Zimbabwe will host the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) International Conference and Summit of Heads of State and Government from May 19 to 23 2025 at the Harare International Conference Centre.
The summit will be held under the theme “Transfrontier Conservation Areas – 25 Years of Cooperation for Regional Integration and Sustainable Development,” and will mark a quarter-century of cross-border environmental collaboration in Southern Africa.
TFCAs are shared ecological zones across national borders that aim to conserve biodiversity, boost eco-tourism, and strengthen regional cooperation.
For Zimbabwe and other SADC Member States these areas are vital for protecting wildlife, promoting sustainable use of natural resources, and fostering economic growth through tourism and conservation-related investments.
The summit will bring together Heads of State, traditional leaders, conservationists and international partners, including the European Union (EU) and Germany.
It aims to strengthen political support for the TFCA Programme, mobilise investment and enhance policy alignment across sectors.
During the conference there will be sessions hosted by the Joint Action “NaturAfrica / Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management in the SADC (C-NRM) Programme,” supported by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The sessions will focus on tourism development and disaster risk reduction in TFCAs.
Expected outcomes include new agreements to expand TFCAs, joint management frameworks, and sustainable financing deals.
