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SADC TFCA Newsletter - 3rd Edition November 2025
25 November 2025
Dear TFCA Colleagues,
2025 has been a big year for SADC Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) Programme. The successful hosting of the 25th Anniversary of TFCAs International Conference and Heads of State Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe demonstrated the political support and important role TFCA’s play in regional integration and development. The extensive press coverage of the event reached over 2 million people, many of whom had not heard about transboundary conservation. The Summit hosted by the Government of Zimbabwe and SADC demonstrated the need for partnerships and networking amongst the government and non-governmental organisations needed to make TFCAs successful.
2025 has been a big year for SADC Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) Programme. The successful hosting of the 25th Anniversary of TFCAs International Conference and Heads of State Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe demonstrated the political support and important role TFCA’s play in regional integration and development. The extensive press coverage of the event reached over 2 million people, many of whom had not heard about transboundary conservation. The Summit hosted by the Government of Zimbabwe and SADC demonstrated the need for partnerships and networking amongst the government and non-governmental organisations needed to make TFCAs successful.
The addition of the Liuwa Plains – Mussuma TFCA through a MOU between the Angolan and Zambian Governments means we now have 14 TFCAs in SADC with a combined land area of over 1 million square kilometres covering 10% of land in member states. The recognition of Transboundary conservation at the first AU Biodiversity Summit in Gaborone last month gives impetus to TFCAs both within and beyond SADCs northern boundary.
While these are exciting indicators of support at a regional level, it is the work done on the ground by NGOs, conservation agencies, CBOs and government that make TFCAs real and deliver tangible benefits to people and biodiversity across borders. The stories in this newsletter highlight just some of the great work being done. I hope you find the time to read them and reach out to the stakeholders involved to learn more about the work and how to duplicate the impact in your TFCA.
The launch of the new TFCA Portal and knowledge hub creates the basis of shared learning and creating a sense of a TFCA community of practice that is growing by the month. The first regional Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange focusing on the Wildlife-based economy and livelihoods in September showed us a method to spread good practices and upscale local successes.
The continued and increased commitments from the German Government and EU NaturAfrica programmes for TFCAs is most welcomed and shows the global importance of the TFCA Programme. It has helped deal with the ending of the USAID supported programmes in particular the support given to LEAP activities as well as given the work on finding long term sustainable finances for TFCA coordination work.
Lastly, I hope you have a chance to spend time with your family and rest over the summer holiday period to come back refreshed and ready to continue the work in TFCAs in 2026. Our work is more important than ever.
Your TFCA Network Coordinator,
Steve Collins
While these are exciting indicators of support at a regional level, it is the work done on the ground by NGOs, conservation agencies, CBOs and government that make TFCAs real and deliver tangible benefits to people and biodiversity across borders. The stories in this newsletter highlight just some of the great work being done. I hope you find the time to read them and reach out to the stakeholders involved to learn more about the work and how to duplicate the impact in your TFCA.
The launch of the new TFCA Portal and knowledge hub creates the basis of shared learning and creating a sense of a TFCA community of practice that is growing by the month. The first regional Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange focusing on the Wildlife-based economy and livelihoods in September showed us a method to spread good practices and upscale local successes.
The continued and increased commitments from the German Government and EU NaturAfrica programmes for TFCAs is most welcomed and shows the global importance of the TFCA Programme. It has helped deal with the ending of the USAID supported programmes in particular the support given to LEAP activities as well as given the work on finding long term sustainable finances for TFCA coordination work.
Lastly, I hope you have a chance to spend time with your family and rest over the summer holiday period to come back refreshed and ready to continue the work in TFCAs in 2026. Our work is more important than ever.
Your TFCA Network Coordinator,
Steve Collins
