WWF-Kenya, Ifaw and TNC forge alliance to drive conservation impact

Nairobi, Kenya – 21 November 2024 – The World Wide Fund for Nature-Kenya (WWF-Kenya), The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) have signed a five-year partnership agreement to boost collaboration for greater conservation impact for the benefit of people and nature.  

The tripartite Memorandum of Understanding convenes the different and complementary skillsets from each partner to work together to fundraise, develop and implement projects that will improve community livelihoods, enhance habitat connectivity and promote sustainable development. 

Over the next five years, the partnership will enhance deeper community engagement interventions to secure the connectivity of large landscapes and build climate resilience. 

Leveraging on over half a century of combined experience and expertise, the coalition plans to accelerate the delivery of biodiversity and socio-economic outcomes that will ensure communities reap more benefits from conservation, finding nature-based solutions to enhance human-wildlife co-existence, and curb wildlife crime. 

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya, Mohamed Awer, WWF-Kenya CEO said that the tripartite collaboration is not only timely but also a huge opportunity to achieve greater impact. 

“Here in Kenya, we recognize that our national development is linked to the health of our environment. We cannot ignore this truth, because if our ecosystems collapse, so will our economy and our society. This is a symbiotic relationship that demands harmony, and a sustainable alignment of People, Planet, and Profit. Achieving this requires more than just ambition; it demands transformative partnerships and climate action investment for greater impact." 

James Isiche, IFAW Africa Director, emphasized on the need for strong alliances to address the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss that are already devastating communities in the country. “I’m thrilled about this partnership because it strengthens cooperation in conservation to drive tangible benefits for communities and safeguard connected landscapes!” 

An inclusive approach to conservation provides an opportunity to ensure that communities have access to their rights and ownership of natural resources. By integrating indigenous knowledge and developing sustainable finance mechanisms, Kenyans will be better equipped to counter threats to natural resources. – Munira Anyonge Bashir HSC, Government Relations and Policy Director – TNC Kenya.