As of: 09/2022
Namibia is home to a wide variety of wild animals – from the “Big Five” of Africa to various species of birds and insects. Many species of spiders, scorpions and snakes even live in the Namib Desert. More than two thirds of the population depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. However, both biodiversity and protected areas are under increasing pressure due to population growth, non-sustainable agriculture, climate change and conflicts between people and wildlife. It is therefore particularly important to reinforce the protected areas by ensuring their professional management and securing long-term financing. KfW is contributing to these goals with its commitment to the Community Conservation Fund of Namibia (CCFN).
Namibia already protects its biodiversity in many ways. Close to 17% of the country’s land area is under state protection, and a further 21.5% is protected at municipal level. In addition to the 20 large national nature reserves and wildlife parks, there are also numerous smaller areas that are maintained and nurtured by local communities. At the end of 2020, there were 86 municipal protected areas covering an area of 166,000 square kilometres, plus close to 14,000 square kilometres in 43 community forests. The municipal protected areas therefore play a key role in preserving Namibia’s natural biodiversity. Compared globally, these programmes performed very well. In addition to protecting natural resources, they also strengthen the communities themselves.
However, the majority of these areas have not yet been able to generate enough revenue to perform their function in the long-term. Only 35 of the 86 protected areas financed themselves fully; the rest have yet to reach this target. The CCFN is remedying this by closing the financial gap.
The CCFN was established in 2017 as a non-governmental organisation. Its aim is to establish an endowment fund for running costs with a volume of USD 33 million and an expense fund of USD 17 million to cover key investments in the municipal protected areas. KfW is providing a total of EUR 19 million to support the CCFN on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The fund’s resources are intended to provide long-term financing for community-based protected areas as well as for community forests in the medium term. The purposes are threefold: Firstly, it promotes non-governmental organisations that support communities’ involvement in their protected areas. Secondly, expenditures are made to prevent conflicts between humans and wildlife and to reduce the resulting losses. Thirdly, local residents receive financial rewards when they spot wildlife. As a result, the value of wildlife becomes immediately tangible. The fund’s resources are intended to cover the minimum requirements of the 86 municipal protected areas in Namibia.
Due to COVID-19 and the emergency situation it caused for many people, further measures were added in the short term to cushion the adverse consequences of the pandemic, since revenues from tourism had fallen dramatically. The fund is designed to compensate for such losses, at least in part.
The programme has already achieved visible impacts; wildlife populations have grown significantly in recent years. Promotion by KfW should also be seen as a type of start-up funding. In addition to investments already made by WWF and other donors, it will contribute to acquiring further funds from the private sector. The Namibian government is striving to attract even more investors – both local and international. The aim is to secure the long-term financial viability of the municipal protected areas and community forests. Furthermore, the relationship between government and civil society should become closer and more resilient. Natural resources should also be managed sustainably within the community.
The project to reduce the impacts of wildlife conflicts provides promotional funding to 43 of the 86 protected areas. The funds to compensate for the impacts of the pandemic are helping to maintain operations in all 86 of the municipal protected areas, for example, by co-financing the salaries of over 700 gamekeepers and their assistants. This allows patrols to continue, protects wildlife, limits poaching and secures the livelihoods of over 7,000 family members. There are also the salaries of more than 1,200 tourism employees in joint venture companies.
The project contributes to the achievement of these following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
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KfW Group
KfW Development Bank
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