Deadline Date: March 31, 2026
The SADC TFCA Financing Facility launches a joint funded approach, under the Third Open Call – a unique approach that has two funding envelopes co-funded by EU NaturAfrica and German Government.
The initiative seeks to generate long-term economic benefits while supporting conservation objectives, following the NaturAfrica approach. By focusing on well-structured value chains and tested business models, the program aims to unlock the economic potential of African landscapes, creating opportunities that directly contribute to the protection and sustainability of these areas.
Projects funded under this call should have a duration of 24 to 36 months. The total funding envelope for this round is EUR 5,700,000, allocated across six target Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs): ZIMOZA/LOZAMAP, KAZA, Chimanimani, GLTFCA, Kgalagadi, and MAZA. Grants will range from EUR 300,000 to EUR 950,000, with a minimum of 10% co-financing required. Each TFCA may receive up to two grants, and funding may be reallocated among the TFCAs based on the number and quality of applications submitted. Applicants are expected to focus on a single TFCA per proposal.
Eligible entities include SMEs, cooperatives, social enterprises, NGOs, and public or private sector organizations with active operations in the target TFCAs. Projects should enhance smallholder livelihoods and promote inclusive local development. Applicants must demonstrate at least three years of operational experience and relevant capacity in their sector. Private companies may apply only if their initiatives directly benefit local communities, and partnerships between NGOs, CBOs, private companies, and government entities are encouraged to strengthen project impact.
Certain activities are not eligible for funding. These include projects focused purely on academic research, relocation or displacement of communities, actions affecting indigenous lands without documented consent, initiatives that harm critical habitats, projects that promote private commercial gain without community or conservation benefits, and the purchase of weapons or military equipment.
This call provides a strategic opportunity for organizations to drive sustainable economic development in African landscapes while supporting conservation objectives, creating tangible benefits for communities and the environment alike.
For more information, visit Southern African Development Community.
