Our Annual Report - 2023

Dear Friends and Supporters,

There is a growing recognition of the value of indigenous movements and the protection of biodiversity. In the last 20 years, our approach to conservation has shifted from focusing on pristine, human-free landscapes to indigenous-led, inclusive, and sustainable management of nature.

Today, 45 community conservancies, comprising over 10% of Kenya’s landmass and moving into Uganda, are united under the formal partnership of NRT.

Working alongside our network of partners, we are implementing programmes that are catalysing nature-based economic development and driving climate adaptation in our arid and semi-arid lands.

Our key highlights of the year were as follows:

• We charted the course for NRT’s future: We conducted a comprehensive, stakeholder-driven process to develop our long-term Vision and 2024-2028 Strategic Plan, which will serve as our guiding blueprint moving forward.

• We increased our geographic footprint: We welcomed two new community conservancies, Maiyanat and Shulmai, in Laikipia. The local communities initiated the process, and we are happy with this new addition as it is a critical piece in our mosaic and supports further protection of important elephant migration corridors.

• We ran the first Gear Exchange Programme in Kenya: We completed the roll out of our Gear Exchange programme in Kiunga Community Conservancy, with 85% of fishers demonstrating their commitment to safeguarding the ocean by trading their beach seine nets for sustainable fishing gears.

• We maintained top-tier protection of our endangered species: We safeguard the second-largest population of elephant in Kenya, the world’s most endangered antelope, and we run the first community-run black rhino sanctuary. We are proud to say we continuously innovate with highly trained mobile teams alongside the latest technologies such as drones. This has enabled us to maintain our remarkable record of zero poaching and even impressively, Sera became the first community conservancy to perform black rhino ear notching.

• We generated Ksh 529.8 million (USD 3.9 million) through our soil carbon project: the Northern Kenya Rangelands Carbon Project (NKRCP): 14 NRT member conservancies (21 conservancy units) are actively implementing the world's largest soil carbon removal project, which is a game changer in creating nature-based economies. The project benefits more than 205,000 people. We are committed to learning from all the challenges and opportunities that carbon present and hope to be a model for other carbon projects.

• We attracted international interest: The community conservation model continues to attract attention from around the world. Last year, we welcomed delegations from Namibia and Uganda, as well as international carbon project supporters from the U.K. and the United States. Presentations and mentions of the model and the carbon project which was awarded the Lighthouse Status by the Natural Climate Solutions Alliance were also made at international forums such as the UN Climate Change Conference COP 27&28, and the 2023 African Climate Summit (ACS). NRT and conservancies' participation at the Summit, organised by the African Union Commission and the Republic of Kenya in Nairobi last year drew a lot of attention to our booth, as did several donor visits to the conservancies to learn about our unique approach to community-based natural resource management.

• We continued to make progress in Uganda: We took a significant step forward in conservation efforts for the Morung'ole Community Conservancy in Uganda by advancing the onboarding process with detailed implementation planning, exposure trips, and partnership engagements, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable development and community involvement in conservation efforts.

We invite you to read our Annual Report to learn more about our 2023 milestones and how communities in our 45 member conservancies are driving conservation and development. Our remarkable and long-lasting impact has been made possible by the invaluable support of our donors and partners, as well as the guidance of the NRT Board of Directors and Council of Elders.

Thank you all for supporting our journey to create resilient communities and ecosystems!

Tom Lalampaa

Chief Executive Officer, NRT

Our Vision

Resilient communities and ecosystems.

Our Mission

Develop resilient community conservancies that transform lives, secure peace, and conserve natural resources.

Together We Are NRT

Impact Highlights

Our Programmes

Wildlife Protection

NRT utilizes advanced technologies to combat human-wildlife conflict, habitat degradation, and protect 15 endangered species, utilizing community-led strategies to safeguard these vital ecosystems.

Governance

NRT strengthens community conservancy governance through leadership and financial training, fostering democratic decision-making, and involving all social groups in effective resource use and management.

Rangelands

NRT is working to address the degradation of northern rangelands due to climate change, soil erosion, and unsustainable grazing patterns. Our approach to rangeland management builds on traditional governance systems combined with modern practices, technologies and governance concepts to restore rangelands health.

Livelihoods

NRT is actively supporting indigenous communities in enhancing their livelihoods and resilience, addressing the challenges they face due to limited access to essential resources such as water, education, health, and energy.

Marine

NRT's Marine Program is a community-driven initiative aimed at restoring marine ecosystems along Kenya's coastline, promoting livelihood diversification and protecting these vital ecosystems.

Forestry

Carbon sequestration, water catchment, and climate regulation are crucial aspects of forest conservation. NRT’s approach to forest conservation include tree planting, tree nursery establishment, and the formation and registration of Community Forestry Associations, which promote sustainable practices and governance.

Peacebuilding

NRT promotes peace by addressing ethnic conflicts, a multifaceted issue influenced by illegal firearms, climate change, and resource scarcity, thereby fostering non-violent conflict resolution.

MashinaniWORKS

NRT supports marginalised youth and women in NRT member conservancies through trade, vocational skills training, entrepreneurship, and commerce to diversify livelihoods, increase income, and enhance climate resilience.

Northern Kenya Rangelands Carbon Project (NKRCP)

Community-based development and rangelands restoration are key components of the NKRCP, world's largest soil carbon project and NRT’s initiative that combines traditional and modern grazing methods to remove carbon dioxide, generating sustainable income for local communities.

Financials 

To fulfil NRT’s strategic goals and sustain the significant momentum that is currently driving community conservation, a combination of long-term financial sustainability, expertise, lasting partnerships, and supporting policies, regulations, and government funding is required. Currently, NRT and member community conservancies are mostly funded by international donors— who continue to show strong support—commercial earnings from tourism, the Northern Kenya Rangelands Carbon Project, and the County Government. 

Looking Ahead

The NRT model has experienced remarkable growth, presently serving 45 community conservancies, encompassing more than 10% of Kenya's total land mass. Throughout this two-decade journey, the model has garnered praise, but also faced challenges, forcing the communities to continually refine and adapt their approach. Presently, with over twenty pending applications from communities, there arises a need to contemplate the sustainable growth of this model amidst the global momentum toward indigenous conservation.  

In 2024, we proudly commemorate our 20th anniversary, marking not only a milestone but a testament to our journey through challenges and triumphs. As we reflect on our past, we are invigorated by the lessons learned and anticipate the forthcoming decades, guided by our new long-term vision and 2024-2028 strategic plan. 

In the next few years ahead, our focus will be on: 

• Building a robust institutional engine: we need to strengthen our operational effectiveness to deliver support to all community conservancies.  

• Crafting a growth strategy: recognizing the interest from communities within and beyond Kenya, we are committed to formulating a growth strategy that fosters sustainable and deliberate expansion. Our aim is to accommodate this enthusiasm while ensuring long-term sustainability.

• Increasing our technical expertise: to position ourselves as global expert on governance structures, carbon projects, and peace initiatives, we will invest in developing our skills. Our aspiration is to be acknowledged as a Center of Excellence renowned for our contributions in these critical areas. 

• Empowering self-sufficiency: we are dedicated to bolstering the self-sustaining capacity of our conservancies, equipping them with the necessary financial and technical expertise to thrive. Through targeted interventions and capacity-building initiatives, we aim to foster resilience and autonomy within our network. 

As we embark on this journey, fuelled by two decades of experience and a commitment to conservation and community empowerment, we are poised to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we will continue to shape a brighter, more sustainable future for the communities that make up NRT. 

Be Part of our Journey to Create Resilient Communities and Ecosystems