuring affected groups are properly consulted; that their concerns are engaged with; and that satisfactory resolutions are identified.
​
​
Equity, inclusion, and a supportive workplace
ANI rejects all forms of discrimination. We actively promote gender equity, youth empowerment, and the inclusion of marginalized groups in conservation decision-making, as well as in the benefits of conservation. ANI strives to create an inclusive, supportive workplace. We do not tolerate gender discrimination, exploitation, or workplace harassment. We ensure fair renumeration, adequate training and equipment, and safe and dignified working conditions.
ANI Rangers
Rangers are placed into positions of trust by ANI, for which they are carefully trained, recruited and monitored. Our rangers are taught to act with professionalism, and to treat all people humanely. They respect the rights of all persons they interact with, understanding that human rights apply even when persons are suspected of harming natural resources. Our rangers are well-trained on human rights, and on the use of force. Any suspected wrongful actions by our rangers are swiftly reported, investigated, and acted upon.
​
​
Governance, accountability, and oversight
Human rights are integrated into ANI’s governance structures. Accountability for human rights rests with ANI’s leadership and management, who continually work to ensure the centrality of human rights in the way we operate. ANI is dedicated to evolving and strengthening our human rights approach. We actively engage with communities, human rights advocates, and conservation organizations, to ensure we maintain the highest ethical standards, and that human rights best practices are incorporated across our operations.
Conserving nature, empowering people
ANI believes that respecting human rights is fundamental to successful conservation work. By embedding human rights principles into our work, we aim to foster harmonious coexistence between humans and the natural environment, with our work aimed at creating enduring benefits for both.
St Nicholas House (10th Floor)
Catholic Mission Street, Lagos, Nigeria
Tel: +234 810 120 4379
E-mail: info@ani-nigeria.org
