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Empowering Africa’s Transfrontier Conservation Areas: Landmark Resource Mobilisation and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Program Launches
23 March 2026
SADC REGION – In a significant move to secure the future of Africa’s shared ecosystems, a comprehensive ten-month Resource Mobilisation and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Program has officially launched. Designed to support stakeholders working in Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) across Southern and Eastern Africa, the initiative represents a collaborative effort between the Sustainable Finance Coalition, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the SADC Secretariat, through the support of the German Government and the European Union.
The program arrives at a critical juncture as global funding landscapes shift, requiring African conservation leaders to deepen their capabilities in fundraising whilst at the same time enhance their institutional readiness, and preparedness for sustainable finance.
A New Era of Collaboration and Readiness
The program was introduced during a 3-day workshop in mid-February in Johannesburg by a leadership team including Kyra Lunderstedt, Justin Smith and Steve Collins. Outlining a rigorous year-long curriculum, the facilitators emphasised that the goal is not merely to "find more grants," but to build institutional readiness.
With over 450 applications from 51 countries, the program’s inaugural cohort of 85 participants is a testament to the regional demand for critical skills. The selected participants represent a diverse cross-section of the conservation sector, including government focal points, NGOs, and community-based organisations (CBOs).
The Three Program Pillars
The curriculum is structured into three intensive modules, blending theoretical knowledge with practical, on-the-ground application. During the workshop, trainees were exposed to a snapshot of the program to come:
1. Resource Mobilisation: The module will focus on the art and science of proposal development and strategic networking and partnerships to successfully secure capital.
"Fundraising is a collective responsibility," noted Justin Smith. "Every staff member should be able to represent their organisation’s mission to potential partners."
2. Mastering Readiness: The module covers the "unsexy but essential" aspects of conservation: governance, financial oversight, and administrative transparency that are essential to build credibility and donor confidence.
3. Sustainable Finance: This module aims to transfer knowledge on sustainable finance and what it takes to unlock finance for nature. During the workshop trainees were exposed to a Solution Showcase from the Coalition’s Finance Solution Inventory, as well as Deep Dives into Conservation Trust Funds, Biodiversity Credits and Conservation Fees.
A highlight of the opening session on sustainable finance was a Keynote Address from the Coalition’s Founder and CEO, Candice Stevens. Giving the analogy of hippos in the Okavango Delta, she encouraged each person to create channels for finance to get to the places and people who need it most.
By the end of the workshop >95% of participants reported an improvement in their knowledge across the three Module snapshots, while expressing their enthusiasm for the rest of the upcoming 10-month program.
The SADC TFCA Financing Facility: A Call to Action
A pivotal component of the program is its alignment with the SADC TFCA Financing Facility. With a minimum grant threshold of €300,000, the Facility is encouraging the formation of consortiums. This strategy is designed to allow smaller NGOs, youth-led groups, and CBOs-who may lack the individual turnover to meet eligibility to partner with larger entities and access critical funding.
Key Deadline: Applicants are reminded that concept notes must be submitted via the grants portal by March 31, 2026.
Next steps
Participants will be put through their paces as they cover the three modules through 10 dedicated sessions. The participants will be further supported by 1:1 and group coaching with the aim of equipping individuals and organisations with the knowledge, resources and tools to successfully secure capital for the important work needed in TFCAs across southern and eastern Africa.
For more information: Kyra Lunderstedt on kyra@sfcoalition.org.za
A New Era of Collaboration and Readiness
The program was introduced during a 3-day workshop in mid-February in Johannesburg by a leadership team including Kyra Lunderstedt, Justin Smith and Steve Collins. Outlining a rigorous year-long curriculum, the facilitators emphasised that the goal is not merely to "find more grants," but to build institutional readiness.
With over 450 applications from 51 countries, the program’s inaugural cohort of 85 participants is a testament to the regional demand for critical skills. The selected participants represent a diverse cross-section of the conservation sector, including government focal points, NGOs, and community-based organisations (CBOs).
The Three Program Pillars
The curriculum is structured into three intensive modules, blending theoretical knowledge with practical, on-the-ground application. During the workshop, trainees were exposed to a snapshot of the program to come:
1. Resource Mobilisation: The module will focus on the art and science of proposal development and strategic networking and partnerships to successfully secure capital.
"Fundraising is a collective responsibility," noted Justin Smith. "Every staff member should be able to represent their organisation’s mission to potential partners."
2. Mastering Readiness: The module covers the "unsexy but essential" aspects of conservation: governance, financial oversight, and administrative transparency that are essential to build credibility and donor confidence.
3. Sustainable Finance: This module aims to transfer knowledge on sustainable finance and what it takes to unlock finance for nature. During the workshop trainees were exposed to a Solution Showcase from the Coalition’s Finance Solution Inventory, as well as Deep Dives into Conservation Trust Funds, Biodiversity Credits and Conservation Fees.
A highlight of the opening session on sustainable finance was a Keynote Address from the Coalition’s Founder and CEO, Candice Stevens. Giving the analogy of hippos in the Okavango Delta, she encouraged each person to create channels for finance to get to the places and people who need it most.
By the end of the workshop >95% of participants reported an improvement in their knowledge across the three Module snapshots, while expressing their enthusiasm for the rest of the upcoming 10-month program.
The SADC TFCA Financing Facility: A Call to Action
A pivotal component of the program is its alignment with the SADC TFCA Financing Facility. With a minimum grant threshold of €300,000, the Facility is encouraging the formation of consortiums. This strategy is designed to allow smaller NGOs, youth-led groups, and CBOs-who may lack the individual turnover to meet eligibility to partner with larger entities and access critical funding.
Key Deadline: Applicants are reminded that concept notes must be submitted via the grants portal by March 31, 2026.
Next steps
Participants will be put through their paces as they cover the three modules through 10 dedicated sessions. The participants will be further supported by 1:1 and group coaching with the aim of equipping individuals and organisations with the knowledge, resources and tools to successfully secure capital for the important work needed in TFCAs across southern and eastern Africa.
For more information: Kyra Lunderstedt on kyra@sfcoalition.org.za
