AWF at APAC: Day 3 - Wednesday 20th July 2022

High-level panel on “Diversifying & innovating financing models”

8:30-10:30 - Auditorium

This Leadership Dialogue will bring development partners and CEOs of International NGOs together to discuss and make suggestions as to how global cooperation can be improved and better achieved and provide a critical overview on investments in conservation. Questions such as what the impact has been? the challenges and what needs to be done differently could be responded to by the panelists.

The moderator, Charlotte Karibuhoye, Head of Strategic Alliances and Director, MAVA Foundation, will introduce the session with keynote addresses by: Paulo Gomes, Co-founder, New African Capital Partners, Former Executive Director at the World Bank who also serves in the APACT Steering Committee

Nature Environment and Wildlife Conservation Trust (NEWF) Daily Film Screening

9:00 -11:00 - AWF Pavilion

How do you change the Story? You change the storyteller! Through a showcase of indigenous African storytellers and their projects we explore, unpack and understand the power of film to communicate nature and conservation science, practices, and indigenous knowledge to local and global audiences, policymakers and local communities in order to reduce human-wildlife conflict, positively impact livelihoods and importantly support the conservation of protected areas.

APACT Workshop

10:30-12:00 - AD12

Workshop: A Pan-African Conservation Trust (A-PACT) sustainable financing mechanism will help deliver Africa's development agenda 2063, & ensure PCAs (protected and conserved areas) provide much-needed ecosystem services to communities & economic development aspirations of Africans (Indekhwa Anangwe; X32) (1)

African protected and conserved areas (P&CAs) safeguard a natural heritage that provides for the people of Africa, underpins development aspirations on the continent, and serves the world as a reservoir of life. With Africa on an ever-increasing development trajectory, A-PACT strategically positions Africa’s P&CAs at the heart of Africa’s development Agenda 2063 as a critical sustainable development at a time of growing global alignment around ‘green growth’ investments and global negotiations to mobilize private finance through nature-based solutions linked to biodiversity, climate action, and Africa’s P&CAs. The COVID-19 pandemic was an eye opener to African conservation efforts because when the lockdowns were implemented and governments issued travel restrictions, Protected Area Managers were left without sufficient funds to pay staff and core operation costs. This workshop will facilitate the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned by stakeholders in designing, implementing, and monitoring sustainable financing mechanisms.

Stream 2 Parallel Plenary – People: Championing community-led conservation in Africa

10:30-12:00 - MH1

Panel 2: Sustaining Community Conservation: The Need for New Funding Models and Practices Panel 2 focuses on the need for innovative funding to ensure community conservation success, as there is more funding available. But to thrive and spread, and deliver on communities’ expectations and opportunities, these initiatives by grassroots organizations have unique funding needs and face barriers that can deprive them of resources. Local organizations can struggle to access funding, particularly from larger development agencies or international funders, due to logistical, cultural, linguistic, legal, and administrative barriers. Communities and their supporters across Africa need to rethink existing conservation funding, including more longer-term, flexible, organization supportive funding for community-led initiatives at scales that promote accessible funding for local organizations.

GYBN post 2020 side event and AWF-GYBN MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) signing

12:00-14:00 - AWF Pavilion

This event seeks to provide a platform for dialogue by and for African youth to present how they have been engaging in the Post2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, their priorities as well as identify ways in which they will love to contribute in the implementation of the Post2020 GBF. AWF will be signing an MoU between GYBN Africa and AWF on engagements related to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, Policy, and Conservation in Africa.

Wildlife Economy Workshop

16:00-17:30 - AD11

Workshop: Conservation & development not mutually exclusive. Unlocking & diversifying Africa’s wildlife economy provides benefits at local & national levels, & ensures wildlife seen as a key strategic asset that should be invested in (Sue Snyman 020-PCA-PEO-SUF) (3)

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were calls for greater diversification in the wildlife economy to reduce reliance on ecotourism and to build greater resilience for local communities living in and around protected areas, government, and the private sector. This panel will include key stakeholders from the private sector, government, communities, and NGOs to; discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with unlocking Africa’s wildlife economy to promote development and conservation. It will focus on highlighting major challenges and opportunities facing Africa's wildlife economy, and panelists will cover a broad geographic scope to maximize learnings across the region. The panel will draw on ongoing work and present practical examples.

Rights-Based Workshop

16:00-17:30 - AD12

This workshop addresses challenges to rights-based approaches to conservation: its integration into wildlife & PA management, its institutional ownership in conservation, & capacity building of policymakers & staff). (BIGOMBE LOGO Patrice; CERAD; Cameroon; 059-PCA-GOV) (2)

African Diaspora Biodiversity Symposium

17:00-19:00 - AWF Pavilion

Diaspora experts and practitioners in the United States alongside their counterparts in the continent. Many of them are known to have distinguished themselves in the U.S. and are experts in their various professions and as a group. Professional groups such as academic associations, lawyers, engineers, and physicians associations exist in the U.S. and these bodies will also have their say in the development of an African Diaspora agenda for support to biodiversity conservation in Africa.

ACBA’s strategic plan launch – Cocktail Social event

18:00-20:00 - Rooftop Terrace

ACBA will launch its strategic plan to help publicize ACBA’s engagements while attracting more collaboration within Africa with the aim of growing its membership & encouraging more Africans to rally behind Sustainable Use.)

The African CSO Biodiversity Alliance (ACBA), formed in 2020, facilitates sharing of lessons, creates opportunities for collaboration, and influences national, regional, continental, and global biodiversity policy processes and practices. This pavilion will help showcase the diversity, extent, and value of conservation work being carried out by ACBA members, and it will also create an excellent opportunity for ACBA members and partners to come together and identify areas of joint action. As the last event of the day on Wednesday, 20th, ACBA will launch its strategic plan to help publicize ACBA’s engagements while attracting more collaboration within Africa to grow its membership & encourage more Africans to rally behind Sustainable Use. AWF’s CEO, Kaddu Sebunya, and AWF’s Vice President, Global Leadership Frederick Kumah, will sign a memorandum of understanding to formalize AWF's union with ACBA.