About WWF

WWF is an independent conservation organisation, with over 30 million followers and a global network active in nearly 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biodiversity, ensuring the use of natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

Our global efforts to start reversing the loss of nature by 2030 are driven by nine WWF practices: Wildlife, Oceans, Forests, Freshwater, Climate & Energy, Food, Finance, Governance and Markets.

From communities on the ground to decision-makers in government and business, we work with people around the world to sustain the natural world – the oceans, forests, freshwater and rich diversity of wildlife – that provides the essentials of life for all.

We are challenging the two most urgent threats to nature: climate change and food production. And we are working to address the underlying global drivers for the loss of nature: a financial system that must value nature; a governance system that needs to consider the impact of decisions on people and nature; and markets where sustainable production and consumption become the norm

Purpose

WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

WWF believes that conservation benefits when people benefit from conservation and has had its most important successes from working with people, including local and indigenous communities, finding practical ways for people and nature to thrive together.

To further strengthen our deep commitment to this collaboration with local communities and to respecting human rights, WWF is setting up a central unit to spearhead, manage and support the implementation of a robust global Environmental and Social Safeguard Framework (ESSF) across our entire global network of WWF offices.

The ESSF will represent an overarching policy on environmental and social risk management, providing for:

• Integrated environmental and social management to identify and manage the environmental and social impacts, risks, and opportunities of projects through the programme and project life cycle.
• Effective stakeholder engagement through disclosure of project-related information and consultation with local communities on matters that directly affect them.