The Government of Kenya, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Enduring Earth, has launched a $160 million conservation initiative aimed at protecting the country’s natural resources while improving livelihoods and creating jobs for local communities.
Known as Thamani Asili, meaning “value of nature” in Kiswahili, the initiative was launched on October 21, 2026, by Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano. It will provide long-term funding for conservation, water security, climate resilience and sustainable economic growth over the next decade.
The project is expected to directly benefit about 1.6 million people, while another 3.9 million could benefit from improved land management, stronger governance and new economic opportunities linked to nature.
Under the plan, communities living alongside wildlife will play a central role in conservation and decision-making. The initiative will support nature-based businesses, including ecotourism, sustainable grazing and carbon projects, to help households earn income while protecting the environment.
These activities are expected to create about 7,800 direct jobs and 15,000 indirect jobs, with up to 80,000 people benefiting from new livelihoods and business opportunities.
“Conserving nature creates opportunities, strengthens livelihoods and honors the cultures and heritage of the people who live alongside wildlife,” Miano said.
She added that the initiative would strengthen cooperation between the government, conservation organizations and communities to ensure the benefits of Kenya’s natural heritage reach its people.
The project also aims to reduce conflict between people and wildlife through better livestock protection, land-use planning and improved management of natural resources.
Kenya Wildlife Service Director General Erustus Kanga said conservation must protect both wildlife and the communities that share the same landscapes.
“Our communities are not separate from conservation; they are its heart,” Kanga said, adding that people living alongside wildlife should benefit from the value their natural resources create.
Over the next 10 years, Thamani Asili aims to support conservation across about 17.3 million hectares of land and other natural areas. This will contribute to Kenya’s goal of conserving 30 per cent of its land, inland waters and near-shore ecosystems.
The plan includes establishing about 2.7 million hectares of new conservation areas, improving the management of 11 million hectares of existing conservation areas and helping communities manage another six million hectares more sustainably.
It is also expected to help Kenya avoid about 7.5 million tones of carbon emissions by 2035, supporting the country’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
The initiative will cost $160 million, with $80 million expected from philanthropic donors and the government providing an equal amount over 10 years.
Ruth Masha, TNC’s Country Director for Kenya, said the project would strengthen community rights and give local people a greater say in decisions affecting their land and natural resources.
She said community-led conservation could protect the environment while creating jobs, improving livelihoods and building stronger local economies.
The initiative will be managed through the newly established Thamani Asili Fund for Kenya, an independent conservation trust fund responsible for managing donor money, distributing funds and tracking progress.
Work will initially focus on four priority landscapes: Tsavo to Coastal, Greater Ewaso, Greater Rift to Western, and Southern Kenya. The areas are important for wildlife, water supplies and community livelihoods.
Thamani Asili is Kenya’s third Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) initiative in Africa and the tenth supported by Enduring Earth, a partnership involving TNC, The Pew Charitable Trusts, World Wildlife Fund and ZOMA LAB.
The initiative is expected to receive support from dozens of donors and will contribute to Kenya’s Vision 2030 development agenda and global biodiversity targets.
By linking long-term conservation funding with community development, the project aims to protect Kenya’s natural heritage while ensuring that people living alongside wildlife share in the economic benefits.
