In the dry, thorny landscape of Kunene North, where the midday sun scorches the earth and water is as precious as gold, three elderly men have taken it upon themselves to protect what little their community depends on—its gardens.
Niklas Tjauira, Kambanga Zaryama, and Unyonena Katupose are not trained wildlife rangers. They do not wear uniforms, nor do they carry radios or protective gear. What they have instead is courage born of necessity and a deep love for the land that raised them. Armed only with whistles, sticks, and the occasional torch or horn, they spend their nights watching over community gardens—small patches of green that feed their families and their neighbours.

The Community Conservation Fund of Namibia (CCFN), in collaboration with Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC) and key partners, recently undertook a field visit to Kunene North, engaging directly with community members in Ondjete and surrounding areas.
The purpose of the visit was clear: to listen, learn, and strengthen partnerships in the face of growing human-elephant conflict that continues to challenge both livelihoods and conservation efforts.

The Community Conservation Fund of Namibia (CCFN), through the Poverty Oriented Support to Community Conservation in Namibia project, recently conducted a series of visits to water points in the Kavango and Zambezi landscapes. These visits aimed to assess the current state of water infrastructure, engage with community members, and raise awareness on the importance of protecting and maintaining these vital resources.

In a groundbreaking effort to safeguard rural livelihoods, communities in the Kavango and Zambezi regions have received a fleet of JCB backhoe loaders to aid in the fight against human-wildlife conflict. These heavy-duty machines will be instrumental in digging trenches around gardens and crop fields, preventing elephants from destroying vital food sources for local farmers.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, in partnership with the Community Conservation Fund of Namibia and the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Area, successfully handed over vital infrastructure and equipment aimed at mitigating human-wildlife conflict and improving livelihoods in the Zambezi Region. The region is particularly vulnerable to human-wildlife conflict due to the presence of species such as lions, elephants, hippos, and crocodiles.

In a bid to bolster environmental conservation efforts across the African continent, the Consortium of African Funds for the Environment (CAFE) is set to host its highly anticipated annual gathering in Swakopmund, Namibia. Scheduled to take place from the 2nd to the 6th of September 2024 at the Plaza Hotel, this event promises to be a pivotal moment for stakeholders committed to safeguarding Africa’s rich biodiversity.

The recent engagements at Okakarara Secondary School marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to address Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) in Namibia’s Otjozondjupa landscape. Supported by the Poverty Oriented Support to Community Conservation in Namibia (POSCCIN) Project, these workshops brought together various stakeholders, including conservancies, governmental bodies, and conservation organizations, to align strategies and enhance co-existence between humans and wildlife.

In the vast expanses of conservancies and rural areas, access to clean water is not just a necessity but a lifeline. For years, communities in these regions have grappled with the arduous task of maintaining water infrastructure, often relying on fuel-powered boreholes to secure their water supply. However, a transformative shift is underway, heralding a new era of sustainability and cost-effectiveness through the adoption of solar-powered solutions.

The recently held Tourism Expo, themed “Beyond Borders,” with a special focus on the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) provided a platform for industry players in the tourism sector to promote their products and services. On the Community-Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) front, the 2024 Tourism Expo showcased the remarkable talents of community crafters, providing them with a platform to exhibit and sell their products.

On 28 and 29 February 2024, GIZ, KfW and CCFN hosted a group of about 8 members of the Committee on the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection from the German Bundestag (German Parliament). The delegation was led by the Committee Chairman Mr Herald Ebner and, accompanied by the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Namibia, His Excellency Dr Thorsten Hutter.