Launch of Human-Wildlife Co-habitation Project in the Malawi-Zambia Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (MAZA TFCA)

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SADC TFCA HWC Project Map 

Lilongwe, Lusaka – 10 June 2025 – The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), in collaboration with Total Land Care (TLC), is pleased to announce the official launch of the Human-Wildlife Co-habitation (HWC) Project within the Malawi-Zambia Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (MAZA TFCA) valued at € 1,123,795.20.

This is an initiative of the SADC TFCA Financing Facility, funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW. The project seeks to address the persistent challenges associated with human-wildlife co-habitation (HWC) in key conservation hotspots in Northern Malawi and Eastern Zambia.

The project aims to significantly reduce HWC-related incidents in targeted interstitial and Game Management Areas (GMAs) surrounding the Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve (VMWR) in Malawi and the Musalangu GMA in Zambia. Over the period 2019–2022, these areas have experienced alarming levels of HWC, with VMWR averaging 888 incidents annually and Musalangu GMA recording an average of 489 incidents. The consequences have included destruction of crops, food insecurity, and threats to human life and property—placing pressure on both rural livelihoods and conservation efforts.

Project Objectives and Outcomes

Covering a period of 3 years from 29 May 2025 to 31 May 2028, the Human-Wildlife Co-habitation Project seeks to achieve two key outcomes:

  • Reduced HWC incidents and increased food security in the target areas :-
    by expanding the coverage of cropland protected through effective deterrent measures, improving access to HWC-related information, and strengthening community participation in managing HWC risks.
  • Improved household income for affected communities :-
    through better access to reliable markets for HWC Smart Crops—climate- and conflict-resilient crops less attractive to wildlife.

The project will directly benefit at least 34,586 farm households across multiple chiefdoms within the MAZA TFCA, contributing meaningfully to the Southern Africa Development Coordination (SADC) Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement (1999), as well as the Wildlife legal and policy frameworks of both Malawi and Zambia.

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Community consultation meeting at Chief Tembwe in Chama District, Zambia

Collaborative Implementation

The project will be implemented through a strategic partnership led by Total LandCare (TLC), with the support of: Southern African Foundation for Agriculture and Climate Change (SAFFACC); Zambian Community Resource Board Association (ZCRBA); Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT); and Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO).

Implementation will be carried in close coordination with the Departments of National Parks and Wildlife in both Malawi and Zambia, relevant district authorities (e.g., agriculture, forestry), as well as non-governmental organizations, and private sector stakeholders. 

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Community consultation meeting at Chankhalamu hotspot in TA Chikulamayembe (Vwaza) in Rumphi District, Malawi

TLC

A Representative of Inkosi Mpherembe speaking at a community gathering at Malidadi EPA, Mzimba District, Malawi

A Shared Vision for People and Nature

This initiative embodies a shared commitment to sustainable conservation and improved livelihoods. By aligning conservation with the needs of local communities, the Human-Wildlife Co-habitation Project is poised to deliver long-term impacts that benefit both people and nature across the MAZA TFCA.

About SADC TFCA Financing Facility

The SADC TFCA Financing Facility (FF) is a regional financing mechanism established to provide sustainable funding for conservation and management actions in Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs). The SADC TFCA FF was established as an initiative of SADC Secretariat with its International Cooperating Partners (ICPs) and is managed by IUCN – Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO).

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