The Nature Conservancy in Africa

We are hiring!📢 We're looking for a Communications Manager for Global Protect Oceans, Lands and Fresh Water (Africa-focused). To apply for job ID 55442, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://nature.ly/3Ww8Tn5 #TNCJobs ©Nick Hall, Roshni Lodhia

Father and son duo Samson and Dennis Kithinji run the Mountain Foot Farm together, where they grow potatoes, snow peas, sugar snap peas and other crops. 🫛 KEITT Exporters visits this farm frequently and provides critical technical support, such as what crops to plant, what fertilizers to use, and advice rotational cropping. KEITT picks up the farm’s harvest of peas twice a week and trucks them to Nairobi where they are packed and shipped to Europe and Dubai. Previously, Mountain Foot Farm worked with an exporter who only bought from them a few months of the year, but now they have a guaranteed stable buyer all year round. Their story is a testament to how sustainable farming supports local economies and protects Kenya's landscapes. Discover how the CHEF Program is coordinating agricultural efforts across central Kenya for maximum sustainability https://lnkd.in/exA9R5AG We are grateful to our partners: Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT), CABI, Syngenta, CGIAR, CGIAR Excellence in Agronomy Initiative, Centre for Training and integrated Research in ASAL Development (CETRAD), Keitt Exporters Limited 📸 © Roshni Lodhia #NatureAfrica #SustainableFarming #foodscape

The Nature Conservancy in Africa hosted a pivotal 3-day regional workshop on 'Reef Restoration Initiatives in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO)’, on the picturesque Unguja Island, Zanzibar. This event was a collaborative effort, bringing together diverse reef restoration practitioners including fisher communities, MPA managers, scientists, policy makers, the private sector, government agencies and NGOs from the WIO countries. A WIO Coral Reef Restoration Network was established, with key objectives being: · Fostering national, regional and global collaboration and connections  · Building network member's capacity and skills on reef restoration best practices · Facilitating sharing and creation of knowledge, science, and coral reef interventions between practitioners within the WIO and globally · Advancing supporting actions such as policy advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, funding opportunities, and career development The workshop highlights included: 🪸Collaborative Learning: Sharing valuable lessons and innovative best practices in coral reef restoration. 👥 Network Establishment: A WIO Coral Reef Restoration Network was established to boost regional collaboration and advancement of reef restoration best practices. 🤝🏾 Capacity Building: Practitioners' capacity and skills on reef restoration best practices enhanced. Coral reefs are vital for marine biodiversity, climate benefits and livelihoods of coastal communities. Their restoration is crucial for sustaining the marine environment and enhancing local economies. This workshop marks a significant step forward in our collective efforts to protect these precious ecosystems under the UN Decade of Restoration. “This initiative is key to accelerating the rebuilding of damaged coral reefs to maintain healthy and sustainable marine ecosystems, as part of a broader adaptive management strategy”, said Edward Senkondo, TNC’s Marine Fisheries Specialist (Tanzania). Dr. Rose Sallema Mtui (PhD-Blue Economy), the National Coral Reef Task Force Coordinator (National Environment Management Council, URT), added, “Healthy coral reef ecosystems are critical in supporting a sustainable blue economy in the United Republic of Tanzania (URT) and the WIO region Countries. Scaling up reef restoration initiatives will contribute to delivering national and international commitments under various multilateral environmental agreements.” Further details: https://lnkd.in/dbS62ivf Thanks to The Nature Conservancy for funding and the tremendous transformative partnership and collaboration from the Reef Resilience Network, Mwambao Coastal Community Network Tanzania, Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT-Coast), WIOMSA - Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Coral Restoration Consortium, Kenya Wildlife Service, University of Mauritius and Université de Toliara.

🌱 🤔 Ever wondered what a regenerative foodscape is? Agriculture is the number one threat to nature. It is a major driver of climate change and biodiversity loss, accounting for more than 70% of freshwater use globally. This is why we are leading on innovative approaches to incentivize agriculture that are scaling regenerative portfolios, creating holistic market systems, building capacity, and influencing policy. The Nature Conservancy and our partners are spearheading a groundbreaking initiative known as the Central Highlands Ecoregion Foodscape (CHEF). This ambitious effort unites a diverse set of partners to transform Kenya’s Central Highlands into a regenerative foodscape. 🔗 Follow the link to discover more about the CHEF initiative: https://nature.ly/3WxhEyx We are grateful to our partners: Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT), CABI, Syngenta, CGIAR Excellence in Agronomy Initiative, Centre for Training and integrated Research in ASAL Development (CETRAD), Keitt Exporters Limited. 📸 © Roshni Lodhia #NatureAfrica #SustainableFarming #foodscape

🥑 Meet John Maina, a farmer in Kenya's Central Highlands. With The Central Highlands Ecoregion Foodscape (or CHEF) program, he is grafting Hass avocados onto the root stalk of an indigenous variety. This innovative technique combines the resilience against pests and droughts with the economic benefits of the more popular fruit. Discover how we are creating a regenerative foodscape in Kenya through The Nature Conservancy in Africa and our partners Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT), CABI, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, CGIAR Excellence in Agronomy Initiative, Centre for Training and integrated Research in ASAL Development (CETRAD). 🔗 https://lnkd.in/exA9R5AG 📸 © Roshni Lodhia

Addressing unsustainable fishing through a multifaceted approach. Kiunga Community Wildlife Association (KICOWA) recently hosted a lively event to celebrate significant achievements in fisheries in Kenya. The event featured the handover of two Women Fishing Boats, two Patrol Boats, nine Fishers' Outboard Engines, and sixty-four sets of sustainable fishing gear, including hooks and lines, to fisher communities in Kiunga, Lamu County. This is part of the Fishing Gear Exchange Program (GEP) funded by The Nature Conservancy, Fauna & Flora , Basecamp Explorer Foundation, Northern Rangelands Trust, and implemented in collaboration with Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) OFFICIAL, Kenya Fisheries Service, County Government of Lamu, which catalyses fisheries co-management interventions. A great collaboration and partnership for lasting success. The new equipment will enable fishers to engage in 🎣 sustainable fishing, 🌊 access fishing grounds safely, and 🐠 enhance marine resource monitoring and protection. This initiative will not only improve the lives of the fisher community in Kiunga but also contribute to the conservation of their marine resources. Additionally, during the event, fifty-five Youth Leadership and Management Program Trainees, twenty-five Coral Reef Restoration Course graduates, and eight Qualified Open Water and Reef Restoration Ranger Divers were honoured and awarded certificates for their accomplishments. The initiative is part of The Nature Conservancy in Africa and partners holistic and multi-faceted approach of ensuring sustainable fishing, increased biodiversity conservation, decreased illegal fishing activities, and improved socioeconomic resilience of fisheries resources and people. During the event, David Ouma, Marine Fisheries Officer (Kenya) at The Nature Conservancy, underscored the importance of collaboration between partners in promoting a sustainable blue economy agenda that includes environmental conservation, economic development, and gender equity. The Government was urged to consider exploring innovative financing options to fund sustainable marine development and protection in Kenya to address barriers to achieving a sustainable blue economy. It was suggested that the adoption of the ‘Nature Bonds’ (also known as ‘blue’ or ‘green’ bonds) and including the ocean sector alongside freshwater and terrestrial resources would provide a significant impact on Kenya’s ocean and financing of its blue economy. 🎥 Watch: Kiunga Fishers Embrace Sustainable Fishing: https://lnkd.in/dhFPHXeY

While Africa is home to more than a fourth of global biodiversity, the untold and arising existential crises of biodiversity loss and climate change pose a huge challenge to the continent. Over the past week, I joined our team to participate in the Africa Conservation Forum (ACF), convened by IUCN, one of the leading regional platforms to strategically influence the sustainability agenda and biodiversity conservation. 🌿 The ACF addresses these issues by focusing on sustainable nature-based solutions that balance ecological health with community wellbeing and economic development. The forum is crucial for setting conservation priorities, influencing policy, and stimulating, international cooperation and investment in conservation. 👥 The Nature Conservancy in Africa actively involves communities in conservation efforts, ensuring that over 500,000 Africans are directly participating in and benefiting from sustainable practices that enhance their environmental stewardship and economic well-being. 💧 For instance, the Upper Tana-Nairobi Water Fund, through community engagement and sustainable land management practices, has significantly improved water quality for 9 million people. This project not only supports the livelihoods of farming families but also enhances the freshwater ecosystem, demonstrating a model that can be replicated across the continent. Building on this success, we hosted a webinar during the ACF on Africa Water Funds. Here, we shared the decade-long experience of The Nature Conservancy and our partners in protecting and restoring watersheds across Africa through the Water Funds model. A big thank you to our expert panel, including John Owino - Water Programme, Africa, Elizabeth Wathuti , O.G.W - Global Environmental Champion/Nairobi Rivers Commission and Water Fund’s board, Tommy Garnett - EFA, Sierra Leone and IUCN member organization, Fred Kihara - The Nature Conservancy Africa Water Funds Director & Trustee, Nairobi Water Fund, Dr. Joseph Onoja - Director General, NCF Nigeria, and Dr. Stella Wanjala, PHD - Director, Women in Water & Natural Resources Conservation (WWANC). 🔗 Discover more about how we are scaling the Water Funds model across the continent: https://lnkd.in/drQJRWkZ 📸 IUCN

As part of our aim to promote the exchange of experiences between Angola and Brazil on best practices in community co-management and the protection of continental fisheries resources, our team of global fisheries experts met with representatives of fishing cooperatives in the Cubango-Okavango River Basin. The team, led by Victor Barreto, our ‪Okavango Basin Fisheries Specialist, included Fernanda Silva, ‪Amazon Freshwater Fisheries Conservation Scientist, The Nature Conservancy Brasil and Sui Chian Phang, ‪Freshwater Fisheries Deputy Director with The Nature Conservancy. In the Okavango basin, fishing takes place mainly in the lower reaches of the Cubango and Cuito sub-basins. Literature and anecdotal evidence indicate a substantial decline in fish catches throughout the basin in Angola and in the waters shared by the Cubango with Namibia. This decline is partly due to illegal fishing gear, such as small mesh monofilament gillnets, which are not selective in removing biomass from rivers. Fisheries co-management approaches have proven that they can help stabilize fish stocks while supporting rural livelihoods dependent on fishing. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy - Angola, aims to strengthen governance so that communities can manage their fishing resources sustainably, promoting biodiversity protection and population well-being. Our specific objectives in the region include: 🛶 Developing local skills in fisheries management. 🎣 Integrating knowledge for sustainable river fishing. 🐟 Addressing impacts from fishing and other human activities. 🤝🏾 Facilitating stakeholder dialogue. 💙 Integrating artisanal fisheries into conservation measures. 🔗 Discover more about our work to protect one of the planet’s greatest remaining natural wonders, and how we are racing to secure its vulnerable headwaters: https://lnkd.in/dBA35Qhf 📸: Ulrich Janse van Vuuren

We recently hosted the Workshop on the Governance of Artisanal Continental (River) Fisheries in Luanda, a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and The Nature Conservancy - Angola and The Nature Conservancy Brasil. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy - Angola, aims to enhance governance to enable communities to manage their fishing resources sustainably, promoting biodiversity protection and the well-being of people. This includes: 🤝🏾 Support Fishing Communities: Supporting women and youth to improve their livelihoods. 💰 Promote Socio-Economic Development: Fostering growth and development locally. 🌱 Ecosystem Conservation: Implement efficient governance at the community level. 🐠 Protect Fishing Reserves: Ensure the conservation of fishing reserves and other protected areas. 🎣 Exchange Best Practices: Facilitate experience sharing between Angola and Brazil on community co-management and resource protection. 📈 Policy Improvement: Identify opportunities to enhance policies for the prosperity of artisanal fishing and conservation. By strengthening governance in inland artisanal fisheries, we aim to support communities in sustainably managing their resources, promoting biodiversity, and enhancing the well-being of riverine populations in the Okavango Basin and other freshwater systems in Angola. 🔗 Discover more about how we are working to safeguard the vulnerable headwaters of the Okavango: https://lnkd.in/dBA35Qhf

Join our webinar as we share the decade-long experience of The Nature Conservancy in Africa and our partners in protecting and restoring critical watersheds across Africa through the Water Funds model. #ACF2024 🗓️: Tuesday, 2 July, 13:00 - 14:00 (EAT) 🔗: https://lnkd.in/dWr44rYM IUCN, IUCN-PAPACO (Programme on African Protected Areas and Conservation)