Additional Context: The Multinational Species Conservation Funds, or MSCF, are a set of five small grant programs administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that provide assistance and support to protect highly trafficked and vulnerable species, including elephants, rhinos, tigers, great apes, and turtles. Funded through legislation such as the African Elephant Conservation Act and Great Ape Conservation Act and operating alongside the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) obligations, the funds have historically been appropriated at modest levels (around $11 million annually in recent years), yet have engaged nearly 600 domestic and foreign partners in over 54 countries.

MSCF-funded work spanned a wide range of conservation activities: protecting forest elephant habitat and curbing the ivory trade; promoting humane treatment of working elephants and reducing human-elephant conflict; surveying rhino and tiger populations and combating the trafficking of horns, skins, and bones; securing remaining habitat for gorillas and orangutans; and protecting sea turtle nesting beaches. The organization that reported this information said reduced travel has made it harder to connect with on-the-ground partners and build trust.

Devex Researcher Note: According to a source familiar with the MSCF program, all grants were frozen when the initial stop-work orders were issued. Although Congress appropriated funding for MSCF in fiscal years 2025 and 2026, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had not issued new funding solicitations or disbursed additional funds to partner organizations as of June 2026.

The organization providing this information has requested to remain anonymous.