KAVANGO ZAMBEZI TRANS FRONTIER CONSERVATION AREA 16th MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE MEETING JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ

We, the Ministers responsible for coordinating the Kavango Zambezi Trans Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), convened in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, for our 16^th Ministerial Committee Meeting, held on 12^th June 2026, to review progress on our joint efforts in the development and management of the KAZA TFCA.

The following attended the meeting:

• Republic of Zimbabwe: Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, and current Chair of the KAZA TFCA Ministerial Committee;
• Republic of Botswana: Wynter Boipuso Mmolotsi, Minister of Environment and Tourism;
• Republic of Namibia: Indileni Daniel, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, represented by Hon. Anselm N. Marungu, Deputy Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism;
• Republic of Angola: Marcio De Jesus Lopes Daniel, Minister of Tourism, represented by H.E. Baltazar Diogo Cristovao, Angolan Ambassador to Zimbabwe; and
• Republic of Zambia: Mr Evans Muhanga, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, represented by Mr Jones Masonde, Acting Director of National Parks and Wildlife.

This meeting marked the first convening since the handover of the KAZA TFCA Coordinating Chairpersonship from the Republic of Zambia to the Republic of Zimbabwe on 22^nd August 2025.

The Ministerial Committee approved and directed as follows:

1. The Republics of Angola and Namibia reaffirmed their prioritisation of enhanced connectivity in the KAZA TFCA landscape, noting the urgent need for border infrastructure and management systems between Bwabwata and Luengue Luiana National Parks. The Ministerial Committee called for internal and bilateral engagements and strengthened resource mobilisation in line with the 2024 KAZA Heads of State and Government Summit Communique.
2. The strengthened strategic resource mobilisation and proactive leveraging of existing and forthcoming financing opportunities, particularly the Africa Keystone Protected Area Partnership (AKPAP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF-9) funding cycle, to mobilise resources for capitalising the proposed KAZA Conservation Trust Fund (CTF), building on the approved project preparation grant under the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund.
3. The initiation of technical planning and strengthened strategic resource mobilisation to support a follow-up, synchronised and coordinated survey of large herbivores across the KAZA landscape as a strategic transboundary intervention
4. The allocation of EUR 500,000 from the Federal Republic of Germany towards the establishment of permanent, regionally representative offices for the KAZA Secretariat, to be complemented by one-time contributions from the Partner States towards office construction.
5. The audited financial statements and management report for the Phase III grant from the Federal Republic of Germany for the 2025 financial year reflect an unqualified audit opinion.

The Ministerial Committee noted the following: 

6. The continued emphasis on strengthening strategic resource mobilisation and diversifying and growing the KAZA TFCA donor portfolio as a foundation for long-term financial sustainability.
7. The status of the KAZA Fund and Partner State contributions to the Fund, together with reaffirmed commitments to sustain contributions to strengthen the Secretariat and effectively support the TFCA operations.
8. Progress in the implementation of the resolutions of the 2024 Heads of State Summit, including the diversification of the donor portfolio through strengthened, growing international partnerships, ongoing development of the KAZA Conservation Strategy and Action Plan and the Integrated Development Plan, the launch of the tourism destination brand, and the Great Kavango Zambezi Birding Route as a flagship TFCA tourism product of the Partner States.
9. The convening of National Committee meetings to strengthen in-country oversight, coordination and stakeholder collaboration in the implementation and development of the KAZA TFCA.
10. The significant impact of the Federal Republic of Germany’s support to the KAZA TFCA landscape, through interventions in human–wildlife coexistence, livelihood enhancement, governance, and safety systems, as well as the confirmation of further support amounting to EUR 6 million over four years, commencing in 2027.
11. Progress in advancing the respective technical mandates through the Elephant, Forestry, Animal Health, and Carnivore Conservation sub-working groups, as well as the Safety and Security, Finance, and Legal Working Groups.
12. Significant progress recorded during the first year of implementation of the Green Growth for KAZA Project within the European Union’s NaturAfrica programme, a four-year initiative valued at EUR 5.65 million, advancing, among others, sustainable finance, Bankable Nature Solutions, Integrated Development Plans (Master and Country), conservation strategy and strengthening of the KAZA TFCA Secretariat.
13. Strengthened transboundary law enforcement, including an unprecedented multi-agency patrol involving Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe; the training of 796 officers across border posts since 2021; and the completion of customised Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Standard Operating Procedures for the Partner States.
14. New transboundary investments secured through the SADC TFCA Financing Facility, including a Forestry Initiative with the Namibia Nature Foundation and the US Forest Service, the Flagship Wildlife Connectivity Project led by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Wildlife Managers and Rangers Training Programme.
15. The expansion of programme partnerships across the landscape, including the Regenerative Nature-Based Tourism Development Joint Action, the Seeds of Cinema programme, national Legal Hubs, and the graduation of the first cohort of the African Leadership University fellowship.

The Ministerial Committee commended the Partner States for the following national achievements:

16. Angola: The development of its homegrown Okavango Raid tourism initiative, the designation of the Angolan Headwaters as the country’s first Ramsar Site, and its co-hosting of the ITB Tourism Trade Fair in March 2026.
17. Botswana, for the successful hosting of the inaugural Africa Biodiversity Summit, and reviving the Tourism Pitso, last held 13 years ago, as a flagship national tourism stakeholder engagement platform.
18. Namibia, for hosting its inaugural national community-based natural resources management (CBNRM) conference and the launch of Africa’s first community-focused Project Finance for Permanence, the Namibia for Life Project, which secured over USD 63 million for extension services and socio-economic development in communal conservancies.
19. Zambia, for the finalisation and launch of seven General Management Plans for protected and game management areas, four of which are in the KAZA TFCA landscape, thereby strengthening conservation planning and management across the country, as well as for successfully hosting the national tourism expo, which promoted the Kavango Zambezi “Rivers of Life” tourism destination brand.
20. Zimbabwe, for successfully hosting the Zimbabwe Funders Roundtable and advancing a shared roadmap to strengthen the biodiversity economy through coordinated conservation, community stewardship, and sustainable financing, as well as for the landmark excursion convened by the First Lady during the 2^nd UN Tourism Regional Congress on Women, which brought together ten thousand women from all ten provinces to experience the Victoria Falls Rainforest.

The Ministerial Committee extended its best wishes to the Republic of Zambia for safe, peaceful, and successful elections scheduled for Thursday, 13 August 2026.

The Chair of the Ministerial Committee, Hon. Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, expressed gratitude to the Ministers and dignitaries for their participation in the meeting.

Done at Victoria Falls, Matabeleland North Province, Republic of Zimbabwe, on 12 June 2026.