Namibia

Our work

The SWM Programme in Namibia is part of the SWM Community Conservancy Project, a regional initiative focused on harmonizing wildlife conservation with food security and enhancing local livelihoods. Implemented in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), the Namibia site includes 12 Community Conservancies and one community association in Bwabwata National Park. This site is located within key transboundary wildlife corridors that support the free movement of wildlife. The project strengthens the community conservancy model, promoting local governance and sustainable wildlife management. It aims to empower communities through improved legal and institutional frameworks, enhancing their capacity to manage and benefit from their wildlife heritage sustainably.

Who we work with

The SWM Programme in Namibia collaborates with 12 Community Conservancies and one community association in Bwabwata National Park. Field activities are coordinated by FAO and implemented by WWF Namibia, in partnership with the national government. 

SWM Programme in Namibia
Output1

Output 1: Community rights and governance

The Legal Hub is expected to be launched in early 2025.

Output2

Output 2: Adaptive wildlife management

The SWM Programme supports community wildlife management plans, including annual game counts, daily patrols, livestock grazing schemes and wildlife monitoring. This data informs adaptive management actions and the need for updates to wildlife quotas by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. The Programme also aids the Salambala Community Conservancy in establishing a fisheries reserve on the Chobe River to reduce pressures from overfishing, with annual fish surveys supported by the Programme.

Output3

Output 3: Healthy and sustainable supply chains and consumption

The SWM Programme is supporting chilli production value chains in four Community Conservancies (Kwandu, Mashi, Balyerwa, and Wuparo). In the Zambezi region, 51 small-scale poultry producers (80% women) received training and mentorship in poultry production, including sanitation practices, vaccination, and poultry house construction. Lima Farms acquired a 1000-egg incubator with support from the Programme. In the Kavango region, 72 community members, mostly women and youth, were trained in goat husbandry, animal health, and nutrition.

Output4

Output 4: Zoonotic risk prevention and management

No activities were carried out under this output.

Namibia Legal Hub

Country legal hubs are a user-friendly point of access to a comprehensive set of data and analysis on the statutory legal frameworks relating to sustainable wildlife management.

Publications

Videos

Simonda – a young dynamic farmer finding ways to coexist with wildlife in Namibia
25/09/2025

This video tells the story of Simonda Kakola, a young and dynamic farmer from Namibia’s Zambezi region who, like many others, is facing the challenges...

An interview with Nyambe Nyambe, Executive Director of the KAZA Secretariat
10/09/2025

This interview is part of the SWM Programme series of interviews with senior government officials and permanent secretaries on the contribution of...

The SWM Programme promotes sustainable Devil's claw harvesting in Namibia
28/08/2025

In Namibia’s dry, open landscapes, a small plant plays a big role. Devil’s claw is recognized around the world for its natural health benefits. Namibia...

Supporting community and wildlife coexistence in Southern Africa
24/02/2023

The Kavango–Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area is one of the largest conservation areas in the world, spanning the international borders...

Supported by

Consortium partners

ACP logo       FFEM logo  AFD logo  
 CIFOR-ICRAF logo      

 

Contact us

 

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