Developing Sustainable Finance Solutions for Kenya’s Amboseli Landscape
The Amboseli ecosystem, spanning Kajiado County, is one of Kenya’s most vital ecological and cultural treasures. Home to iconic wildlife and the Maasai people, this landscape is facing increasing pressure from climate change and shifting land-use patterns. As conservation responsibilities transition to local county governments—including the landmark handover of Amboseli National Park to Kajiado County—the need for innovative, sustainable financing has never been more urgent.
Since July 2025, Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF), in partnership with the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), has been working to identify and prioritize financial mechanisms that can sustain this landscape while creating economic opportunities for local communities. By applying economic tools to conservation challenges, we are helping to ensure that Amboseli remains a thriving "living landscape" where people and wildlife can coexist for generations.
Project Highlights & Key Results
-
Stakeholder-Driven Strategy: We conducted a comprehensive situational analysis and natural capital assessment, engaging directly with community members, conservancy managers, and government authorities to ensure that financial solutions are grounded in local reality.
-
Prioritizing Innovation: Through participatory workshops held in late 2025, stakeholders identified and ranked a shortlist of 3-4 high-potential finance mechanisms. These solutions, ranging from tourism-based levies to potential payments for ecosystem services, were evaluated based on their biodiversity impact, social equity, and financial feasibility.
-
A Roadmap for the Future: Our work is culminating in a Landscape Finance Plan. This strategic roadmap provides a detailed assessment of prioritized finance solutions and an analysis of the legal and regulatory environment needed to make them successful.
-
Strengthening Local Governance: By supporting the development of the proposed Amboseli Ecosystem Conservation Authority (AECA), we are helping to build the institutional capacity required to manage these new revenue streams transparently and effectively.