(L-R) Jeff Worden, Director Conservation Impact, Laurent Some, WWF Africa Head of Policy, Rubina James, Director ABCG, Lucy Waruingi, Director Africa Conservation Centre, Alice Ruhweza, WWF Africa Regional Director, and Marco Lambertini, WWF International Director General
KIGALI — WWF in Africa has, today 21st July, 2022 launched its “Strategic Plan for Africa: 2021 – 2025” – a call to move beyond business as usual and make nature everyone’s business. The launch took place at the Africa Protected Areas Congress – APAC, happening at the Kigali Conference Centre in Rwanda.
This strategic plan fits with the Africa Protected Areas Congress’s objective in Kigali, Rwanda, this week to position Africa’s protected and conserved areas within the broader goals of economic development and community wellbeing.
Speaking at the event, WWF Director General Marco Lambertini said, “APAC presents us with a unique opportunity to bring everyone together to reconnect after what seems like far too long in isolation – to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of PCA conservation in Africa and make progress towards a collective vision and a clear way forward for area-based conservation in the region. The Africa strategy provides a framework for strengthening how we work together in the region, but it is also important for the WWF network.”
WWF Africa’s new strategic plan provides a framework for consolidating the organisation’s work in the region and leveraging the outcomes of this critical Congress to strengthen conservation in Africa. The two impact areas of this strategy – Shared Space and Making Nature Everyone’s Business – have been echoed throughout the Africa Protected Areas Congress.
The urgency of meeting the needs of people and the planet sustainably has never been greater. Both are facing enormous pressures and hold significant promise too. But these pressures can not be overcome, or these promises realized, by one person or one organization alone. We must embrace these challenges and opportunities together – with diversity as our strength – a collection of voices across communities, countries, sectors and political perspectives coming together as one voice for people and planet.
Building on WWF’s work at country, landscape, regional and global levels our Strategy leverages the power of people to transform lives and landscapes. Through ensuring coexistence in Shared Spaces, transforming Africa’s balance sheet by Making Nature Count, and an integrated and inclusive Whole of Society approach we are committed to working together to transform the conservation narrative in Africa by making Nature Everyone’s Business.
There is hope. Today there is unprecedented interest in nature. Individuals, communities, and governments are coming together across Africa to achieve net zero and reverse biodiversity loss. To build a better future for Africa.
The challenges and opportunities for conservation in Africa – at scale – have never been greater.
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