GEF-8 REQUEST FOR CEO CHILD ENDORSEMENT/APPROVAL

The KaF-Wild project is a 60-month initiative in Zambia's Lower Kafue Basin designed to secure biodiversity and promote socio-economic benefits. It focuses on four main components: strengthening institutional and legal frameworks for wildlife conservation, improving coexistence between people and wildlife in protected habitats, diversifying wildlife conservation financing, and enhancing communications and knowledge management. The project targets the restoration of 3,000 hectares of wetland and the improved management of 622,900 hectares of protected areas, including Blue Lagoon and Lochinvar National Parks. It specifically addresses threats such as poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and the spread of invasive Mimosa pigra. The project is implemented in coordination with a sister project, KaF-Adapt, and is supported by a total GEF financing of $6,503,167, including agency fees.

• The project aims to improve the management of four protected areas—Blue Lagoon National Park, Lochinvar National Park, and the Kafue Flats and Nkala Game Management Areas (GMAs)—covering a total of 622,900 hectares.
• A primary goal is the restoration of 3,000 hectares of wetland through the removal of invasive alien vegetation and integrated fire management, which is expected to result in emissions reductions of 249,410 tCO2e over 20 years.
• The project targets 15,000 direct beneficiaries, including 3,000 adults (60% men and 40% women) who will engage in new income opportunities, capacity development, and dialogue.
• To combat the decline of the endemic Kafue Lechwe, whose population dropped from 80,000 in the 1990s to 23,000 in 2019, the project will strengthen anti-poaching capacity by recruiting 30 new Community Scouts.
• To reduce zoonotic spillover risk, the project will implement a 'One Health' approach, including a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, and the Zambia National Public Health Institute.
• The project will promote nature-based enterprises, such as processing invasive Mimosa pigra into eco-briquettes and biochar fertilizer, and developing ecotourism partnerships.
• Sustainable financing will be explored through a watershed investment programme, a potential 'Crane Bond' for protecting cranes, and the use of carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
• The project is designed to be complementary to the 'sister' project, KaF-Adapt, which focuses on climate resilience, water harvesting, and rotational grazing in the same landscape.
• Total GEF financing for the project is $6,503,167, consisting of a $5,966,208 grant and $536,959 in agency fees, with an additional $3,150,000 in confirmed co-financing.

APA

WWF International (2025). GEF-8 REQUEST FOR CEO CHILD ENDORSEMENT/APPROVAL. https://assets.worldwildlife.org/www-prd/documents/6f6689aa-c030-4a95-955f-96bd966549a6.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. GEF-8 REQUEST FOR CEO CHILD ENDORSEMENT/APPROVAL. 2025. https://assets.worldwildlife.org/www-prd/documents/6f6689aa-c030-4a95-955f-96bd966549a6.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=GEF-8 REQUEST FOR CEO CHILD ENDORSEMENT/APPROVAL |date=9 July 2025 |url=https://assets.worldwildlife.org/www-prd/documents/6f6689aa-c030-4a95-955f-96bd966549a6.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2025gef8, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{GEF-8 REQUEST FOR CEO CHILD ENDORSEMENT/APPROVAL}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://assets.worldwildlife.org/www-prd/documents/6f6689aa-c030-4a95-955f-96bd966549a6.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }