1. Overview

Africa Community of Planetary Partners for Health and Environment (ACOPPHE) is committed to protecting the privacy of everyone who visits our website, engages with our programs, or contacts us in any way. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and your rights in relation to it.

By using the ACOPPHE website at acopphe.org, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please refrain from using our website.

This policy applies to all information collected through our website, email communications, event registrations, donation forms, volunteer applications, and any other interactions you have with ACOPPHE.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information in two ways — information you provide to us directly, and information collected automatically when you use our website.

Information you provide directly:

• Contact information — your name, email address, phone number, and any message you send via our contact form.
• Donation information — your name, contact details, and transaction records. Payment card details are processed by our secure third-party payment provider and are never stored by ACOPPHE.
• Volunteer and career applications — your name, contact details, CV, cover letter, and any other information you submit when applying.
• Event registrations — your name, contact information, and responses to event-specific questions.
• Newsletter subscriptions — your email address and communication preferences.

Information collected automatically:

• Usage data — pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, and referring URLs.
• Device and browser data — IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers.
• Cookies and similar technologies — as described in our Cookies section below.

3. How We Use Your Data

We use the information we collect only for legitimate purposes directly related to our mission and operations. Specifically, we use your data to:

• Respond to your enquiries, messages, and requests in a timely manner.
• Process donations and issue receipts or acknowledgements.
• Review and respond to volunteer and career applications.
• Send newsletters, updates, and event information to subscribers who have opted in.
• Manage event registrations and communicate event details to participants.
• Improve our website, programs, and communications based on usage patterns and feedback.
• Comply with applicable legal obligations and protect the rights and safety of ACOPPHE and the communities we serve.

4. Sharing of Information

ACOPPHE does not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to any third party. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers — trusted third-party services that assist us in operating our website, processing donations, or sending communications, bound by confidentiality obligations.
• Legal compliance — where required by applicable law, court order, or government authority.
• Program partners — only where your engagement relates to a collaborative initiative and strictly for the purposes of that program, with your knowledge.
• Protection of rights — where necessary to protect the rights, safety, or property of ACOPPHE, our staff, volunteers, partners, or the communities we serve.

5. Cookies

Our website uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — to improve your browsing experience and help us understand how visitors use our site. We use the following types:

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law:

• Contact and enquiry data — up to 2 years from your last communication with us.
• Donation records — 7 years in accordance with financial and legal record-keeping requirements.
• Volunteer and job applications — up to 1 year from the date of application unless you join our team.
• Newsletter subscriptions — until you unsubscribe or withdraw consent.
• Website analytics data — retained in anonymised form for up to 26 months.

7. Your Rights

You have the following rights in relation to the personal data we hold about you:

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, destruction, or alteration, including:

• SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmitted through our website.
• Restricted access to personal data on a need-to-know basis within our organisation.
• Use of reputable and secure third-party platforms for data storage and processing.
• Regular review of our data handling practices and security measures.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external websites or partner organisations. ACOPPHE has no control over the content or privacy practices of external websites and is not responsible for their privacy policies.

We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any third-party website you visit through a link on our site before providing any personal information.

10. Children's Privacy

ACOPPHE is deeply committed to the privacy, dignity, and safety of children. Many of our programs — particularly the TRIPLE C Campaign — involve direct engagement with schools, youth groups, and community-based events. We take this responsibility seriously and handle all matters relating to children with the utmost care.

During school visits, community events, and program activities, we may capture photographs and videos for documentation, conservation awareness, and program reporting. We do not collect personal information about children such as names, contact details, school records, or any other identifiable private information beyond what is necessary for program purposes.

In line with the Kenya Data Protection Act (2019) and good ethical practice, we ensure that:

• No personal details of children — including names, contacts, school records, or identifiable private information — are collected or published without appropriate authorisation.
• Images and media are only captured with informed permission from school administration, event organisers, or relevant guardians as appropriate.
• All media featuring children is used strictly for conservation, education, community engagement, or program reporting purposes — never for commercial use.
• All content involving children is stored securely and handled in a manner that respects their dignity, safety, and wellbeing.
• Our website is not directed at children under the age of 16 and we do not knowingly collect personal data from children through our website or digital platforms.

If we discover that a child's personal information has been collected without appropriate consent or authorisation, we will:

• Promptly delete or anonymise the information.
• Notify the relevant school, guardian, or event organiser where appropriate.
• Review and strengthen our internal procedures to prevent recurrence.

11. Policy Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the Last Updated date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Continued use of our website following any update constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms. If changes are significant, we may notify you directly by email where we hold your contact details.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy, please get in touch: