The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is convening the inaugural Transboundary Water and Landscapes Sustainable Finance Bootcamp on 26–27 November 2025 in Muldersdrift, South Africa. The event will bring together representatives from SADC Member States, River Basin Organizations (RBOs), Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs), development partners, civil society, International Cooperating Partners, and financial institutions to explore innovative financing solutions for shared watercourses and biodiversity resources across the region.
Many RBOs and TFCAs in Southern Africa operate within overlapping landscapes and face similar environmental and management challenges, highlighting the need for strengthened collaboration in project implementation to ensure effective conservation and water security outcomes. The Bootcamp, themed “Sustainable Finance Bootcamp: Sustainable financing for joint impact in River Basin Organizations and Transfrontier Conservation Areas of Southern Africa, with a focus on the Great Limpopo,” aims to deepen participants’ understanding of sustainable finance principles and their practical application to transboundary nature conservation.
During the two-day event, participants will examine innovative finance mechanisms, including tax incentives, environmental funds, and bonds, and explore how these approaches can be adapted to different catchments and landscapes. Key lessons from the Blyde and Olifants sub-catchments within the Great Limpopo region will be shared through plenary sessions, training workshops, and interactive breakaway discussions, enabling attendees to apply practical models to their own transboundary contexts.
The Bootcamp also seeks to foster new partnerships, encourage collaborative approaches, and replicate successful financing strategies to unlock long-term resources for shared management of water and land-based ecosystems. The initiative is convened by the Sustainable Finance Coalition, the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA), and Conservation International, with financial support from the German Government under the SADC-German Transboundary Water Management project and Global Affairs Canada through Conservation International.
The Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) and the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) serve as focal points and co-conveners for the event. Ahead of the Bootcamp, both LIMCOM and GLTFCA emphasized the importance of mobilizing resources and partnerships to ensure that shared basins and conservation areas are managed sustainably, equitably, and for the benefit of all stakeholders in the region.
