The Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) has recently launched an initiative aimed at driving conservation, local enterprise and sustainable livelihoods in member states.

The Regenerative Nature-Based Tourism was jointly launched alongside the European Union and the German government in Botswana.   

Speaking at the official launch ceremony, the executive director at the Kavango Zambezi Trans Frontier Conservation Area Secretariat, Nyambe Nyambe said the initiative reinforces a shared commitment of KAZA member states.

Dr. Nyambe said the commitment is aimed at ensuring that tourism not only protects biodiversity but also creates jobs, strengthens local businesses and delivers greater benefits for communities across the region.

He said the initiative aims to strengthen regenerative, inclusive and competitive nature-based tourism across the KAZA landscape by supporting micro, small and medium enterprises in the tourism sector, particularly businesses led by women, youth and communities living near protected areas.

"Across Kavango Zambezi, these are the advantages. They include local banks, family-owned lodges and enterprises and transport operators. This project is going to play a critical and important role in addressing some of the barriers in order to support innovation and transformation through building entrepreneurial capacity among women-led enterprises."

The launch brought together representatives from all five KAZA partner states, namely Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, across a shared landscape of approximately 520,000 square kilometres that includes globally significant destinations such as the Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls.