The origins of GCF lie in the late-1990s in Namibia, in particular, the dry and rugged areas of the far and remote northwest. Stephanie and Julian Fennessy met working on the Hoanib River Catchment Study for the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN) which focused on understanding natural resource use amidst the complex ecological, social, economic and political aspects of the area.
Julian first arrived in Namibia as an Australian development volunteer and was initially based at the Ministry of Youth and Sport to support the development and implementation of a national environmental education program. He subsequently moved on to a new placement as a researcher/ecologist with DRFN.
Steph first came to Namibia to conduct research for her MSc thesis in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure facilitated by DRFN. She first fell in love with the country, then later, after receiving a six-month contract offer from DRFN to help with community outreach in the Hoanib River Catchment Study, she fell in love with her colleague. The rest is history.
During this time in the Kunene Region, Julian began research for his MSc on the competition for resources between giraffe and elephant. In exploring the possibility of this topic, he realized that there was relatively prolific research on elephant, but almost nothing on giraffe. This seemed like a huge gap and into that unknown arena, Julian upgraded to a research-based PhD through the University of Sydney, Australia. During this time, Steph worked as an environmental consultant and lectured at the Polytechnic of Namibia (now Namibia University of Science & Technology), while often assisting Julian in the field.
One of the key factors in conserving wildlife is understanding their numbers. In the early 2000s, the understanding of giraffe numbers and distribution on the African continent was limited and no one was standing tall for giraffe. This was the seed for the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.
For many years, Steph and Julian spent their spare time surveying giraffe, collecting DNA samples or raising awareness on a voluntary basis. In 2009, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation was established in the UK as a charity with a voluntary board. This step was instrumental in moving the Giraffe Conservation Foundation forward with an institutional home which allowed for seeing project funding. However, it was still a voluntary and spare time venture. In 2015, Steph and Julian established the Giraffe Conservation Foundation Trust in Namibia, and it was during this time that a US donor (and former Chair of GCF-USA) with a particular interest in giraffe approached to ask what the couple would do with a small amount of seed funding. The response was to fundraise in the USA through numerous zoos and other conservation organizations, which finally lead to establishing GCF-USA in 2016. It was during this time that Julian and Steph became the first ever full-time salaried giraffe conservationists in the world. And their story continues today as they strive to save Africa’s giraffe.
Our core values
Our core values provide a compass for our actions, guiding us towards ethical and fulfilling choices. They shape our identity, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose within our community. By upholding our core values, we create a strong foundation for trust, respect, and meaningful progress.
- Creativity & Courage
- Respectivity
- Integrity
- Accountability
- Collaboration
How we think and work
GCF is an international science-based conservation organization providing innovative approaches to save giraffe in the wild. As the go-to organization for giraffe conservation, GCF proactively and reactively addresses challenges with a strong, collaborative, and dynamic team. Our team works within a network of partners at all levels, establishing GCF as a leader in supporting a sustainable future for giraffe and their natural habitats. Through continued growth and increased awareness, GCF remains dedicated to saving giraffe in the wild.
Our primary objective is to raise awareness and support towards securing a future for giraffe and the conservation of their habitat in Africa, and more specifically to:
- support the conservation of viable and existing habitat for giraffe;
- identify key threats to giraffe in Africa and develop innovative ways to mitigate them;
- raise awareness of and promote the value of giraffe conservation in African Range States as well as internationally;
- plan, develop, implement and administer projects and programs – including the appointment of project staff – in support of its primary objective, in co-operation with local communities and partner institutions, as appropriate;
- collaborate with local, national and international partners on giraffe conservation efforts in the interests of giraffe conservation in African Range States;
- and raise funds for giraffe conservation and management throughout Africa.
