African Nature Based Tourism Platform

Partner spotlight ?? Umoja Wildlife Conservancies of Uganda Umoja is a not-for-profit organization that acts as an umbrella body for conservancies in Uganda, with a total of 18 member conservancies. Umoja recently received funding from Conservation International to strengthen four of their member conservancies' capacity and sustainability, enabling them to meet the criteria for financial support. The four conservancies are Murchison Aswa Falls Conservancy (MAFC), Layugi Community Conservancy, Weny-Weny Community Conservancy, and Rurambira Community Conservancy. So far, Umoja has developed conservancy concept documents to guide strategic planning and resource mobilization, mapped the Weny-Weny conservancy area, and changed the legal status of MAFC from a community-based organization to a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. These achievements have been made possible through collaborative meetings with conservancy leaders, managers, and members, ensuring their input and support guide every step. The next step for Umoja is to support the four conservancies in applying for wildlife use rights. Image credit: Umoja WWF World Wildlife Fund WWF Africa Global Environment Facility

We just sent out our bi-monthly project newsletter. In this newsletter, we spotlight a few of our partners and provide updates on some of their ongoing projects. Read the full newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/ezpfD_mi Explore our previous newsletters: https://lnkd.in/gx3MgQfh If you haven’t signed up to receive these updates, you can do so on our website: https://lnkd.in/dsyWuEKg Image credit: Nikhil Advani/WWF-US

??Nature-based tourism is a lifeline for many rural communities across Africa, providing crucial income and supporting conservation. Yet, shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic and climate extremes have disrupted these livelihoods, impacting both people and wildlife. World Wildlife Fund is working to turn this challenge into an opportunity for a more resilient future! With support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the African Nature Based Tourism Platform helps communities recover and strengthen their resilience. Through investments in sustainable tourism, we strengthen local communities, safeguard wildlife, and enhance the well-being of nature and humanity. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dBFTcTRc? #COP29 #NatureBasedTourism #ClimateAction

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ?? The International Climate Initiative (IKI) announced the opening of their Medium Grants program for 2024: https://lnkd.in/gzHK72h3 The objectives of the IKI Medium Grants (IMG) are to test innovative bottom-up approaches to fulfilling the Paris Agreement and the CBD and to promote the global networking of civil society between the North and the South. According to this funding announcement, grants shall be awarded for up to twelve projects and a total funding volume of up to EUR €8 million. Projects on one of the two thematic priorities listed below are sought: 1. Promotion of ambitious participatory measures for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions 2. Integrative measures for the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity in cities For each project, IKI is awarding between EUR €300,000 and EUR €800,000. Applicants should be civil society organizations and are required to have a registered office in Germany when the awarded grants are disbursed. Proposals are due January 15th, 2025. View more funding opportunities on our website: https://lnkd.in/d8HdPcTy #NatureBasedTourism #Africa #Funding

Our partner ReGeCom is doing amazing work with local communities in and around national parks to enhance their engagement in community-led natural resource management. ReGeCom believes that communities are at the heart of conservation, and this is demonstrated in the work they do. WWF World Wildlife Fund WWF Africa Global Environment Facility

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ?? USAID CFDA, in an addendum provided under their Annual Program Statement, is seeking concept notes for the Southern Africa Scalable Approaches for Investing in Nature Window (the "Window") in one or more of the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, and/or South Africa: https://lnkd.in/dPhq_8BS The Window aims to support high-potential initiatives such as nature bonds, debt-for-nature swaps, results-based-finance, payment for ecosystem services, and other innovative nature-based solutions and financial mechanisms that can be launched, scaled, or replicated effectively – enhancing their impact on nature conservation and sustainability in the target countries. Under this funding window, grants are anticipated to go up to USD $500,000, but there is no minimum funding request. Concept notes are due December 13th, 2024. View more funding opportunities on our website: https://lnkd.in/d8HdPcTy #NatureBasedTourism #Africa #Funding

East African pastoralists like the Maasai have herded cattle alongside wildlife for centuries, but conservation policies increasingly restrict this practice in places like Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve (MMNR), where grazing is banned. A new study suggests this restriction may be unnecessary: researchers found that at low cattle densities, herds don’t harm forage or displace wildlife, even when Maasai herders graze cattle in the reserve during dry seasons. This finding has sparked debate, with some ecologists questioning its reliability due to the study’s limited sample area. However, rotational grazing allowed in the Mara’s conservancies seems to benefit both wildlife and ecosystems by creating varied forage that appeals to multiple species. MMNR’s tourism revenue, which can exceed $20 million in a few months, complicates the issue, as many tourists don’t expect to see cattle alongside iconic species. The conservancy model may offer a middle ground, supporting Maasai livelihoods and wildlife conservation. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eUz-MDHM WWF World Wildlife Fund WWF Africa Global Environment Facility

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ?? The Agro Agriculture Foundation is seeking proposals for projects that support young people in the agriculture sector: https://lnkd.in/gsnkqqR This call for grant proposals seeks to work with nonprofits to support youth-led and high-impact innovations for sustainable food systems in Kenya, South Africa, and Zambia. Working with nonprofits, the Foundation will offer grants between USD $400,000 and USD $450,000 each for one or more projects, disbursed over a three-year project duration to support youth-led innovative solutions and educate young people in the agri-food sector. Proposals are due November 29th, 2024. View more funding opportunities on our website: https://lnkd.in/d8HdPcTy #NatureBasedTourism #Africa #Funding

New funding opportunities ?? We have just released our latest update on funding opportunities in our monthly newsletter. It details opportunities related to nature-based solutions, agriculture, climate resilience, and additional topics relevant to communities and conservation organizations. Read the full newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/eaphdzdW If you haven’t signed up for these updates yet, you can do so here: https://lnkd.in/eqccSdb Image credit: Nikhil Advani WWF World Wildlife Fund WWF Africa Global Environment Facility

Request for information: 2 days left!?? USAID's REFS Center for Agriculture-Led Growth is seeking feedback for a planned research activity identifying priorities for livestock systems research for development programming: https://lnkd.in/e4HGeUFr As USAID looks to the future of investments in research for development efforts focused on livestock systems, input from implementing partners, local organizations, researchers, NGOs? and other interested stakeholders provides an opportunity for more coordinated, demand driven, and effective research. Discussion prompts are available on the official RFI. Responses are due November 1st, 2024 and must be emailed to [email protected]. View more funding opportunities on our website: https://lnkd.in/d8HdPcTy?