COVID-19 didn’t just threaten lives; it shook the foundations of conservation efforts across Southern Africa.
Kudakwashe Chigodo - Team Lead of the SADC TFCA Financing Facility
As the world grappled with the pandemic, conservation in Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) faced unprecedented challenges. Funds were urgently needed for the health response, leaving conservation efforts and the communities dependent on them vulnerable and underfunded.
The pandemic meant that governments and organisations needed to urgently re-allocate resources, with many conservation programmes put on hold or drastically scaled down. The ripple effects were felt in protected areas, community conservancies, tourism operations, and alternative livelihoods—all vital to the region’s environmental and socio-economic health.
The COVID-19 pandemic tested our resilience in unprecedented ways. The rapid response grants provided by the SADC TFCA Financing Facility were a critical intervention, enabling us to maintain essential conservation activities and support vulnerable communities. This After-Action Review is enabling us to refine our approach, ensuring that we are better prepared for future challenges.
Domingos Gove - Director of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources at the SADC Secretariat
To address these urgent needs, the SADC TFCA Financing Facility quickly mobilised €2 million funding from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development working through the German Development Bank (KfW), in COVID-19 Emergency Response Grants across 11 projects in Southern Africa. This grant mechanism was unique: it bypassed the traditional two-stage Open Call process in favour of a rapid one-stage, closed call to SADC Member States, enabling quicker deployment of funds where they were most needed. These grants provided a lifeline to TFCAs, ensuring that critical operations continued, local communities received support, and essential health measures were implemented.
In the face of the pandemic, our protected areas and the communities depending on them faced tremendous strain. The support from the COVID-19 Emergency Response Grants was vital in ensuring that we could continue our conservation efforts and support livelihoods during a time of crisis. This review process is essential to understand the full impact and learn how we can improve for the future.
Aruna Seepersadh - Director: Transfrontier Conservation Areas, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment South Africa
Now that the grants have concluded, the SADC TFCA Financing Facility conducted an After-Action Review (AAR) to evaluate the outcomes and processes of these emergency interventions. This review began with an online meeting and was followed by an in-person workshop that brought together grantees, partners, and key stakeholders. The discussions were rich with insights, covering everything from the application process to project implementation, contracting, and monitoring and evaluation.
The pandemic disrupted our operations and the communities we serve, but the grant allowed us to quickly adapt and continue our conservation and livelihood support activities. The lessons from this review will be instrumental in shaping our future strategies and ensuring sustainability.
 Sandile Sihlongonyane - Country Coordinator Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM), Eswatini.
The AAR is not just a retrospective exercise; it’s a forward-looking process. The lessons learned and the gaps identified are invaluable for shaping future grant mechanisms. By documenting successes and areas for improvement, we aim to create a more effective, responsive framework for future crises and conservation efforts.
The insights gained from this review have packaged into communication materials designed to serve as a learning opportunity for all stakeholders. Our goal is to ensure that future interventions are even more effective, building on the foundations laid during one of the most challenging periods in recent history.
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Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to share the outcomes of this critical review and work towards a more resilient future for Southern Africa’s TFCAs.
