NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenyan government on Wednesday unveiled a landmark $160 million, 10-year conservation initiative designed to fundamentally reshape how the country finances the protection of its wildlife and natural landscapes, while placing the communities who live alongside them at the center of the effort.
The program, named Thamani Asili—Swahili for “value of nature”—was launched by Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano at a ceremony in Tsavo West National Park. It is a partnership between the Government of Kenya, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and Enduring Earth, and represents the third Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) initiative on the African continent.
“Our objective is clear: to protect nature, strengthen communities and ensure that conservation contributes to the prosperity of the people who safeguard our natural heritage,” Miano said at the launch.
A Shift Toward ‘Predictable Investment’
At the core of Thamani Asili is a deliberate move away from the short-term, grant-based funding cycles that have long characterized conservation finance. Under the PFP model, the initiative establishes a long-term framework built on “predictable investment, institutional accountability, and measurable results,” according to Miano.
The funding structure is a 50-50 split: the Government of Kenya has committed $80 million over the next decade, matched by an equivalent $80 million in philanthropic support mobilized through The Nature Conservancy and its alliance partner, Enduring Earth. The funds will be managed by the newly created Thamani Asili Fund for Kenya, an independent trust tasked with disbursing money and tracking progress against agreed-upon milestones.
The Scale of the Ambition
The program’s geographic and ecological targets are expansive. Thamani Asili will support conservation across 31 counties, organized around four priority landscapes: Tsavo to Coastal, Greater Ewaso, Greater Rift to Western, and Southern Kenya. These areas encompass critical habitats, including the Maasai Mara–Serengeti ecosystem and the Tsavo landscape, which supports large elephant populations and critically endangered black rhinos.
Over the next decade, the initiative aims to help conserve a total of 17.3 million hectares of territory. This includes:
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Establishing approximately 2.7 million hectares of new conserved areas in partnership with communities.
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Improving the management of 11 million hectares of existing conservation spaces.
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Empowering communities to better manage an additional 6 million hectares.
Collectively, these efforts are intended to advance Kenya’s national goal of bringing at least 30% of its lands, inland waters, and near-shore ecosystems under effective management.
People at the Heart of Conservation
A defining feature of Thamani Asili is its explicit focus on human well-being as a prerequisite for ecological success. The program is expected to directly benefit approximately 1.6 million people, with an additional 3.9 million gaining indirect benefits through improved land governance and natural resource management.
Economically, the initiative is projected to create around 7,800 direct jobs and 15,000 indirect jobs, opening opportunities in ecotourism, sustainable grazing, carbon initiatives, and other green enterprises. These figures represent what officials describe as a fundamental shift in perspective: conservation not as a cost to communities, but as a source of prosperity.
“Conservation is not just about protecting wildlife; it is about protecting a way of life, honoring the cultures and heritage of our communities, and securing a future where people and wildlife thrive together,” said Kenya Wildlife Service Director General Erustus Kanga.
The program also includes practical measures to reduce human-wildlife conflict, such as improved livestock protection and land-use planning, recognizing that long-term conservation success depends on the well-being and leadership of local people.
Climate and Continental Significance
Thamani Asili is also positioned as a climate action initiative. The program is projected to avoid approximately 7.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions by 2035, contributing to Kenya’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.
As the third PFP in Africa—following similar agreements in Gabon and with others in development in Namibia and Botswana—the initiative signals a growing continental momentum toward innovative, long-term conservation financing models. For Kenya, a country whose economy is deeply tied to nature through agriculture, tourism, and water resources, the program is framed as an investment in long-term resilience.
“Conserving nature creates opportunities, strengthens livelihoods and honours the cultures and heritage of the people who live alongside wildlife,” Miano said. “Our commitment is clear: to protect our wildlife, empower communities and build a future where both people and nature thrive together”.
