Launch of Angola GEF-7 Project: Strengthening Management and Climate Change Resilience in Angola's Conservation Areas for Sustainable Development

In the Spring, the Secretary of State of Environment, His Excellency Yuri Valter de Sousa Santos, launched the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded project titled “Strengthen Management and Climate Change Resilience in Angola's Conservation Areas for Sustainable Development” (Angola GEF-7 Project) at the Intercontinental Hotel in Luanda. This project underscores the Angolan government's commitment to biodiversity conservation for sustainable development and enhancing the resilience of communities in the country's conservation network and along the Trans-Frontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) of the KAZA and Iona Skeleton.  

The Secretary of State of Environment, representing the Minister of Environment at the project launch, emphasized that the Angolan government is committed to sustainably promoting biodiversity conservation and addressing climate change challenges. Over the past 20 years, the Angola Government has made substantial investments in revitalizing conservation areas, empowering local communities, and establishing a robust legal framework. The project operationalizes key national and international commitments and is hence pivotal to the implementation of the new National Biodiversity Strategy (2025-2030), which seeks to address biodiversity loss, climate change impacts, and ecosystem resilience. Collaboration with national, regional, and international partners such as GEF and Conservation International (CI) is crucial to the conservation of Angola's most valuable natural asset, biodiversity. This project will add significant value to these efforts, building resilience in communities within national parks and the country’s conservation network, including the TFCAs, and the transfer of knowledge to Angolan for the long-term sustainability of this initiative. 

The relevance of this project derives from the fact that Angola hosts diverse ecosystems and some of the richest biodiversity on the African continent, with over 250,000 elephants population and home to17 globally threatened endangered species. Despite this importance, the TCFAs continue to face severe threats, including climate change, deforestation, land encroachment, wildlife habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and overexploitation of wildlife. These challenges are exacerbated by socio-economic factors, with poor rural communities relying on climate-sensitive sectors like pastoralism and subsistence agriculture, making them highly vulnerable to climate change.  

To address these challenges, Angola received a US$ 14.8M grant from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) under the GEF-7 Global Wildlife Program (GWP). The project aims to strengthen management and climate change resilience in Angola's conservation areas for sustainable development in two large-scale Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs): Luengue-Luiana National Park in the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) TFCA and Iona National Park in the Iona-Skeleton Coast TFCA. This seven-year project is led by Conservation International (CI) as the Implementing Agency, with the Ministry of Environment (MINAMB) through the National Institute for Biodiversity and Conservation (INBAC) as the Executing Agency, supported by the International Caucus Conservation Foundation (ICCF), and African Parks (AP). 

Over the seven years of project implementation, the Angola GEF 7 project expects to contribute to the following targets: 

• 3,788,245 ha of terrestrial conservation areas under improved management for conservation and sustainable use. 

• 35,000 ha of landscapes under climate-resilient management. 

• 12 policies, plans, and development frameworks that mainstream climate resilience. 

• 14,040 people (4,212 female; 9,828 male) with enhanced capacity to identify climate risk and/or engage in adaptation measures. 

• 24,215 direct beneficiaries (7,265 female; 16,950 male) as co-benefit of GEF investment. 

• 17 globally threatened endangered species under increased protection in Luengue-Luiana and Iona National Parks. 

Dr. Jimmiel Madima, the Senior Vice President, Africa Region, at Conservation International, in his remark, highlighted the strategic role of Conservation International and how the Angola GEF-7 project is a critical milestone for strengthening management and climate change resilience in Angola's conservation areas. Angola's leadership in protecting undisturbed areas and planning smart value chains is commendable. CI brings global lessons to customize solutions for local contexts, emphasizing innovative surveillance technologies and capacity building. “We are committed to achieving the 30 by 30 goal and climate targets, mobilizing significant financial support. This project will contribute to Angola's economy and demonstrate the value of nature." Dr. Madima further elaborated and emphasized that Angola possesses some of the last remaining undisturbed conservation areas in the world, and the government's wisdom in embracing partners to protect these areas and make them platforms for economic growth is commendable. This requires smart planning of value chains, which will be successful given the collaborations between INBAC and other state and non-state partners 

At the community level, the project will provide significant support to the Government of Angola and central, provincial, and local communities by: 

• Supporting local community livelihood options to make them more resilient to climate change impacts. 

• Empowering community members through education, training, and involvement in conservation efforts. 

• Promoting sustainable economic activities, such as nature-based tourism and sustainable agriculture, to improve livelihoods and reduce pressure on natural resources. 

• Improving Park surveillance infrastructure and equipping parks with modern monitoring equipment. 

• Enhancing the technical and institutional capacities of government agencies to coordinate, plan, and implement climate change and biodiversity strategies. 

Mobilizing additional funds for conservation areas in Angola is crucial for the success of this project. The Angola GEF 7 initiative represents a significant step towards sustainable development and climate resilience. By supporting this project, donors and partners can contribute to the protection of vital ecosystems, the empowerment of local communities, and the achievement of global biodiversity and climate targets. Together, we can ensure a healthier planet and a brighter future for all.  

The launch event was attended by 83 participants, of which 41% were women.  High-level government dignitaries at the launch included His Excellency, Secretary of State for the Environment Engineer Yuri de Sousa Santos; His Excellency, Secretary of Forests João da Cunha; His Excellency, Vice-Governor of Cuando Province Claudio; the Royal Highness King Mwene Adalla; INBAC Director Miguel Xavier; Provincial Directors of Environment from Namibi and Cubango, Municipal Administrators of Cuando and Cubango (Luiana, Luengue, Calay, Cuangar and Rivung and Bondo).