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Germany commits an additional €24 Million to Southern Africa's Transfrontier Conservation Areas on Biodiversity Day
30 May 2025
On the occasion of International Biodiversity Day, 23 May 2025, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany has committed an additional €24 million to support Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The announcement was made during the SADC TFCA International Conference and Summit, held in Harare, Zimbabwe, which marked 25 years of cross-border conservation cooperation in Southern Africa.
In a ceremony attended by high-level dignitaries and development partners, Ambassador Udo Volz of the German Embassy in Zimbabwe signed a series of financial and grant agreements alongside H.E. Mr. Elias Mpedi Magosi, Executive Secretary of SADC. The commitments underscore Germany’s long-standing partnership with the region in promoting biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.
Strengthening Regional Ecosystems Through Financial and Technical Cooperation
As part of its Financial Cooperation with SADC via the German Development Bank (KfW), Germany committed:
* €19 million to the SADC TFCA Financing Facility, a regional trust fund that supports habitat restoration, species protection, and community livelihoods.
* €5 million to the SADC TFCAs Training Programme for rangers and wildlife managers, enhancing human capacity in conservation leadership.
Both agreements were signed with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), acting as the project executing agency through its Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office.
Under Technical Cooperation with SADC, Germany—alongside the European Union—signed two major grant agreements for the Joint Action NaturAfrica Climate - Resilience and Natural Resource Management (C-NRM) Programme, implemented by GIZ:
* €280,000 was allocated to the Sustainable Finance Coalition to develop innovative finance solutions in up to three TFCAs.
* €190,000 will be directed to the Southern African Wildlife College to build capacity across all SADC Member States in wildlife-based economies.
A Shared Vision for Transboundary Conservation
“These new partnerships represent a deepening of our shared commitment to resilient ecosystems and regional solidarity,” said Ambassador Volz. “They are not just investments in nature, but in people, institutions, and future generations.”
The event was one of the highlights of the SADC TFCA 25th Anniversary International Conference and Summit, bringing together government officials, conservation experts, traditional leader, and international development partners. It celebrated TFCAs as a global model for ecological integrity, peacebuilding, and sustainable development.
The funding announcements mark a pivotal moment in Southern Africa’s conservation journey, reaffirming Germany and the EU’s support for regional efforts to combat biodiversity loss, enhance climate resilience, and create economic opportunities through nature-based solutions.
Strengthening Regional Ecosystems Through Financial and Technical Cooperation
As part of its Financial Cooperation with SADC via the German Development Bank (KfW), Germany committed:
* €19 million to the SADC TFCA Financing Facility, a regional trust fund that supports habitat restoration, species protection, and community livelihoods.
* €5 million to the SADC TFCAs Training Programme for rangers and wildlife managers, enhancing human capacity in conservation leadership.
Both agreements were signed with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), acting as the project executing agency through its Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office.
Under Technical Cooperation with SADC, Germany—alongside the European Union—signed two major grant agreements for the Joint Action NaturAfrica Climate - Resilience and Natural Resource Management (C-NRM) Programme, implemented by GIZ:
* €280,000 was allocated to the Sustainable Finance Coalition to develop innovative finance solutions in up to three TFCAs.
* €190,000 will be directed to the Southern African Wildlife College to build capacity across all SADC Member States in wildlife-based economies.
A Shared Vision for Transboundary Conservation
“These new partnerships represent a deepening of our shared commitment to resilient ecosystems and regional solidarity,” said Ambassador Volz. “They are not just investments in nature, but in people, institutions, and future generations.”
The event was one of the highlights of the SADC TFCA 25th Anniversary International Conference and Summit, bringing together government officials, conservation experts, traditional leader, and international development partners. It celebrated TFCAs as a global model for ecological integrity, peacebuilding, and sustainable development.
The funding announcements mark a pivotal moment in Southern Africa’s conservation journey, reaffirming Germany and the EU’s support for regional efforts to combat biodiversity loss, enhance climate resilience, and create economic opportunities through nature-based solutions.
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