The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Namibia through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, (MEFT), continues to strengthen conservation efforts, community resilience, and sustainable livelihoods through the Integrated Approach to Proactive Management of Human-Wildlife Conflict and Wildlife Crime (HWC-WC) Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

From 12– 23 April 2026, UNDP Namibia jointly with MEFT and key project partners conducted a monitoring mission across Namibia’s three project landscapes, North-East, North-Central, and North-West to assess progress, capture lessons learned and engage directly with frontline conservation actors and beneficiary communities. The mission covered twelve intervention sites, including anti-poaching camps, predator-proof kraals, boundary fence projects, livelihood sites and a training centre. 

Protecting Wildlife, Strengthening Security

Across Namibia’s remote conservation landscapes, including Nongozi, Santika, and Bakondja, Anti-Poaching Units are strengthening wildlife protection, law enforcement, and cross-border collaboration. In Nongozi, improved monitoring and community engagement have strengthened conservation awareness, while in Bakondja, enhanced patrols and coordination among conservancies, police, and MEFT have contributed to reduced poaching and stronger ecosystem protection. These investments continue to improve both biodiversity conservation and community safety.

When Livestock Means Livelihood

For many rural households, livestock is more than an economic asset, it represents food security, school fees, and household resilience. In communities such as Nakati and Choi, recurrent livestock losses caused by lions and hyenas had significantly affected livelihoods.
Through project support, predator-proof kraals were constructed to provide secure overnight livestock enclosures. During the mission, beneficiaries reported a remarkable outcome: zero livestock losses within protected kraals since installation. For one farmer in Nakati, the intervention has safeguarded not only cattle but also the family’s primary source of income and agricultural productivity. 
 

"Since the kraal was built, we no longer lose livestock at night. It has brought peace of mind to our family."  Said Agnes Munakula Luyazo, Nakati Village.

Building Safer Boundaries Between People and Wildlife
At Bwabwata and Etosha National Parks, large-scale boundary fence construction and electrification are helping reduce human-wildlife conflict while strengthening anti-poaching efforts.
At Etosha, community participation stood out with over 70 local conservancy members actively engaged in fence construction and electrification activities. This participatory model is not only creating employment opportunities but also strengthening ownership and sustainability of conservation investments. 
These boundary systems are critical in reducing wildlife incursions into farming areas, protecting livelihoods, and safeguarding globally significant biodiversity, including black rhino populations.

Turning Conflict Zones into Opportunities
In Tapahutha Village, located near Bwabwata National Park, communities face daily encounters with elephants, lions, and hyenas. Yet despite these challenges, the project is helping transform vulnerability into opportunity.
With support from UNDP and partners, a community garden has been established, and water infrastructure supported with an elephant protection wall designed to safeguard infrastructure. The initiative is improving household nutrition while creating new livelihood opportunities. Community members also continue to combine indigenous knowledge such as fire, noise, and traditional deterrent practices with modern conservation approaches to manage wildlife interactions.

Technology Supporting Coexistence
In Mbakondja Village, innovative technologies are helping communities live more safely alongside wildlife. Solar-powered floodlights installed around livestock kraals have reduced predator incursions, while lion tracking systems and real-time alerts are enabling farmers to adjust grazing routes and avoid high-risk areas.
By combining GPS-based wildlife monitoring with indigenous knowledge systems, communities are becoming active partners in conservation while protecting their livelihoods.

Investing in Future Conservation Leaders
At the Waterberg APU Training Centre, UNDP and Partners observed a fully operational national training hub equipping frontline conservation officers with critical law enforcement skills.
The centre currently trains personnel from across Namibia in patrol management, wildlife law enforcement, tracking, and anti-poaching operations, with growing participation of women in conservation leadership roles. Meanwhile, the project-supported K9 Unit continues to strengthen wildlife crime detection, with trained dogs supporting law enforcement operations across multiple regions by detecting wildlife contraband, firearms, and suspects.

Looking Ahead
The mission highlighted that sustainable conservation depends not only on infrastructure and enforcement, but also on strong partnerships with communities living alongside wildlife. As the project moves into its next phase, focus will remain on strengthening human-wildlife conflict mitigation, enhancing anti-poaching efforts, expanding community livelihood opportunities, promoting inclusive conservation leadership, and improving community-based early warning systems. Through continued collaboration, UNDP, MEFT, and local communities are helping build safer landscapes, stronger livelihoods, and more resilient ecosystems for future generations.