This gathering brought together conservation practitioners from across sub-Saharan African and IUCN staff to reflect on the initiative’s achievements, challenges, and future opportunities. Through a mix of interactive sessions, sharing of hands-on experiences and a field visit, workshop participants celebrated the profound impact of the SOS African Wildlife initiative while fostering meaningful dialogue and knowledge-sharing on conservation best practices.

Workshop activities

Through a series of dynamic sessions, participants explored key challenges, innovative strategies, and lessons learned from their conservation projects. Discussions ranged from overcoming obstacles to scaling successful practices, emphasising themes like human-wildlife conflict mitigation, biodiversity monitoring, and community engagement. Exchanges delved into the mechanics of the grant processes, including proposal development, monitoring, and financial management, providing a platform for grantees to reflect on their experiences with these processes and propose recommendations for their improvement and recommendations for future initiatives. These interactive and reflective activities strengthened the shared understanding of what drives impactful conservation.

Field visit

The workshop’s field visit to Kenya’s South Rift Valley highlighted the intersection of conservation and community-led conservation initiatives. Participants witnessed firsthand the transformative work of SORALO (South Rift Association of Land Owners), which empowers local communities to coexist harmoniously with wildlife by uniting 16 Maasai communities in the management and security of their landscape.

The visit featured a practical demonstration by rangers showcasing training methods for saving the lives of local community members in case of human-wildlife conflict attacks, alongside breakout sessions with local leaders to discuss conservation challenges and successes from a community perspective. This immersive experience underscored the vital role of community involvement in sustainable conservation, offering participants a tangible connection to the broader goals of the SOS African Wildlife initiative.

Looking ahead

The SOS African Wildlife workshop not only celebrated the initiative’s achievements but also highlighted the importance of collaboration, adaptive management, and community engagement in conservation. As participants return to their respective projects, we hope that they carried with them a renewed sense of purpose and practical tools to further their work.

Early next year, a series of knowledge products will be developed, summarising the insights, best practices, and success stories discussed during the sessions. These materials will be vital for demonstrating the initiative’s impact and form the basis for further awareness raising and advocacy work.

Together, we can continue to protect Africa’s unique wildlife and ecosystems while supporting the communities that depend on them.

We would like to sincerely thank the European Union for making this possible through their support to the SOS African Wildlife initiative.  We also thank everyone who contributed to the success of this workshop, including our grantees, IUCN staff, translators, and facilitator, as well as the IUCN ESARO and Kenya offices. Your collective efforts ensured the success of this event and demonstrated the power of collaboration in advancing conservation goals.