Kenya unveils a new USD 160 million climate and conservation project

Kenya is rolling out a US$160 million landmark national initiative for long-term financing of conservation projects needed to conserve the country’s natural heritage while supporting community livelihoods, water security, climate resilience

The Government of Kenya, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Enduring Earth, today unveiled the Thamani Asili Project Finance for Permanence (PFP), a US$160 million landmark national initiative designed to secure long-term financing for conservation needed to conserve Kenya’s natural heritage while supporting community livelihoods, water security, climate resilience, sustainable economic growth and the world-renowned wildlife tourism sector.

Launched by the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Rebecca Miano, Thamani Asili signals a new chapter in how Kenya finances conservation, shifting from short-term project funding to a long-term investment in the country’s people, wildlife and natural resources.

The initiative is expected to directly benefit around 1.6 million people, while a further 3.9 million people could benefit from stronger land governance, effective natural resource management and expanded economic opportunities linked to nature. 

Central to the ethos of Thamani Asili, translating to ‘value of nature,’ in Kiswahili, is placing communities at the heart of collaborative environmental and development efforts, recognising that long-term conservation success depends upon the wellbeing and leadership of local people.

Opportunities enabled by Thamani Asili will include ecological tourism, sustainable grazing, carbon programs and other nature-based businesses that support household incomes.

Within the landscapes supported by the initiative, these investments are expected to create around 7,800 direct jobs plus a further 15,000 indirect jobs, benefiting up to 80,000 people through new livelihoods and business opportunities. 

At its core, Thamani Asili supports conservation led by communities.

It strengthens local governance, supports land-use planning and ensures that people living alongside wildlife can benefit directly while managing natural resources sustainably. It also supports practical measures to reduce human wildlife conflict, including improved livestock protection and land management approaches. 

Building on TNC’s past experience of supporting multiple other PFP projects with national governments including those of Gabon and Mongolia, the initiative recognises the extent to which Kenya’s economy depends on nature.

By investing in conservation, the country is also supporting jobs, economic growth and long-term resilience for crucial sectors including agriculture, tourism and water.

Over the next decade, Thamani Asili will help conserve over 17.3 million hectares of territory, supporting Kenya’s goal of conserving 30 percent of its lands, inland waters and near-shore ecosystems.

This includes establishing around 2.7 million hectares of conserved areas, in partnership with communities and other stakeholders. 

The initiative will also improve the management of more than 11 million hectares of existing conservation areas, while enabling the conditions needed for communities to better manage another 6 million hectares.

Thamani Asili is also expected to drive climate progress, in line with Kenya’s commitments to the Paris Agreement, by helping avoid 7.5 million tons of carbon emissions by 2035.

As the third PFP in Africa, Thamani Asili is designed to mobilise US$ 80 million from philanthropy, with the Government of Kenya expected to match this with an equivalent US$ 80 million over 10 years.

“Conserving nature creates opportunities, strengthens livelihoods and honours the cultures and heritage of the people who live alongside wildlife. Through Thamani Asili, we are strengthening the partnership between Government, conservation institutions and communities to ensure that the value of our natural heritage translates into lasting benefits for our people. Our commitment is clear: to protect our wildlife, empower communities and build a future where both people and nature thrive together,” Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, stated.

The Director General of the Kenya Wildlife Service, Prof. Erustus Kanga said Conservation is not just about conserving wildlife but also entails protecting a way of life, honoring the cultures and heritage of our communities, and securing a future where people and wildlife thrive together.

“When elephants and livestock drink from the same water points, we are reminded that we share one landscape and one responsibility. Our communities are not separate from conservation; they are its heart. Together, we must ensure that the people who live alongside wildlife are not only its custodians but also beneficiaries of its value. Because when communities thrive, wildlife thrives, and our natural heritage lives on for generations to come.”

On her part, Ruth Masha, Country Director for Kenya at The Nature Conservancy, said it is known that when communities lead, conservation can deliver lasting results.

“Thamani Asili strengthens community rights, voices and decision-making over land and resources, so people can conserve the places they depend on while also improving livelihoods, creating jobs and building stronger, more resilient local economies for the future.”

Thamani Asili will be implemented through a long-term plan that brings together conservation, communities and financing.

It will be administered by the Thamani Asili Fund for Kenya, a newly created independent conservation trust fund responsible for managing and disbursing donor funding to the PFP and tracking progress. 

Initial efforts will focus on four priority landscapes across the country: Tsavo to Coastal, Greater Ewaso, Greater Rift to Western, and Southern Kenya. These areas are critical for biodiversity, water security and livelihoods, and are central to Kenya’s conservation and development goals. 

Thamani Asili supports Kenya’s Vision 2030, the country’s long-term development blueprint, national climate commitments and global biodiversity targets. It sets out a practical way to protect nature while strengthening livelihoods and supporting long-term economic growth.

It represents the tenth PFP initiative so far supported by Enduring Earth, a bold collaboration founded in 2020 by The Nature Conservancy, The Pew Charitable Trusts, World Wildlife Fund, and ZOMA LAB, with expanded support from Bezos Earth Fund and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Thamani Asili anticipates key financial support from dozens of donors, including Daniel C. Chung, Dennis and Connie Keller, Jan and Emily Hammer, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, Mary Anne Rogers, Palladium Foundation, Red Crane Foundation, Richard Rosen and Anna-Marie Pavlik, Rob Walton Foundation, Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust, Sally Liu, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Scott and Roxanne Bok, Stephanie March and Dan Benton, Stuart and Joanna Brown, TNC Scale Up Fund.