New Conservancies Fund launched to advance community led conservation in Kenya
The Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA) has launched the Kenya Conservancies Fund (KCF), a new financing mechanism designed to provide financial and technical assistance to strengthen conservancies and transition them from nascent initiatives into self-reliant conservation and economic enterprises.
A program of KWCA, the fund seeks to mobilise partnerships and accelerate financing for conservancies, to support Kenya reach its Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) target 3 conserving 30% of land and sea by 2030, while ensuring that conservation areas are effectively managed.
In his opening remarks, KWCA CEO Dickson Kaelo noted that Kenya has made significant progress in conservation, with approximately 10.9% of land under protection through natural forests (2.6%), national parks (5%), national reserves (3%), and conservancies (15%). However, he emphasized that effectiveness remains a challenge.
“Of the 230 conservancies registered with KWCA, only 1% have reached maturity and are able to generate sufficient revenue to sustain their conservation efforts. The majority remain at operational, emerging, or nascent stages and require the right mix of funding and partnerships to become effective,” he said.
KWCA Executive Committee Chairperson Richard Vigne highlighted the broader vision of the fund: “This fund represents a shift in how we think about conservation. It is not simply about funding projects—it is about investing in people, strengthening governance, and building resilient, self-sustaining conservancies that can thrive long into the future.”
The fund has already secured €950,000 from the German Federal Government facility International Climate Initiative (IKI) through GIZ to support 12 conservancies, and an additional $1,147,733 from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through Conservation International. Over the next 18 months, KCF will support 12 conservancies to strengthen governance systems, build climate resilience, and improve livelihoods through sustainable, climate-smart enterprises.
Locally led Conservation Financing
The fund is a key achievement from the just concluded GEF-6 Illegal Wildlife Trafficking Kenya Project, implemented by the State Department for Wildlife in partnership with United Nations Development Programme UNDP and KWCA. UNDP Programmes Officer Washington Ayiemba commended KWCA and its partners: “KWCA has successfully transitioned this fund from an institutional framework into a functioning financing mechanism delivering support directly to conservancies on the ground.”
Mohammed Seif, Managing Director for East Africa at Conservation International, emphasized the urgency of scaling conservation financing: “We still have a lot of work to do. KCF, as a catalytic fund, aims to grow economic enterprises that deliver tangible benefits to communities. This is critical if conservation is to compete with other land uses such as agriculture, which remains one of the greatest threats to wildlife.”
Speaking on behalf of GIZ, Kennedy Mugo noted that GIZ approach to funding the Fund was targeted to unlock local impact at scale. “Local organizations and conservancies are at the frontline of climate resilience. KCF shifts the focus toward locally led action, ensuring resources reach those closest to the ecosystems,” he said.
During a panel discussion, grantee conservancies demonstrated strong alignment with these priorities. Sopon Ntusero of Osewan Conservancy in Kajiado shared: “This is our first grant, and we are very excited. It is not easy for a young community institution to secure funding. Our conservancy lies in a human-wildlife conflict hotspot. We are prioritizing the development of a management plan, strengthening ranger capacity, and implementing a water project to promote coexistence.”
Government support to conservancies
Highlighting the importance of the fund, Prof. Erustus Kanga, Director General of the Kenya Wildlife Service, reaffirmed institutional support for conservancies. He stressed that without adequate financing, conservancies cannot deliver conservation and economic outcomes. He urged grantees to manage the resources prudently “The demand for conservation financing far exceeds available resources. KCF is therefore timely, offering an opportunity to deliver meaningful impact to communities. We must therefore ensure the funds are prudently used with transparency, accountability to achieve measurable results anchored in integrity,” he said.
The Chief Guest, Dr. John Chumo, Conservation Secretary at the State Department for Wildlife, representing the Principal Secretary, congratulated KWCA and emphasized that conservancies are central to achieving Kenya’s 30×30 target: “By investing in conservancies, communities derive real value from conservation and become its strongest stewards, creating more space for wildlife and ensuring sustainability for generations to come.”