Scaling-Up Equitable Governance of Protected and Conserved Areas (SEG)

Project background

The SEG project aims to promote equitable governance in Protected and Conserved Areas (PCAs) as part of the global effort to meet the Global Biodiversity Framework's 30×30 target, which includes a goal of effectively conserving 30% of global land and marine areas by 2030. SEG scales up governance improvements across four landscapes in Kenya using the SAGE (Site-level Assessment of Governance and Equity) tool.

SAGE helps assess PCA governance, guiding stakeholders to implement actions that improve equity and management effectiveness. The project leverages SAGE to ensure that governance of conservancies in the four landscapes is equitable and inclusive, leading to improved biodiversity outcomes and enhanced livelihoods for local communities. KWCA partners with landscape associations in implementation to ensure institutional capacity strengthening and achieve success at scale.

Project goal

To scale up equitable governance across Protected and Conserved Areas in five target countries, ensuring improved conservation and social outcomes.

Objectives

• Implement SAGE-based governance assessments at PCAs in the five target countries.
• Build capacity for site-level actors to plan and implement governance improvement actions.
• Influence national and international policies on equitable PCA governance through knowledge generation and advocacy.

Key activities

• SAGE governance assessments: conduct governance assessments using SAGE at 88 PCA sites, identifying governance gaps and creating action plans.
• Capacity building: provide training and technical support for PCA actors on governance, equity and stakeholder engagement.
• Governance action implementation: implement prioritised actions to address governance gaps at PCA sites.
• Policy influence: generate evidence and share lessons to influence national and global conservation policies.