The funders behind ‘independent’ UK trophy hunting propaganda film aren’t very independent
The Swedish philanthrocapitalists operating Jamma International extract profits from Namibian conservancies that allow trophy hunting.
Jamma International funded a misleadingly ‘independent’ trophy hunting propaganda film aimed at building opposition to a UK trophy hunting import bill. Jamma International was founded by, and is operated by, the Johanssons, a family of Swedish philanthrocapitalists that use donations to build opportunities for profitable investments.
One of the Johanssons’ for-profit investment ventures includes using loans to extract profits from Namibian conservancies. The Johannsons partnered with Integrated Rural Development & Nature Conservation for the venture which raises concerns given the IRDNC’s current attempt to create an exclusionary trophy hunting and ecotourism area in Northwest Namibia.
Jamma International’s founders use donations as inroads for investments in for-profit ventures
Anders Johansson, Jamma International Principal, discussed how the family uses the foundation to ‘do good’ (charity) and ‘do well’ (profit) in an interview for Agreus Group, an investment service that helps wealthy families maximize their profits while lowering their tax burden. Johansson specifically focused on how impact investing, investing for social or environmental change along with financial return, affects Jamma International’s work.
“The Foundation is, and rightfully so, kept under the watchful eye of the Charity Commission. They may for example not always have the same view as you about what qualifies as charitable activities. Impact Investments in rural Africa is a good example. Can they really be charitable?” – Anders Johansson, Jamma International Principal
Johansson carried on, “Impact Investing has two definitions at Jamma. Firstly, we see all our grant making as investing. We have a clear expectation that all projects we support shall return.” Jamma International demonstrates that there is no such thing as a free lunch in wildlife conservation.
The second definition of impact investing at Jamma International is “investments made for financial gain.” Johansson added that while grants and financial investments “are often seen as two entirely different areas,” they “are both part of our tool kit.”
In fact, Johansson made it clear that by simply donating money, the family could open up for-profit investment opportunities.
“By being active on the grant investment side we have a presence within the community. Through knowledge of the area, we come across worthy causes and organisations that are embarking on creating social change. We can partner with such organisations and create our own Impact Investment opportunities.” – Ander Johansson, Jamma International Principal
Jamma International was designed to ensure that the Johanssons ‘do well’ when ‘doing good.’ Johansson stated, “We are motivated by the impact we can make plus the possible financial, social and environmental rewards.”
Jamma International’s founders are members of an elite philanthrocapitalist club created by billionaire David Rockefeller Sr.
Johansson and his wife Agneta are members of the Synergos Global Philanthropists Circle, an extremely exclusive club where 400 of the world’s richest people get together and discuss how they can save the world from capitalism with more capitalism. The club was founded by billionaire David Rockefeller Sr. and his daughter to “re-imagine how to address our society’s most pressing needs.”
Synergos’s corporate sponsors include a whole range of anti-environmental and anti-human rights companies like Unilever, PepsiCo, Walmart, Mondelez, and Nike. While there is much talk from the philanthrocapitalist network about mitigating climate change, Synergos’s consulting for Shell Oil shows that wealthy elites are more interested in ‘doing well’ than ‘doing good.’
According to a Synergos article titled Philanthropy for Tourism and Development in Africa, the Johanssons “began scouting for opportunities to support social entrepreneurship based on conservation for the benefit of indigenous people” in 2008. It appears that the Johanssons, much like the Oppenheimers, were incentivized to diversify their investment portfolios because of the financial crisis.
Johansson noted that the family invests in for-profit ventures “instead of giving money away” and that he was frustrated by NGOs that “won’t let go” of conservation projects that he believed could be commercialized. In other words, Johansson does not believe in ‘doing good’ if you’re not ‘doing well.’
The Synergos article continued, “[T]he Johanssons have demonstrated that it is possible for a tourism business to operate with local ownership. They have funded a small lodge in Namibia, working with indigenous people. They believe that it is essential to create an income stream so that the enterprise will eventually pay for itself.”
Jamma International’s founders extract profits from Namibian conservancies that allow trophy hunting
The “small lodge in Namibia” is part of a for-profit venture called Conservancy Safaris Namibia, which the Johanssons funded via a “generous loan.” CSN “co-owns, markets and manages” the Etaambura Camp located within the Orumpembe conservancy.
According to CSN’s website, “The company grew out of a decade of campfire discussions between three Swedish donors and two Namibian conservation NGO directors.” The Johanssons being Swedish donors and IRDNC’s Garth Owen-Smith and Margaret Jacobsohn being Namibian conservation NGO directors.
CSN’s partners are the Puros, Orupembe, Sanitatas, Okonjombo and Marienfluss conservancies in Northwest Namibia.
These conservancy partnerships have benefits and consequences for the company. The idea of Namibian conservancies running a high-end business may entice some visitors but scare others away.
However, CSN’s public relations campaign attempted to ensure any wary potential visitors that there was “a professional team” running the organization.
“How can a group of African pastoralists with little capital and scant knowledge of the safari business set about running trips for cash-rich, time-poor, travel-hungry visitors?
On closer inspection, it's a safe bet. Conservancy Safaris is run by a professional team, led by experienced safari guide Russell Vinjevold and supported by some of Namibia's leading conservationists. Swedish philanthropist, Anders Johansson, provided a generous loan to get things off the ground and once that's paid off, all profits will go to the communities; in the meantime, they earn cash from campsite fees and hosting duties.” - National Geographic marketing copy
The five conservancies partnered with CSN are, at least partly, responsible for repaying any loans and subsequent interest to the Johansson family. This obligation demonstrates a conflict of interest coming from the so-called ‘independent’ trophy hunting propaganda film funded by Jamma International since all of CSN’s partner conservancies allow trophy hunting.
But, as I have pointed out, another function of the trophy hunting propaganda films coming out of Namibia was to also legitimize the idea of conservancies. The Johanssons are ensuring a financial return on their investments when they fund trophy hunting propaganda and when they conduct CBNRM training courses that combine “an understanding of creating wildlife economies, effective governance, and community involvement to ensure conservation and economic success in southern Africa.”
Jamma International’s investment partnership raises concerns about involvement in controversial new trophy hunting and ecotourism scheme
Estreux Safaris currently runs the trophy hunting operations in the Orupembe conservancy but got its start in 2008 with the Puros, Orupembe, Sanitatas and Marienfluss conservancies. Prior to creating Estreux Safaris, Anton Esterhuizen worked as a coordinator for IRDNC in Northwest Namibia.
IRDNC’s Owen-Smith and Jacobsohn were promoted by Property and Environment Research Center for their favorable attitudes towards the privatization of wildlife and trophy hunting. Owen-Smith was even quoted saying, “Without trophy hunting there would be no wildlife.”
IRDNC is currently leading the initiative for the Ombonde People’s Park, “Namibia’s first large-scale voluntary park.” Although described as “voluntary,” there are reports that locals have been served eviction notices to make room for trophy hunting and ecotourism.
Along with the threat of evictions, the proposed park stirred controversy because it appears that “large tracts of communal land” in Northwest Namibia will be “falling into private hands and conservancies.” People living in the area will be severely restricted while financial and recreational opportunities for wealthy foreigners will abound.
I’m concerned that Jamma International may also be somehow involved in the Ombonde People’s Park initiative. There is currently no evidence confirming their involvement, but it is plausible given the Johanssons’ trophy hunting propaganda, investments in Northwest Namibia, and commercial partnership with IRDNC.
The Jamma International-funded propaganda film featured people in the Ehirovipuka conservancy because of the false narrative that ‘the conservancy is 100% funded by trophy hunting.’ Yet, the Ehirovipuka community may be the most negatively impacted by the Ombonde People’s Park - they’ve even said that their “land is being sold to foreigners under the table.”
Why were Jamma International’s funds used to produce a documentary about the benefits of trophy hunting’s in Ehirovipuka instead of a documentary about the land grabbing and potential human rights abuses?