Quarterly Report: USAID’s VukaNow Activity FY2023 Q2

The initiative focuses on two key objectives: (i) to catalyze learning and sharing for improved results to combat wildlife crime; and (ii) to increase collaborative action to reduce wildlife crime in targeted Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs). VukaNow's expected results include increased collaborative action between governments, civil society, and communities to reduce wildlife crime in targeted areas, deepened learning and knowledge sharing to improve the efficacy of combatting wildlife crime (CWC) initiatives, and increased application of effective tools, technologies, or approaches that mitigate wildlife crime as well as monitor impacts of wildlife crime interventions. The initiative also aims to improve policy frameworks and harmonization that mitigate wildlife crime, improve application of legislation and policy guidelines that enhance benefits to communities and deter wildlife crime, and resources leveraged to support reductions in wildlife crime. VukaNow's approach is rooted in a theory of change and a fundamental belief that a collective impact model is essential to addressing complex challenges such as wildlife crime and achieving lasting change. The initiative is coordinating with SACWC Landscape Partners (LP) to catalyze learning and knowledge-sharing and with SADC to implement the SADC Law Enforcement and Anti-Poaching (LEAP) Strategy. VukaNow also implements a grants portfolio to accelerate specific, targeted interventions to combat wildlife crime, including community engagement in these activities. During the reporting period, VukaNow prepared an upcoming technical exchange visit between the Great Limpopo TFCA and the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) TFCA. The visit series will unite several stakeholders, including community liaison officers, government officials, and implementing partners, to learn about mitigating human-wildlife conflict. VukaNow also convened the sixth Special Platform for Action, Reflection, and Collaboration in Combatting Wildlife Crime, which brought 32 stakeholders together in a virtual meeting focused on engaging the private sector in CWC. Additionally, VukaNow's subcontractor, the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), completed the first draft of a study on the local level economic impact of poaching and IWT, which recommends the exploration of alternative conservation models to secure wildlife populations. However, VukaNow continues to experience issues pertaining to staff retention as the Activity nears closeout. During this quarter, both VukaNow's Grants and Subcontracts Officer and Accountant left the project. In response to this ongoing turnover, VukaNow's management has continued to maintain an open line of communication with staff members. The team provided Home Office Support to the newly recruited Accountant to keep her up-to-speed with Chemonics's procedures and systems. Moreover, the project has continued to rely on its broad-based coverage plan detailing home office support and swift recruits. The focus of VukaNow's activities in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 is on institutionalizing successful interventions, augmenting capacity building efforts to ensure that VukaNow's impact reaches beyond CWC LPs, and implementing transition and sustainability activities as the project approaches its end-date in June 2023. The initiative aims to consolidate successful interventions and identify partners who will continue implementing VukaNow activities to ensure sufficient and sustainable contribution to USAID's goal of significantly reducing wildlife crime in southern Africa.