Overall Objective
The objective of this action is to enhance ecological integrity and community resilience across the Sebungwe landscape (Binga and Kariba districts) by securing wildlife corridors, promoting sustainable coexistence between communities and wildlife, and strengthening inclusive value chains.

Target Groups
Communities living within and adjacent to wildlife corridors, in Nyaminyami (Wards 1 – 11), and in Binga (Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 17, and 21), whose livelihoods are enhanced through sustainable resource use, conflict mitigation, and conservation-based opportunities

• Rural people with disabilities, women and youth, ensuring equitable access to decision-making in governance structures and livelihood opportunities
• Community conservancy members and leaders, supporting institutional capacity for wildlife and natural resource management
• Public authorities, including ZimParks, Forestry Commission, and Rural District Councils, to integrate conservation efforts, land-use planning, and human-wildlife coexistence strategies
• Rangers and community scouts, to enhance capacity for monitoring, anti-poaching, and habitat protection
• National research and development organizations, to strengthen landscape-level conservation planning
• Education and youth organizations, to promote conservation awareness and sustainable resource use

Final Beneficiaries
9,296 rural households in Kariba Rural, and 12,302 in Binga District benefiting from restored habitats, sustainable ecosystem services, reduced human-wildlife conflicts, and diversified income sources. 3-6 Community conservancies gaining improved institutional capacity and sustainable revenue streams.

• Private sector and market intermediaries experiencing increased economic opportunities through wildlife-compatible value chains
• Responsible authorities in Binga and Kariba districts, including Environmental Management Agency, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Forestry Commission, Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services, Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Size Enterprise Development, etc. benefiting from improved environmental governance and evidence-based policy making
• Conservation practitioners, Non-Governmental Organizations (including CAMPFIRE Association) and researchers gaining knowledge and tools for implementing community-driven solutions
• The international community, particularly TFCA stakeholders, accessing data and best practices through knowledge-sharing platforms

Objectives of the Project
The objective of this action is to enhance ecological integrity and community resilience across the Sebungwe landscape (Binga and Kariba districts) by securing wildlife corridors, promoting sustainable coexistence between communities and wildlife, and strengthening inclusive value chains.

The specific objectives are:

Objective 1: To secure and restore strategic wildlife corridors through evidence-based planning while promoting human-wildlife coexistence with inclusive, low-cost mitigation solutions supported by integrated research and monitoring. (Priority 1 & 2)

Objective 2: To implement robust governance frameworks, such as community conservancies (CCs), that ensure sustainable resource management, equitable benefit-sharing, species restoration, and inclusive decision-making while preventing elite capture. (Priority 1 & 3)

Objective 3: To strengthen community resilience and livelihoods through scalable, inclusive, and sustainable value chains that promote biodiversitycompatible economic activities. (Priority 2 & 3)

Objective 4: To enable knowledge sharing and adaptive management through enhanced coordination between stakeholders at local, national and regional levels. (Transversal)

Expected Outputs

Under Outcome 1; the action consolidates land-use and connectivity plans, restores degraded habitats and corridors, supports species reintroduction, strengthens community conservancies, and enhances community-led law enforcement for biodiversity protection.

Outputs:

• Landscape-level Land Use and Connectivity Plans operationalised, with degraded habitats rehabilitated to restore ecological integrity and enhance connectivity
• Ecosystem Services mapped, utilized, and ecosystems protected to ensure sustainable management and long-term ecological resilience
• Capacity of Community Conservancies strengthened for governance, wildlife management, and species restoration to support ecosystem integrity
• Governance strengthened, and conservation laws enforced for sustainable resource management across the landscape

Under Outcome 2; a centralized HWC database informs community-led mitigation strategies, including behaviour change tools, and technologydriven solutions, to reduce conflicts and strengthen resilience.

Outputs:

• Drivers and hotspots of HWC identified through integrated research, wildlife surveys, and a centralized HWC database for adapting management
• Communities empowered through awareness of coexistence strategies, conservation practices, and rights through education and targeted campaigns.
• Human-wildlife coexistence enhanced by community-led mitigation, training and technological solutions

Under Outcome 3; the action develops high-impact value chains (ecotourism, sustainable fisheries, NTFPs, livestock, agroecology) and establishes wildlife benefit-sharing systems to promote conservation-linked income opportunities.

Outputs:

• High-impact value chains identified, developed, and strengthened to enhance livelihoods and build community resilience
• Locally appropriate, sustainable livelihood solutions scaled and implemented across the landscape

Under Outcome 4; a knowledge management platform improves decisionmaking and landscape management, while governance frameworks, such as CCs and Community Trusts, ensure stakeholder coordination, gender equity, youth engagement, and social safeguards.

Outputs:

• Enhanced coordination, monitoring, knowledge sharing, and national/regional engagement to improve project effectiveness and adaptive management
• Inclusive participation and empowerment of target groups, with safeguards to ensure equity and protection
• Strengthened governance and policy frameworks for equitable benefitsharing and wildlife management, supported by effective communication channels between communities and decision-makers
• Increased visibility and outreach to strengthen stakeholder engagement and public awareness

Key Stakeholders

• BRDC and NRDC integrate conservation into land use planning and remain committed to HWC management. NRDC has partnered with MCT since 2020 and DanChurchAid (DCA) since 2021, while CIRAD has supported BRDC under an MoU since 2018. Both RDCs aim to establish CCs (3 already identified in Binga) and seek donor support for the process.
• Private sector stakeholders, including safari operators and market intermediaries, see opportunities to expand tourism and strengthen value chains, and are engaged in Kariba and Binga LUP consultations.
• Traditional leaders in Kariba (4 chiefdoms) and Binga (17 chiefdoms) support the action’s focus on cultural values and governance, with Mucheni CC as a model.
• CAMPFIRE structures support the action, recognizing its role in strengthening local governance, conservation incentives, and livelihoods, and will actively participate in implementation.
• Parastatals of the concerned Ministries including Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS), Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), Forestry Commission (FC), Women Affairs/Small and Medium Enterprises, will be involved in the relevant areas of the action.
• ZimParks will play a central role in wildlife-related activities, particularly in the establishment of a centralised, national-level HWC communication channel.