Richard Ndiga’s Post

Conservation contains a complex web of power dynamics. They often go unspoken yet they significantly influence the success or failure of conservation organizations and initiatives. In our latest Reader, we delve into the multifaceted ways power shows up within organizations, and amongst various stakeholders. We also explore how African conservation leaders and organizations can use power to do better. https://lnkd.in/dURb8PSG #powerdynamics #communityconservation #BuildBetterOrgs

We are excited and honored to be amongst the organizations supported and collaborating in a bold restoration initiative supported by the Bezos Earth Fund. This is a $22.8 million dollar investment seeking to accelerate the restoration of two African landscapes critical for carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and human wellbeing: the Greater Rift Valley in Kenya and the Lake Kivu and Rusizi River Basin in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. Maliasili’s role will be to provide multi-year, tailored organizational development support to some of the local African restoration champions, working in close collaboration with the World Resources Institute. Getting resources into the hands of local organizations is critical to addressing climate and conservation challenges, and so is investing in their growth and development. We’re thrilled to be part of this effort, which is doing both! “Locally led and managed restoration efforts are more likely to deliver long-term success and can bring climate and biodiversity benefits along with economic prosperity for communities. The bottom line is without local leadership, local wisdom, and passion, scaling restoration across Africa would be impossible.” -Wanjira Mathai, Bezos Earth Fund’s advisor for Africa and Managing Director at the World Resources Institute https://lnkd.in/eyKawfjP Wanjira Mathai Bezos Earth Fund World Resources Institute

Exciting development from the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya! 🌍 Bezos Earth Fund President and CEO Dr. Andrew Steer just announced $22.8M to accelerate locally led restoration of two African landscapes – Kenya’s Greater Rift Valley and the Lake Kivu and Rusizi River Basin in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.      Grants will support African community groups, restoration enterprises, and partners to restore 600,000 hectares and sequester 42 million MT CO2e by 2050.     The announcement was made at a heads of state panel which emphasized restoration’s potential to empower the most vulnerable people to transform their landscapes and livelihoods. NICFI also announced their support for this vision, with new funding committed for restoration in Ethiopia.    This new funding, in process, boosts the Earth Fund’s total support for restoration in Africa to over $60M – and places it with the African grassroots organizations who are at the heart of the continent’s restoration movement.     For a deeper dive into the details of this announcement, visit → https://bit.ly/44LkMHT. #ACS23 #AfricaClimateSummit23 #GenerationRestoration

Extremely thrilled, together with the fantastic Resson Kantai Duff Richard Ndiga and Kahaso Mtana, to launch our latest Maliasili report in Kigali today - Rooting for Change. The report explores the often challenging but essential partnerships and relationships between local and international NGOs, highlighting the challenges, barriers and most importantly, opportunities for positive change. Read it here - https://lnkd.in/dvMkqpMN #RootingforChange #BCC2023