An African Coalition of Member States
Committed to ensuring the survival of African elephants and their habitats
The Elephant Protection Initiative was launched in 2014 by the leaders of 5 states: Botswana, Chad, Ethiopia, Gabon, and Tanzania.
Since then, the EPI has expanded to include 24 member states from across Africa. As an African-led response to the elephant conservation crisis, the EPI aims to secure the harmonious coexistence of people and elephants, with herds able to travel across their range.
Implementing the Elephant Protection Initiative
Heads of State Summit
The EPI is an intergovernmental initiative ratified at the highest level. The Head of State Summit, bringing together the leaders of the EPI's 23 member countries, underpins the importance of this intergovernmental initiative and its role on the world stage.
Council of Ministers
Appointed by their Heads of State, Ministers from each member country sit on the EPI Council of Ministers. This is the primary vehicle through which the initiative manages high-level discussions and negotiations.
National Focal Points Network
Within each EPI member country, there is a designated National Focal Point responsible for ensuring effective communication and collaboration between the government, the EPI and the EPI Secretariat.
The EPI Secretariat is the administrative arm of the Elephant Protection Initiative. The Secretariat supports member countries in advancing their individual and collective efforts to protect Africa's remaining elephant populations.
In joining the Elephant Protection Initiative, range states commit to work together to implement the African Elephant Action Plan and join the global political leadership to protect elephants, promote sustainable livelihoods, and champion the harmonious coexistence of elephants and people.
Through the EPI, all members also commit to close domestic ivory markets, observe a moratorium on any future international trade in ivory until African elephant populations are no longer threatened, and put domestic stockpiles of ivory beyond economic use.
