UK fintech ekko boosts impact solution with Tusk partnership

UK-based sustainable fintech, ekko, is set to significantly boost its impact solution offering with a major new partnership with animal conservation charity, Tusk. This outstanding affiliation allows banks, merchants, and payment providers globally to incorporate conservation-centric perspectives into their products and services. This is a momentous testament to the positive influence fintech can wield in the battle for sustainability, indirectly supporting the global ecosystem via financial ecosystems.

ekko's innovative affiliation with Tusk effectively empowers businesses and consumers globally to incorporate sustainability and conservation directly into their operations. The business can now engage their customers to support animal conservation projects worldwide, facilitating the opportunity to contribute benefits gained from ekko towards projects in this domain.

The strides made together by ekko and Tusk allow businesses to offer support to a suite of African conservation projects by adopting ekko's existing infrastructure. These opportunities range across 13 African nations, each with diverse focus areas including anti-poaching, conservation technology, community-driven conservation and invaluable initiatives supporting endangered species such as the pangolin and mountain gorilla.

An example of the projects featured in this partnership is the conservation endeavour, CLAWS. This initiative ingeniously melds cutting-edge technology to conserve lions and safeguard local livestock without endangering animal lives. Since 2014, through scientifically driven projects, the organisation has been successful in reducing conflict between humans and predators. Thanks to ekko and Tusk, the organisation will now receive further support for this vital endeavour.

The portfolio also includes projects from South African based vulture conservation organisation VulPro, Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association and Painted Dog Conservation in Zimbabwe. Both companies are thoroughly committed to magnifying conservation projects, in an effort to preserve critical habitats, protect endangered species, fight against the illegal wildlife trade, empower local communities, and promote environmental education.

Oli Cook, CEO and co-founder of ekko, expresses the powerful implications of this collaboration, "The importance of this collaboration cannot be understated in the context of the sustainability movement. The intricate balance of animals, natural landscapes, and indigenous communities forms an essential pillar of the global ecosystem. Alongside Tusk, we share a commitment to nurture and safeguard our planet."

Cook continues, "Fintech has an incredibly exciting role to play in our global challenge to be more sustainable. Combining forces with the incredible teams at Tusk to bring sustainability to every payment in the world has the potential to make a seismic impact on one of the most important challenges facing the global community."

Dan Bucknell, Executive Director at Tusk, welcomes the partnership, stating, "Tusk is thrilled to join forces with ekko. Our shared mission is clear: to create profound, lasting impacts that benefit both the vibrant communities and the diverse wildlife of Africa. This partnership signifies a bold step forward in our continued commitment to the continent's enduring legacy."

Charlie Mayhew OBE, founder of Tusk, recognises the potential in this unique financial approach to conservation funding, commenting "The emerging potential of embedded fintech's role in funding conservation is exciting to witness. This is a really promising partnership and we look forward to collaborating with ekko on the journey to a sustainable future for businesses and consumers."

Having been at the forefront of successful conservation initiatives in over 20 countries within the past three decades, Tusk is highly regarded in the global conservation movement. By choosing to partner with this industry leader, ekko strengthens its reputation as an innovative frontrunner in the burgeoning fintech for good movement.