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Transfrontier Conservation Areas
The Southern African Development Community has created 14 Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) across country borders covering 940 000 square kilometers which is 10% of SADC land in 11 of SADC's 16 countries.
The SADC TFCA program hopes to reconnect natural landscapes by improving transboundary conservation, supporting sustainable rural development and building climate change resilience in the region. The TFCA program is part of SADC's regional integration vision.
The TFCA Network
The SADC TFCA Network is a community of practice that brings together professionals working in Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) across a wide range of sectors contributing to SADC's regional sustainable rural development programme.
Recognising the shared challenges faced by TFCAs and aligned with the SADC TFCA vision, the Network was established on 25–26 September 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa, by TFCA coordinators, representatives from international NGOs, and practitioners from the SADC Member States.
The Network aims to address several key common challenges, including:
- Strengthening governance through improved policies, legislation, and institutional frameworks
- Developing sustainable financing mechanisms for TFCAs
- Demonstrating the value of TFCAs at local, national, and regional levels—for example, by enhancing community benefits and supporting capacity development.
Become a member of the TFCA Network and join a vibrant community of like-minded professionals. Click here to join now!
Upcoming events
Africa Biodiversity Summit
02 - 05 November 2025
Gaborone Botswana
More
SADC TFCA M&E Workshop and Training
04 - 07 November 2025
Johannesburg
More
2nd International Conference on Agriculture & Natural Resources
17 - 18 November 2025
Rome, Italy
More
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Click here to add your events to the TFCA calendar.List your job for free
Add your job listing to the TFCA website and reach a community of professionals in your field.Recently added to the Repository
Madagascar Ministers reaffirm commitment towards the establishment of a marine TFCA
Meeting Report
Meeting Report
Southern African Development Community (SADC) Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) Directorate is, through the support of the Joint Action NaturAfrica/Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management (C-NRM) Programme - a partnership programme between Southern African Development Community (SADC), the European...
More
The Natural Resource Governance Framework
Governance
Tools
Governance is a critical determinant of the social equity, effectiveness and sustainability of natural resource use and conservation. Improving natural resource governance, including securing rights and sharing power and responsibilities, benefits both people and nature. Despite this, governance remains relatively...
More
Natural Resource Governance Tool, Version 2
Conservation
Strategy and guides
This second version incorporates: a) improved understanding of the power to govern and the addition of diversity as a sub-attribute of authority, b) updated data collection and data management methods using KoboToolBox on tablet computers, and c) revision of the...
More
Visit a TransFrontier Conservation Area today
If you're interested in visiting one of the Transfrontier conservation areas, here are some great links to help you on your journey:
TOURISM in TFCAs 
TOURISM in KAZA
News
SADC TFCA program launches a TFCA Conservation Finance Community of Practice
Steve Collins / 30 October 2025
The TFCA Conservation Finance Community of Practice (CoP) is a new platform for practitioners, partners, and policymakers to connect, share experiences, and build capacity for financing transfrontier conservation and sustainable landscapes in the SADC region.
Launched following the Summit Report-Back webinar of 26 August, the CoP brings together stakeholders engaged in the design and implementation of financial mechanisms that support TFCAs, biodiversity, and community livelihoods.
SADC Strengthens Disaster Risk Reduction Efforts in Transfrontier Conservation Areas
Steven Collins / 30 October 2025
September 2025
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has taken a step toward building climate resilience across its Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) with the launch of a new Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) initiative.
The announcement was made during the 2025 SADC International Conference and Heads of State Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe, where regional leaders underscored the importance of integrating risk-informed development into conservation and natural resource management.
Madagascar Reaffirms Commitment to Marine Transfrontier Conservation Area
Rorly Sherwen / 13 October 2025
Antananarivo, Madagascar – 4 September 2025
Madagascar has reinforced its commitment to establishing a Marine Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA), signalling strong political support for regional marine conservation and sustainable development.
The announcement came during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) National Dialogue on TFCAs, held from 3–4 September 2025 in Antananarivo. The event was organised by the SADC Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) Directorate with support Joint Action NaturAfrica/Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management (C-NRM) Programme - a partnership...
More news
Want to see your news here?
Click here to add your news to the TFCA website.
Visit a TransFrontier Conservation Area today
If you're interested in visiting one of the Transfrontier conservation areas, here are some great links to help you on your journey:
TOURISM in TFCAs
TOURISM in KAZA
The TFCA Network
The SADC TFCA Network is a community of practice that brings together professionals working in Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) across a wide range of sectors contributing to SADC's regional sustainable rural development programme.
Recognising the shared challenges faced by TFCAs and aligned with the SADC TFCA vision, the Network was established on 25–26 September 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa, by TFCA coordinators, representatives from international NGOs, and practitioners from the SADC Member States.
The Network aims to address several key common challenges, including:
- Strengthening governance through improved policies, legislation, and institutional frameworks
- Developing sustainable financing mechanisms for TFCAs
- Demonstrating the value of TFCAs at local, national, and regional levels—for example, by enhancing community benefits and supporting capacity development.
Become a member of the TFCA Network and join a vibrant community of like-minded professionals. Click here to join now!
News
SADC TFCA program launches a TFCA Conservation Finance Community of Practice
Steve Collins / 30 October 2025
The TFCA Conservation Finance Community of Practice (CoP) is a new platform for practitioners, partners, and policymakers to connect, share experiences, and build capacity for financing transfrontier conservation and sustainable landscapes in the SADC region.
Launched following the Summit Report-Back webinar of 26 August, the CoP brings together stakeholders engaged in the design and implementation of financial mechanisms that support TFCAs, biodiversity, and community livelihoods.
SADC Strengthens Disaster Risk Reduction Efforts in Transfrontier Conservation Areas
Steven Collins / 30 October 2025
September 2025
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has taken a step toward building climate resilience across its Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) with the launch of a new Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) initiative.
The announcement was made during the 2025 SADC International Conference and Heads of State Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe, where regional leaders underscored the importance of integrating risk-informed development into conservation and natural resource management.
Madagascar Reaffirms Commitment to Marine Transfrontier Conservation Area
Rorly Sherwen / 13 October 2025
Antananarivo, Madagascar – 4 September 2025
Madagascar has reinforced its commitment to establishing a Marine Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA), signalling strong political support for regional marine conservation and sustainable development.
The announcement came during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) National Dialogue on TFCAs, held from 3–4 September 2025 in Antananarivo. The event was organised by the SADC Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) Directorate with support Joint Action NaturAfrica/Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management (C-NRM) Programme - a partnership...
More news
Upcoming events
Africa Biodiversity Summit
02 - 05 November 2025
Gaborone Botswana
More
SADC TFCA M&E Workshop and Training
04 - 07 November 2025
Johannesburg
More
2nd International Conference on Agriculture & Natural Resources
17 - 18 November 2025
Rome, Italy
More
Recently added to the Repository
Madagascar Ministers reaffirm commitment towards the establishment of a marine TFCA
Meeting Report
Meeting Report
Southern African Development Community (SADC) Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) Directorate is, through the support of the Joint Action NaturAfrica/Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management (C-NRM) Programme - a partnership programme between Southern African Development Community (SADC), the European...
More
The Natural Resource Governance Framework
Governance
Tools
Governance is a critical determinant of the social equity, effectiveness and sustainability of natural resource use and conservation. Improving natural resource governance, including securing rights and sharing power and responsibilities, benefits both people and nature. Despite this, governance remains relatively...
More
Natural Resource Governance Tool, Version 2
Conservation
Strategy and guides
This second version incorporates: a) improved understanding of the power to govern and the addition of diversity as a sub-attribute of authority, b) updated data collection and data management methods using KoboToolBox on tablet computers, and c) revision of the...
More
