Accessing Funding for Conservation and Research Work in Kenya: presented at a workshop on 'Writing Funding Proposals and Communcating Results', National Museums of Kenya 10-12 May 2004.

Developing countries have limited financial resources to support conservation and research and even where finances are incorporated in government budgets, these are inadequate. Kenya has a diverse assemblage of natural resources requiring huge financial resources. Although wildlife tourism generates up to US$ 27 million annually and a third of foreign exchange earnings, contributing up to 10% to formal employment and 5% to GDP, little of this fund is ploughed back either to support conservation or to benefit communities which support conservation. Most of the generated income is repatriated to developed nations and up to 55% of generated resources is believed to remain in developed nations where booking and marketing are carried out. Conservation has both public and private costs. Management costs are estimated at US$ 25 million and opportunity cost of conserving wildlife habitats in terms of alternative land uses forgone estimated at US$200 million per year. Wildlife related damage is estimated at 35-45 of total production in wildlife areas. As conservation sites do not generate enough financial returns to cover huge costs involved, there is a huge gap between the generated financial returns and conservation costs. The worst hit is the forest sector where it is estimated that Kshs. 100 is allocated towards conservation of one hectare of indigenous forests. In order to finance forest conservation, indigenous forest should be made financially self supporting where income generated from the forest should finance conservation directly. Recurrent cost to conservation is largely from the government while development support is mainly from donors. Based on the financial resources to wildlife and forest sectors, it is apparent that conservation is not self supporting as huge financial resources are required. Low financial allocation to conservation is attributed to; varied interests – corporate, government, individuals, foundations, trusts; weak policy for conservation fund raising; failure to match up allocation to conservation with other sectors and inability of conservation initiatives to sustain themselves. 2 Funding to conservation is from the central government through royalties & fees; multilateral and bilateral donors and private sector funding; Charities; Trusts and Foundations; United Nations Agencies; Multinationals, Trans-nationals and Corporate World; Private sector funding and endowments. Funding to conservation and research can be enhanced through; improving existing sources; developing new ones; encouraging conservation investment and soliciting private donations. Fundraising can be through; funs, walks and runs advertisements; social corporate responsibilities; exhibitions & trade fairs; donations and membership. Project sustainability is paramount if it will offer both conservation and community benefits. Initiatives of ensuring sustainability include; enterprise related activities; endowment fund, through collection of conservation fee; royalties; village conservation fund; institutionalization of user fees and moderate taxation for conservation support – policy shift; information and community sensitivity on conservation and capacity development as an element of ensuring conservation support and awareness.

Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	Ruhiu, J.M.
Format:	Report biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	CDTF, Biodiversity Conservation Programme (BCP) 2004
Subjects:	Research programmes, Research proposals, Grants, Financing, Financial resources, Developing countries, Resource conservation, Resource management,
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/1834/6993
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