Coastal Conservation Champions: Celebrating 42 youth graduates of the 2023 Leadership and Management Program in Lamu County, Kenya

Saturday, 7th October 2023, on the beautiful colourful sunny day in Lamu County, Kenya, 42 Youth Conservation Champions from the fishing community graduated after successfully completing a Leadership and Management Program (LAMP) training.

The LAMP is customised to improve governance and leadership and empower local women and youths to effectively participate in conservation and community development work, to exercise their human rights, and to address issues faced in their day-to-day work. The program has transformed the women leaders in the conservancies’, as evidenced by their high participation in community decision making, increased self esteem, self- confidence & conflict resolution, and involvement in community development and conservation programs. Since the year 2016, 249 trainees have successfully graduated. The 42 graduates increased the NRT Coast LAMP trainees to 293 (176 females & 117 males).

The graduation ceremony was graced by the County Secretary and Head of Public service, Ambassador?Ali?Abbas, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) - Fisheries, Blue Economy, Livestock and Cooperatives Development, Mr Faiz?Fankupi?Abushiri, the Member of Parliament, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) , local leaders from Kiunga?Community Wildlife Conservancy (KICOWA), Pate Marine Community Conservancy (PMCC), Lower Tana Delta Community Conservancy (LTDC).

The Nature Conservancy in Africa is committed to providing support for the expansion of gender-responsive capacity among coastal communities in Kenya with the goals of promoting equitable participation, informed decision-making, and enhanced access to rights and resources.

Funding for the conservation champions was through TNC, NRT and Flora and Fauna (FFI).