Community investment becomes central in conservation funding

From the newsletter

The most recent round of conservation funding in Africa is prioritising community involvement and investment in nature-based solutions. A notable example is the $180 million guarantee provided to Koko Networks, which supports forest conservation and protects against losses in carbon trading involving local communities in Kenya. Additionally, Malawi secured $200,000 for community-driven conservation.

• The Climate Investment Funds allocated $96 million for nature conservation in Kenya and the Zambezi Region, with $15 million specifically designated for indigenous and local communities across six countries.

• Most conservation funds have been directed towards seven African countries with limited cross-organisation funding, and the majority have come from international donors.

More details

• The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) allocated $96 million for nature conservation in Kenya and the Zambezi Region. Kenya received $35.66 million, while the Zambezi Basin received $60.35 million with an additional $15 million for local communities to be given directly as grants.

• Kenya’s grant aims to protect wildlife, Indigenous communities and key ecosystems in Lake Victoria and the River Ewaso Ng’iro. The initiative is expected to boost ecotourism, a sector that contributes 8.2% to Kenya’s GDP. It will also support the Maasai and other indigenous groups through nature-based solutions, promoting regenerative agriculture and conservation-friendly enterprises.

• The Zambezi Basin project encompasses Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zambia. This initiative will engage private sector players in voluntary carbon markets and strengthen sustainable forestry and wildlife conservation while providing alternative livelihoods for communities affected by deforestation and climate change.

• The World Bank, through the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, provided a $180 million guarantee to Koko Networks to support forest conservation through clean cooking initiatives. This funding aims to strengthen and expand Koko's carbon credit and financing efforts in Kenya and Rwanda, promoting sustainability and environmental protection with the involvement of local communities.

• Koko Networks has successfully supplied bioethanol cooking fuel to over 1.3 million homes in Kenya and Rwanda by utilising a network of 3,000 fuel ATMs located in corner shops within low-income neighbourhoods.Koko focuses on combating deforestation in Africa, driven by the widespread use of charcoal for cooking. This initiative promotes a clean alternative to charcoal. With 923 million people on the continent lacking access to clean cooking methods, the charcoal industry is responsible for significant annual forest loss. 

• Koko's clean cooking initiative has achieved an estimated annual reduction of 6 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions. Its model leverages carbon credits generated from household fuel switching as a non-governmental energy subsidy. The proceeds from carbon credit sales are shared with local communities by providing cookstoves and fuel at below-market prices. The MIGA guarantee will safeguard Koko's carbon credits against potential risks, including the failure of host governments to uphold legal commitments.

• The World Wide Fund for Nature Kenya, in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association, secured a $10 million grant from the European Union. The Harmony in Habitat: Empowering Communities for Nature’s Resilience project is set to launch in April 2025 and will support conservancies in Kenya’s Tsavo and Mara landscapes. This initiative aims to strengthen governance, develop ecosystem management plans for forests, water catchments, and rangelands, and promote sustainable livelihoods in forestry, rangeland management, and ecotourism.

• In Malawi, the Community Based Natural Resources Management Forum, in collaboration with the Katumbi Women in Conservation and Community Development Association, has received a $200,000 grant from the Tilitonse Catalyst Fund. Announced on March 21, 2025, the funding will be disbursed in two phases, each lasting 18 months. Half of the grant is unrestricted, providing the flexibility needed to enhance the Forum’s capacity. The initiative aims to improve governance, secure legal recognition, and support sustainable community-led conservation efforts.

Our take

• The focus on community-focused initiatives is not surprising. They have become ever more prominent recently. But the real proof will lie in making them work, which has proven tricky in the past. 

• Conservation extends beyond simply protecting wildlife habitats; it encompasses adapting to and mitigating climate change, preserving healthy and productive ecosystems, and ensuring a sustainable future for both people and wildlife.

• To achieve this, it is essential for communities to be involved as decision-makers and problem-solvers in the conservation process. This grassroots approach fosters an African conservation agenda and bridges the gap between local actions and decisions made at national and global policy levels.