Wildlife Principal Secretary Silvia Museiya described the workshop as a significant milestone, urging stakeholders to collaborate for synergy. She emphasized the critical role of external funding in supplementing scarce government resources, advocating for increased investment in community livelihoods under a one-health approach that integrates human and wildlife health
Kenya has launched the Wildlife Conservation for Development Integrated Programme (WCD IP), a Ksh 1.4 billion (US$10.6 million) initiative aimed at addressing human-wildlife conflict while empowering communities. This transformative project is part of the Global Environment Facility’s eighth replenishment cycle (GEF-8) under the Global Wildlife Programme (GWP), one of the world’s largest partnerships combating wildlife poaching, trafficking, and demand.
Since expanding its focus in 2019, GWP now emphasizes promoting wildlife-based economies to foster economic benefits through conservation. Kenya’s GEF-8 GWP Child Project, approved during the GEF Council meeting on February 5, 2024, adopts an integrated approach to managing human-wildlife conflict, encompassing policy alignment, community-led strategies, and infrastructural advancements in biodiversity-rich regions of Meru, Taita Taveta, and Laikipia counties.
Key Milestones and Objectives
The project’s inception workshop, held in July 2024, led to comprehensive stakeholder consultations and culminated in a validation workshop on November 8, 2024. This meeting finalized the draft project document, outlined co-financing and budgetary plans, and detailed the next steps in the GEF project cycle.
Wildlife Principal Secretary Silvia Museiya described the workshop as a significant milestone, urging stakeholders to collaborate for synergy. She emphasized the critical role of external funding in supplementing scarce government resources, advocating for increased investment in community livelihoods under a one-health approach that integrates human and wildlife health.
Environment and Climate Change Principal Secretary Dr Festus Ng’eno, in a speech delivered by Senior Manager Vicky Betty Chepkorir, highlighted the program’s potential to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, a key driver of biodiversity loss. He called for prudent utilization of GEF funds and rigorous documentation of project progress.
Implementation and Partners
The initiative will be implemented by Conservation International (CI), a GEF-accredited agency, alongside Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife. Key executing partners include the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI), and Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA), supported by regional associations such as Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association (TTWCA) and Laikipia Conservancies Association (LCA).
Dr Seif Hamisi, East Africa Managing Director and Kenya Country Lead for Conservation International expressed appreciation for government backing and reaffirmed CI’s commitment to delivering the CEO endorsement package to the GEF by mid-December 2024.
A Shared Vision for Conservation
The validation workshop underscored the collective resolve to address human-wildlife conflict through innovative solutions, including technology-driven monitoring, provision of water resources, and animal disease research. This effort aims to foster coexistence between humans and wildlife while empowering local communities and safeguarding biodiversity. By integrating community empowerment, policy coherence, and technological innovation, Kenya’s WCD IP sets a benchmark for addressing conservation challenges with sustainable and inclusive approaches.
