Kenya Launches $10.6 Million GEF-8 Wildlife Conservation Project to Address Human-Wildlife Conflict and Strengthen Communities

NAIROBI, Kenya (November 8, 2024)

Overview

The Wildlife Conservation for Development Integrated Program (WCD IP) is among the 11 integrated programs under the Global Environment Facility’s eighth replenishment cycle (GEF-8). The Global Wildlife Program (GWP) is one of the largest global partnerships created to combat wildlife poaching, trafficking, and demand. In 2019, GWP expanded its focus to include the promotion of wildlife-based economies to create economic benefits from conserving wildlife and habitats.

The GEF-8 Kenya GWP Child Project, was among the countries that applied to be part of the program in 2023 and was officially included in the program on the 5th of February 2024 Council meeting here. The project adopts an integrated approach to human wildlife conflict management including promoting local management policy coherence, community-led approaches, technology, and infrastructural support in key biodiversity landscapes in Meru, Taita Taveta and Laikipia County.

The inception workshop was held in July 2024, followed by infield stakeholder consultations. The consultations culminated in the validation workshop on 8^th November 2024. The primary goal of the workshop was to validate the draft project document of the GEF-8 Kenya GWP Child Project. The meeting aimed at ensuring agreement and support from stakeholders, conclusion of discussions on co-financing and budget arrangements and outlining the next steps in the GEF project cycle.

The US$10.6M GEF-8 Kenya GWP Child Project will be implemented by Conservation International as the GEF-accredited agency and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, State Department for Wildlife as the Lead Executing agency. Other executing partners include The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI), Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA). Other support partners include Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association (TTWCA) and Laikipia Conservancies Association (LCA).

Workshop Methodology
The workshop utilized presentations, open discussions, and plenary sessions to ensure active participation, knowledge exchange, and constructive discussions. Key stakeholders included government agencies, environmental experts, NGOs, and others,  
Keynote Statement:
The meeting was opened by Ms. Silvia Museiya, Principal Secretary (PS), State Department for Wildlife in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife. Ms. Vicky Betty Chepkorir. The PS noted that the workshop was an important milestone as it marked the end of the consultation process and observed that all stakeholders must learn to work together for synergy. She underscored the fact that government resources are always scarce, thus the extra funding from development partners is critical. She emphasized that more resources should be channeled towards empowering community livelihoods highlighting the importance between human health and wildlife nexus in one-health-approach.

Mrs. Vicky Betty Chepkorir delivered remarks on behalf of Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno, PhD, MIEK Principal Secretary, State Department for Environment and Climate Change, in the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry in Kenya. Mrs.Chepkorir  informed the stakeholders, the PS notes the program as an opportunity for addressing HWC, which is currently considered a key driver of biodiversity loss. She noted that GEF funds are public resources which should be utilized prudently to achieve the desired results, stressing the need to document and report the progress of the project implementation in a timely manner from commencement to the end.

Other key speakers included, CEO KWCA, CEO WCK, CEO WRTI, Director Parks, and Reserves, KWS, County Executive Committee Member, Taita Taveta andChairperson WCTF who expressed their institutional collaboration for the achievement of the program.

The East Africa Managing Director and Kenya Country Lead, Conservational International Kenya Dr. Seif Hamisi expressed gratitude for the government support and emphasized CI’s commitment to delivering CEO endorsement package to the GEF as per schedule.The project intends to submit the final CEO Endorsement Package to the GEF by mid December 2024.

The validation workshop served as a platform for meaningful discussions and collaboration among stakeholders, guided by a shared commitment to addressing human-wildlife conflict with a focus on community livelihoods empowerment and proactive response to HWC through the utilization of technology, provision of water, and animal diseases research and surveillance.

                                                                ABOUT

Conservation International: Conservation International works to protect the critical benefits that nature provides to people. Through science, partnerships, and fieldwork, Conservation International is driving innovation and investments in nature-based solutions to the climate crisis, supporting protections for critical habitats, and fostering economic development that is grounded in the conservation of nature. Conservation International works in 30 countries around the world, empowering societies at all levels to create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable planet. Follow Conservation International's work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Global Environment Facility: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral family of funds dedicated to confronting biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, and supporting land and ocean health. Its financing enables developing countries to address complex challenges and work towards international environmental goals. The partnership includes 186 member governments as well as civil society, Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth, with a focus on integration and inclusivity. Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided nearly $25 billion in financing and mobilized another $138 billion for thousands of priority projects and programs. The family of funds includes the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund, Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF), and Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency Trust Fund (CBIT).

Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, State Department for Wildlife: The core mandate of the State Department for Wildlife (SDW) is provision of strategic policy, direction and leadership in wildlife conservation and management in Kenya

Kenya Wildlife Service: The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) conserves and manages Kenya’s wildlife for the Kenyan people and the world. It is mandated to conserve and manage wildlife in Kenya, and to enforce related laws and regulations. KWS undertakes conservation and management of wildlife resources outside protected areas in collaboration with stakeholders. It works with other partners to conserve, protect, and sustainably manage wildlife resources.

Wildlife Research and Training Institute: The Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) is a state corporation established to provide coordinated wildlife research, data, and capacity building to inform policy decisions, management approaches, and create innovative wildlife-based products and services in the wildlife sector.

Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association: KWCA main mandate is to ensureLocal communities derive multiple benefits from the management of land and natural resources under sustainable wildlife conservancies. Programmes under KWCA include Wildlife management, land and natural resource management, peace and security, livestock management, tourism, infrastructure development and community engagement.

Written by Tabby Njunge and Bonventure Makhaya