Staff Writer
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will bring together Member States, River Basin Organizations (RBOs), Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs), development partners, civil society, International Cooperating Partners, and financial institutions for the inaugural Transboundary Water and Landscapes Sustainable Finance Bootcamp.
Held from 26–27 November in Muldersdrift, South Africa, the event will focus on unlocking innovative and sustainable financing solutions for managing shared watercourses and biodiversity across Southern Africa.
Many RBOs and TFCAs operate within the same landscapes and face similar challenges, underscoring the need for stronger joint project implementation to advance conservation and water security.
Hosted under the theme “Sustainable financing for joint impact in River Basin Organizations and Transfrontier Conservation Areas of Southern Africa, with a focus on the Great Limpopo,” the Bootcamp will deepen participants’ understanding of sustainable finance principles and their practical application to transboundary ecosystems.
The programme will showcase a range of financing models and explore how they can be adapted to different catchments and landscapes, drawing lessons from the Blyde and Olifants sub-catchments within the Great Limpopo system.
Through plenary sessions, training modules, and hands-on breakaway discussions, participants will examine practical tools—including tax incentives, environmental funds, and green bonds—and how these can be integrated into their own institutional contexts.
The event also aims to spark new partnerships, inspire innovation, and support the replication of successful financing approaches that can unlock long-term investment for shared water and land-based ecosystems.
The Bootcamp is convened by the Sustainable Finance Coalition, Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA), and Conservation International, with financial support from the German Government under the SADC–German Transboundary Water Management project, and Global Affairs Canada through Conservation International.
The Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) and the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) are co-convening the event. In a joint statement ahead of the Bootcamp, they emphasized:
“This Bootcamp is a timely opportunity to mobilize resources and partnerships to ensure that our shared basins and conservation areas are managed sustainably, equitably, and for the benefit of all.”
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