Coexistence Champions ​
Empowering, celebrating and amplifying lived coexistence
Across India, there are many thousands of individuals who are coexisting with other beings – forest dwellers, pastoralists, fishers, farmers, educators, forest staff, storytellers, healers, community leaders – even if they don’t always call it ‘conservation’. They negotiate daily shared spaces with wild animals and navigate the challenges of these relationships through empathy, resilience, reciprocity and respect. These are the people whose wisdom, practice, and voice must shape what conservation looks like in the coming decades.
The Coexistence Champions Programme exists to support a range of grounded and place-based initiatives, individuals and groups to grow, inspire and amplify the voices of lived coexistence. We invest in those already practicing and advocating coexistence to lead the radical rethinking of the conservation paradigm. Coexistence asks us to move beyond the binary of human vs. nature, and build shared lands and shared stories that are rooted in equity, justice and empathy. Our Champions are among the architects of this paradigm shift.
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This is a commitment to amplify what already works.
It’s a partnership with the people and ideas already driving change.
We’re here to support and elevate the ecosystem that exists, not start over.
Programme Structure
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We currently support mid-career conservationists (with 5–10 years of relevant experience) through a consultancy project up to ₹30 Lakhs annually.
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The programme begins with a 2 year funding commitment, extendable up to 5 years based on annual progress reviews.
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We launch with a 10 day in-person induction and cohort-building gathering, focused on building a shared understanding of conservation frameworks, law and policy, power and privilege, and storytelling for impact.
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We cooperate to build stronger networks of partner NGOs, researchers, and conservation practitioners, increasing collaboration, a shared understanding, as well as strengthening and amplifying our collective as well as diverse voices from the ground.
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A strong focus on building capacity for storytelling and outreach, to reshape the mainstream conflict narrative and enable the paradigm shift we are working towards.
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We believe in grounded autonomy, not top-down mandates, enabling Champions to lead change from within, rooted in context and community.
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Champions are expected to work with local governance and community institutions, tap into indigenous knowledge systems, use science and build accountability and joint ownership from the start.
Values and philosophy
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Coexistence is a rethink of the philosophy of conservation, not only to minimise conflict but to reconnect with nature everywhere, not just save isolated pockets of nature. Projects supported by this program will:
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Be co-created with communities and deeply accountable to them
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Seek to mainstream coexistence through governance and policy
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Tell coexistence stories to a wider audience to influence paradigm shift
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Respectfully engage with and integrate Indigenous worldviews and diverse knowledge systems in a thoughtful and ethical manner
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Work with local governance and community institutions to seed long-term change
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Be rooted in respectful, non-extractive relationships with people and places
Programme Leads:
Programme Manager: Stella James
Advisory Council:
APPLICATIONS OPEN! ​
The Coexistence Champions programme is a unique opportunity for mid-career conservationists (5-10 years work experience) working on the ground with communities, to receive a consultancy that supports compelling pathways to amplify grounded voices of coexistence in India and lead a paradigm shift.
Our applications for the first ever cohort is now open!
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Have Questions? Please visit our FAQs​ page for more information. ​
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​​Please ensure that you download and read our essential Application Guide before applying. The Application Guide provides you with more details of the programme, including key timelines; a set of values that your project should align to; and some of the key application questions that appear in the form, to help you prepare your response.
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Please fill and submit the Application Form on or before 15th August 2025.
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For any further questions and queries, contact the Programme Manager at stellajames@tdu.edu.in
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Applications close 15th August 2025!
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