VukaNow: Combatting Wildlife Crime in Southern Africa

In our third and final episode, we'll leave you with tips and tricks for successful community engagement. These key considerations will help guide you through the entire process - before, during and after any engagement.

We know there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to community engagement, but we do know there is one constant -- authority. In this episode we’ll uncover the role authority and authority figures can play in community engagement. We’ll also touch on how you can unpack, identify and build rapport with authority figures - especially as an outsider.

Engaging with a community is hard – it’s not an exact science and it can take shape in a variety of ways. Engagement requires time, effort and flexibility, but when it’s done correctly, it’s worth it. In this first episode of the VukaNow podcast, we’ll discuss the why, when, how, and even the who to engage. We will also touch on the importance of empathy,  not forcing your own agenda onto the community, and how best to identify community gatekeepers.