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Where We Work

Africa

Landscape view of a grassy field with several large baobab trees and other smaller trees.
Baobab Trees Beautiful landscape in northern Tanzania. © Roshni Lodhia

Working Toward a Sustainable Future for People and Nature in Africa

Our vision for Africa is rooted in its people—and our conservation approach focuses on working with local communities, governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa's shared resources.

Support Work in Africa
Three cheetahs.
Cheetah Cheetahs in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. © Brenden Simonson

2024 Year in Review

See 2024 highlights and milestones from the Africa region, along with inspiring videos, wildlife photography and compelling stories.

Read the Report

Country Programs

Latest News

Aerial view of a forest.

The Power of Forests

Protecting and restoring Africa's forest landscapes could avoid or store 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually while improving livelihoods.

A group of women with buckets on their heads walking away.

In Western Tanzania, Empowered Women Drive Community Transformation

From conservation farming to microfinancing, meet the women who are leading change in Western Tanzania. 

TNC staff and forest technicians measure the amount of hollowness at the center of a log in Republic of the Congo.

Reducing Logging Impacts in the Congo Basin

By supporting countries in the Congo Basin to generate income from reduced emissions, TNC can help protect this rainforest’s amazing biodiversity and make an impact for global climate outcomes.

Two hands holding a seedling.

Tackling Climate Change in Africa

TNC is investing in natural climate solutions that can deliver emissions reductions and help local communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.

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Where We Work

TNC established the Africa Program in 2007, and today we operate in eight countries across the continent.

Videos from Africa

Africa Rising (3:43) TNC's Africa Program is mobilizing around seven strategies to address the greatest challenges facing people and nature—because we believe that as nations rise, nature can endure.
Working with Indigenous Communities in Africa (5:39) TNC is working in partnership with communities across 55 million acres in Africa in three key ways: securing ownership rights to lands and resources, strengthening leadership and natural resource management, and increasing benefits to communities and revenue streams for conservation.
Joyce Lelukai: Crafting a Brighter Future (2:10) Joyce Lelukai is a star beader in the Northern Rangelands Trust-Trading's BeadWORKS program. With support from The Nature Conservancy and others, 1,200 women in Kenya are now earning an income and conserving their environment by making and selling beaded handicrafts. 
Tuungane—Let’s Unite! (3:12) Tuungane (Kiswahili for “Let’s Unite!”) describes our partnership with global healthcare organization Pathfinder International to improve the health of both people and nature on Lake Tanganyika’s Tanzanian shore.
Selina Ntoijoni: Healthy Families and Healthy Landscapes (1:51) Selina Ntoijoni, a mother of eight in Samburu County, Kenya, was struggling to care for her family after multiple back-to-back pregnancies left her weak and tired. Voluntary family planning resources—brought to her community from TNC partner Communities Health Africa Trust—gave her greater control over the health of her body, her family and her surrounding landscape.
Going the Distance to Save Cape Town's Water (2:58) Through the Greater Cape Town Water Fund, a team of rope technicians are removing invasive plants to conserve native vegetation, reduce the severity of wildfires and release billions of gallons of water to the Greater Cape Town region each year.
Meet Teresia Gabriel (1:46) Thanks to a new dorm funded by Tuungane Project supporters, Teresia now has more time to study, access to food and water, solar power to read by and, most importantly, an opportunity to make a difference.
Women and Girls: The Solution to a Healthier Environment (4:17) Ensuring women and girls have equal access to knowledge and resources is becoming an integral component of TNC Africa’s conservation work—it benefits their communities, brings new perspectives and has the power to transform the landscape. 
Controlling Fire in Zambia's Largest National Park (2:04) A fire training program brings TNC's global expertise to build local capacity to manage destructive late-season fires and introduce controlled burns for the benefit of both people and wildlife in this landscape.
Carbon Offset Programs in Africa (4:27) As more businesses and individuals assume responsibility for avoiding and drastically reducing contributions to climate change, nature conservation presents opportunities to offset short-term, unavoidable carbon emissions…and carbon markets present new opportunities for funding conservation sustainably. In Africa, many of our projects with partners already have the right conditions for carbon offset projects that can deliver a triple benefit for the climate, local communities and wildlife.
Meet Naronyo Nang'oiho (1:42) As a grazing coordinator, Naronyo is ensuring his community complies with their new grazing plan that will ensure healthy pasture for both livestock and wildlife in northern Tanzania.
Habiba Tadicha: A Strong Voice for Women in Kenya (2:42) Habiba Tadicha became the first woman to be elected chair of a Northern Rangelands Trust-member conservancy in 2014 and is now the vice chair of NRT’s Council of Elders. During her tenure, Habiba brought many improvements to Biliqo Bulesa Community Conservancy, and she remains a strong voice for women in her community. 
Douglas Mungai: Learning How to Improve Soil Health (2:06) Douglas Mungai is a farmer in Kenya and part of a TNC-led soil health training program in which more than 150 farmers received soil testing and tailored recommendations that could lead to improved crop yields and environmental outcomes.
Protecting Seychelles’ Blue Economy: Fishermen Lead the Way (2:33) A new project by Green Islands Foundation works with artisanal fishermen to identify fish species that are in decline and develop solutions for managing these populations that conserve the nations’ biodiversity and blue economy.
Johnson Soit: Breaking Down Barriers to Conservation (2:18) Johnson Soit is chairman of the Pardamat Conservation Area Board in Kenya. With support from TNC and USAID, 15,000 landowners in this region are earning an income by leasing their land and creating unfenced areas for wildlife, tourism and livestock.