By Shadrack Nyakoe
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and World Wide Fund for Nature – Kenya (WWF-Kenya) have entered into a five-year partnership to drive transformative conservation initiatives in Kenya.
The collaboration aims to create meaningful impacts for both communities and wildlife through joint projects focused on biodiversity, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
The newly signed tripartite Memorandum of Understanding brings together the unique expertise of each organization. The partners will work collectively to fundraise, implement projects, and address challenges such as habitat loss, climate change, and human-wildlife conflict.
Efforts will prioritize enhancing community livelihoods, securing landscape connectivity, and developing nature-based solutions to build climate resilience.
James Isiche, IFAW Africa Director, expressed optimism about the partnership, highlighting its potential to address pressing environmental challenges. “This collaboration strengthens conservation efforts and delivers tangible benefits to communities while safeguarding Kenya’s connected landscapes,” he stated.
Echoing this sentiment, Mohamed Awer, CEO of WWF-Kenya, emphasized the interdependence of environmental health and national development. “Kenya’s economy and society depend on thriving ecosystems. This partnership aligns the goals of People, Planet, and Profit, demanding transformative collaboration and strategic climate action for greater impact,” he noted.
The coalition also seeks to integrate indigenous knowledge, empower local communities, and create sustainable financing mechanisms to tackle threats to natural resources.
Munira Anyonge Bashir, TNC Kenya’s Government Relations and Policy Director, underscored the importance of inclusivity in conservation efforts. “An inclusive approach ensures that communities have access to their rights and ownership of natural resources, equipping them to counter environmental challenges effectively,” she remarked.
With over 50 years of combined experience, IFAW, TNC, and WWF-Kenya are poised to accelerate biodiversity and socio-economic outcomes, fostering a sustainable future where people and nature thrive together.