African Nature Based Tourism Platform: Data to Impact - 2023

The African Nature Based Tourism Platform, funded by the Global Environment Facility, is working to mobilize $15 million for tourism-reliant communities and SMEs across 11 countries in eastern and southern Africa. Based on 687 surveys conducted in early 2021, the Platform identified critical vulnerabilities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including severe revenue losses and threats to food and water security. These insights have informed the development of community-led grant proposals focusing on climate-smart agriculture, water security through solar-powered boreholes, and inclusive governance. Specific successful funding mobilizations include a $1.4 million EU grant for governance in Tanzania's Wildlife Management Areas and various projects in Malawi, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Kenya aimed at diversifying livelihoods to reduce reliance on tourism and prevent the unsustainable use of natural resources.

• The African Nature Based Tourism Platform aims to mobilize at least $15 million to support SMEs and communities reliant on tourism in 11 countries in eastern and southern Africa to recover from the pandemic and build resilience to future stressors.
• Survey data from 687 respondents across 11 target countries revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic created compounding impacts on vulnerable groups, leading to significant staffing reductions and financial instability for nature-based tourism enterprises.
• In Malawi, 100% of survey respondents reported concerns regarding the increase in unsustainable use of natural resources following the pandemic, leading to a $186k project by KAWICCODA focused on climate-resilient alternative livelihoods such as climate-smart agricultural production of soya beans, sunflower, and groundnuts.
• In Botswana, 91% of respondents expressed concern over food or water security, which informed an $87k project by the Ngamiland Council of NGOs (NCONGO) to implement climate-smart horticulture practices for 30 farmers in Maun.
• Water security was a primary concern in Zimbabwe and Namibia, resulting in the mobilization of $135k in Zimbabwe and $159k in Namibia for the installation of solar-powered boreholes and rainwater harvesting systems.
• In Tanzania, the Community Wildlife Management Area Consortium (CWMAC) secured $1.4 million from the European Union to improve governance and natural resource management in 12 community-owned Wildlife Management Areas, including engaging some in the carbon credit market.
• In Kenya, the Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA) secured $208k from IUCN BIOPAMA to support the Lumo Community Conservancy, focusing on rebuilding operations and creating inclusive governance structures for women and youth.

APA

WWF International (2023). African Nature Based Tourism Platform: Data to Impact - 2023. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/503/3mm9g7zheg_African_NBT_Data_to_Impact_Report_2023_FINAL.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. African Nature Based Tourism Platform: Data to Impact - 2023. 2023. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/503/3mm9g7zheg_African_NBT_Data_to_Impact_Report_2023_FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=African Nature Based Tourism Platform: Data to Impact - 2023 |date=2023 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/503/3mm9g7zheg_African_NBT_Data_to_Impact_Report_2023_FINAL.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2023african, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{African Nature Based Tourism Platform: Data to Impact - 2023}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2023}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/503/3mm9g7zheg_African_NBT_Data_to_Impact_Report_2023_FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }