KAZA TFCA Secures €6 Million For Regional Conservation

The Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) has announced that it has secured €6 million from Germany through KfW Development Bank to support the implementation of its Phase IV programme.
The funding will support the five KAZA partner states—Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—which collaboratively manage the world’s largest transboundary conservation area.
According to KAZA TFCA Secretariat Executive Director, Dr Nyambe Nyambe, the proposed Phase IV will focus on institutional strengthening, sustainable financing, tourism development, stakeholder engagement, and priority conservation initiatives aimed at consolidating achievements from previous phases while improving long-term sustainability.
Dr Nyambe revealed that key priority areas under Phase IV include regional conservation and institutional coordination, tourism development and community livelihoods, human-wildlife coexistence initiatives, climate resilience and sustainable natural resource management, as well as strengthened governance, monitoring, and financing systems.
He noted that the appraisal process of the Phase IV programme included both regional and country-level consultations involving the KAZA Partner States, SADC, technical partners, local stakeholders, and conservation practitioners across the region. These consultations helped shape the proposed priorities, implementation approaches, and institutional arrangements for the next phase of support.
Dr Nyambe said that the appraisal outcome reaffirmed the commitment of the Partner States and cooperating partners towards the joint management and long-term development of one of the world’s largest terrestrial conservation landscapes.
“The continued cooperation between the KAZA Partner States, SADC, and the German Government reflects a shared commitment to regional conservation, sustainable development, and community resilience across the KAZA landscape,’’ he said.
Phase IV is expected to be implemented over a four-year period. Preparatory work is currently underway to finalise implementation arrangements and associated operational frameworks.
The indicative total value of the proposed Phase IV programme, including co-financing contributions and parallel support initiatives, is estimated at approximately €10.45 million.
Meanwhile, since 2009, the German Government through KfW has committed approximately €44.5 million towards the development of KAZA TFCA through Phases I, II, and III, alongside COVID-19 recovery support measures. These investments have contributed significantly to institutional development, conservation infrastructure, wildlife protection, tourism development, sustainable financing, and community-based natural resource management initiatives across the region. The programme has also strengthened regional cooperation and coordination among the five KAZA Partner States.
KAZA TFCA, the world’s largest transfrontier conservation area spanning approximately 520,000 square kilometres, continues to strengthen regional cooperation in conservation, sustainable tourism, biodiversity management, and community livelihoods across the five Partner States.