The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is inviting proposals to scale up green economy solutions that generate sustainable livelihoods while enhancing conservation outcomes in selected Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) in Southern Africa, including several World Heritage sites. The SADC TFCA Financing Facility, supported by the German Government (€44 million) and the European Union (€10 million, NaturAfrica), provides sustainable funding for conservation and management initiatives aligned with the SADC TFCA programme.
The latest call aims to deliver sustainable economic benefits that support landscape sustainability while achieving conservation goals in six of the 12 TFCAs. Among these are the Kavango Zambezi TFCA, encompassing Mana Pools National Park, Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas, the Okavango Delta, and Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls, as well as the ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape. Grants range from EUR 300,000 to EUR 950,000, require at least 10% co-financing, and encourage transboundary collaboration. The application deadline is 31 March 2026.
As of December 2025, SADC-recognized TFCAs include at least 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites noted for their natural and cultural values, such as iSimangaliso Wetland Park – Maputo National Park, Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains, Tsodilo, and the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape. These sites protect some of Africa’s iconic wildlife and concentrations of rock art, and their effective management often requires cross-border coordination to maintain ecological corridors, as emphasized in the 2025 IUCN World Heritage Outlook.
The SADC TFCA Financing Facility has supported several transboundary World Heritage landscapes, delivering tangible conservation and community benefits. In Maloti-Drakensberg Park (Lesotho/South Africa), initiatives included training 65 rangers and environmental monitors, employing community environmental monitors, providing equipment, controlling fires, clearing invasive plants, and upgrading eco-tourism facilities. Maputo National Park (Mozambique) benefited from improved tourism infrastructure and community-led maintenance of 150 km of fencing to prevent elephant-human conflicts. In Selous Game Reserve (Tanzania), efforts strengthened wildlife corridor protection, procured drones, built ranger facilities, and constructed water reservoirs.
Established as a regional financing mechanism, the SADC TFCA Financing Facility supports the establishment and sustainable development of TFCAs through flexible, demand-driven funding. Initial support was provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW Development Bank, with a long-term goal of mobilizing EUR 100 million by 2026 through multiple international partners. IUCN’s Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office serves as the Project Executing Agency, overseeing the administration and execution of funded initiatives.
IUCN has played a central role under the World Heritage Convention since 1972 as the official advisory body on natural and mixed World Heritage sites. Its work includes technical recommendations for new site nominations, monitoring the status of existing sites, and providing preliminary assessments for potential nominations. Beyond this advisory role, IUCN actively supports World Heritage sites worldwide through its secretariat, expert commissions, and network of member organizations, contributing to global conservation efforts and sustainable site management.
