Under the direction of the Laikipia Wildlife Forum, a new program called the Mazingira Conservation Fund (MCF) has been launched to promote practical conservation actions. The MCF’s mission is to channel funds to support local initiatives that result in benefits to people, wildlife, and their habitats, while its vision is to combine conservation, community, and commerce in positive benefits for biodiversity and their habitats.
The MCF’s thematic grant areas cover assessments and feasibility studies, community conservation actions, citizen science, capacity building and skills development, internships, and conservation education. These thematic areas are designed to address the root causes of environmental issues and promote measurable and quantifiable impacts.
Numerous groups submitted concepts to be awarded the grant, and after a rigorous selection process, only five groups were selected. These groups, namely the Ilmamusi Community Forest Association, Ontulili Primates Protection, The Leo Project, Oramat Lenaboisho Cooperative Society, and Naatum Women’s Group, were chosen based on their ability to promote habitat conservation, support the MCF’s primary thematic areas, demonstrate funding support, contribute to conservation actions with a multiplier effect, and address the root cause of environmental issues.
Representatives from these groups were invited for a two-day grant proposal development training, where they learned how to develop a full proposal, create a results framework, work plan, monitor and evaluate, and promote their initiatives on social media.
The training was engaging and promoted peer learning, ensuring that participants were well-equipped to develop comprehensive grant proposals.
The launch of the Mazingira Conservation Fund has conservationists excited because it creates a fresh chance to support regional conservation initiatives and advance sustainable environmental practices.
These five organizations will be able to create cutting-edge solutions with the help of the MCF that benefit both people and wildlife, while having a positive effect on biodiversity and their ecosystems.
For Kenyan conservationists, the launch of the Mazingira Conservation Fund represents a critical turning point in the struggle to preserve our ecosystem. We can be confident as we look to the future that programs like the MCF will assist us in creating a more sustainable world for future generations.
