SADC Secretariat and the German Government sign funding agreements with IUCN for additional financing support to the SADC TFCA Financing Facility and the Training Programme for SADC TFCAs

On May 22nd, 2025, in the presence of the Executive Secretary of SADC Secretariat and The German Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe, the Regional Director for IUCN ESARO, Mr. Luther Anukur signed the Separate Agreements for SADC TFCA FF and the Training Programme with KfW. The agreements signed are for tranches III (8 million euros) and IV (11 million euros) of SADC TFCA Financing Facility and Tranche II of the SADC TFCAs Training Programme (5 million EUR) to support conservation and development in TFCAs. 

The agreements signed serve to unlock additional funding for SADC TFCAs through the TFCA Financing Facility which is managed by IUCN. The SADC TFCA Financing Facility is currently funded by the German Government. To date the German government have made available up to EUR 44 million for the SADC TFCA FF. The funding is aimed at supporting tangible measures that strengthen ecological, economic, cultural and institutional connectivity within SADC TFCAs for the management of shared natural resources and sustainable development. With the funding made available, more grants will be allocated to protected and conserved areas, community areas for actions that support conservation of the shared natural resources and for development actions for local communities living in TFCAs. 

Courtesy Photo

The funding for the Training Programme, will facilitate for needs-driven, workplace-related training for wildlife rangers and TFCA managers for conservation of shared natural resources. The project will promote the SADC TFCA programme by investing in human capital and ultimately improving conservation and livelihood outcomes. The nature and priorities of the training programme will be informed by the ongoing Training Needs Assessment for SADC TFCAs.

This signing ceremony, which took place on the sidelines of the SADC TFCAs Summit,–was attended by high-level representatives including the Executive Secretary of SADC Secretariat, German Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe, Director General for Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife, representatives from KfW and EU, government officials from SADC Member States and other members of the SADC TFCA Network. 

About SADC TFCAs Financing Facility

The SADC TFCA Financing Facility (TFCA FF) is a regional fund established to provide sustainable funding for conservation and management actions in Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The Facility is managed by IUCN – Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO). The TFCA FF was established to become a flexible, responsive, demand- and performance driven financing mechanism, with the unique purpose of supporting the establishment and sustainable development of TFCAs