SOS Savane

• Conserving savanna ecosystems: ecological monitoring and research, habitat restoration and sustainable management, wildlife protection, environmental education.
• Supporting social cohesion and the socio-economic development of resident populations: sustainable income-generating activities, circular economy and waste management, strengthening social cohesion, capacity building, and ecotourism.

SOS SAVANE-ONG grew out of the childhood dream of its current Executive Director, Farid Bahleman, who wanted to carry on his family’s work protecting the savanna ecosystems he grew up in. Born in Tanguieta, at the gateway to the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve in northern Benin, into a family of Water, Forestry and Wildlife officers, Farid studied nature conservation and gained field experience through volunteering in the Pendjari and W-Benin protected areas and with local NGOs OeBenin and ADDBIO, where he later served three years as Executive Director. Together with other young professionals (Mama Sadam, Kombetto Jean, Bahleman Malick, Tigniga Kassa and Moussoubaou Bachirou) sharing the same vision, he founded SOS SAVANE, formally created on 15 December 2019 and officially registered on 25 June 2020 (RDOG: 2020N019/P-SGD-SAG-DAONG). The 2018 arrival of African Parks as manager of Benin’s major national biosphere reserves was a turning point, showing both the need and the opportunity to professionalise conservation – with the hope that a Beninese organisation could one day competently take over long-term management of these precious territories. SOS SAVANE is headquartered in Tanguieta, in the Atacora region, and opened a branch office in Kandi (Alibori, near W Park) in October 2023. The organisation has grown considerably: its operational team grew from 2 staff to over 33 by end 2024, with the share of women rising from 0% to around 60% through a deliberate gender-inclusive approach. SOS SAVANE is governed by a 4-member Board chaired by Mr Gnarigo, working with statutory auditors, and an Executive Bureau led by Executive Director Mr Bahleman, implementing the annual work plan and budget alongside technical leads and an administrative/finance team. Over its first 5 years, the organisation has built key governance tools: bylaws, an administrative and financial procedures manual, a code of conduct, a security protocol, and a gender policy.