The Cheetah Conservation Fund Expands Its Paw Print in the Horn of Africa With the Launch of a New Cheetah Education & Training Complex

August 29, 2025 – Hargeisa, Somaliland — The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), the world’s leading organization dedicated to saving cheetahs in the wild, proudly announces the opening of its Cheetah Education and Training Centre Complex at its Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre campus in Somaliland. The new complex marks a significant milestone in regional conservation and international collaboration, made possible with support from the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) of Saudi Arabia.

The state-of-the-art 15,000-square-foot facility will serve as a hub for education and professional training in conservation, offering immersive programs for rangers, farmers, teachers, youth, and land and wildlife managers from Somaliland and across the Horn of Africa. Designed to accommodate up to 45 students at a time with separate men’s and women’s dormitories, the complex features welcome center, indoor and outdoor classrooms, office and meeting rooms, and a kitchen with a dining area, all surrounding a common courtyard.

The buildings are situated adjacent to the Somaliland Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre within a reserve about an hour’s drive from Hargeisa. Surrounded by semi-arid plains, the design features expansive views and emphasizes shelter from the harsh sun, strong winds, and seasonal torrential downpours. The buildings were designed by SDI Architecture in collaboration with Detour Habitats.

“By opening this Education and Training Complex, we are creating the foundation for a future where people and wildlife can coexist,” said Dr. Laurie Marker, Founder and Executive Director of CCF. “This Centre allows us to transfer our successful Namibian conservation model to Somaliland, providing critical training in areas like wildlife protection, land restoration, and sustainable livelihoods. Education is the cornerstone of effective conservation.”

Founded by Dr. Marker in 1990, CCF’s first Cheetah Research and Education Centre was established in Namibia on a 156,000-acre reserve, where it pioneered habitat restoration, developed livelihood programs, and works with the country’s acclaimed Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) initiative. Today, Namibia is home to over 85 community conservancies and is recognized globally for their success in conservation-led development.

In 2022, CCF expanded its operations to Somaliland to care for cheetahs rescued from the illegal wildlife pet trade. The new Education and Training Centre expands CCF’s work from crisis response to proactive community engagement and long-term sustainability.

“The Royal Commission for AlUla is a proud sponsor of the Cheetah Conservation Fund and we join them in celebrating the Cheetah Education & Training Complex’s completion and opening. The sensitively designed centre will support human wildlife coexistence with wide reaching benefits for the conservation of this incredible but Vulnerable species.” – Jose Ferreira, Conservation Breeding & Reintroduction Director.

To design the Centre, CCF partnered with Prasanna Lachagari, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Design Director/Partner at SDI Architecture and Founding Board member of Detour Habitats. The team responded to the environmental challenges of Somaliland—including intense heat and hurricane-force winds—by designing sustainable, climate-resilient structures with passive cooling systems and low environmental impact.

“This Centre is more than a building – it’s a platform for possibility,” said Lachagari. “We wanted to create a space that reflects the dignity of the mission, respects local culture, and inspires the next generation of conservation leaders.”

About the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF)
Founded in 1990, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is the world’s longest-running and most successful cheetah conservation organization. CCF’s mission is to save the cheetah in the wild and ensure its future through science, education, habitat restoration, and community development.
Website: www.cheetah.org

About the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU)
RCU was established by royal decree in July 2017 to preserve and develop AlUla, a region of outstanding natural and cultural significance in north-west Saudi Arabia. RCU’s long-term plan outlines a responsible, sustainable and sensitive approach to urban and economic development that preserves the area’s natural and historic heritage while establishing AlUla as a desirable location to live, work and visit. This encompasses a broad range of initiatives across archaeology, tourism, culture, education and the arts, reflecting a commitment to meeting the economic diversification, local community empowerment, and heritage preservation priorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme.
Website: www.rcu.gov.sa

About SDI Architecture
SDI Architecture is an award-winning architecture and design firm known for its environmentally conscious, community-driven, and culturally respectful approach to the built environment.
Website: www.sdi.archi

About Detour Habitats
Detour Habitats is a mission-driven nonprofit design organization that works with underserved communities to co-create culturally grounded, sustainable architectural solutions that improve lives and foster resilience.
Website: www.detourhabitats.org

Media Contact:
Elissa Buchter
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +1 (310) 963-3808
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Dr. Laurie Marker
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp:+264811247887