Transboundary conservation areas (TBCAs) are designated regions that extend across international borders and are collaboratively managed by multiple nations or administrative divisions. These areas are pivotal for biodiversity conservation and ecological connectivity, serving as vital corridors for wildlife migration and fostering cooperation in preserving shared ecosystems. The significance of TBCAs is underscored by their role in addressing the challenges posed by habitat fragmentation and climate change, as they encompass large, ecologically critical regions that facilitate the movement of species and support the resilience of natural habitats.

International community has increasingly recognized the value of TBCAs, leading to the establishment of various initiatives and agreements to enhance collaboration among nations. Africa hosts at least 27 TBCAs, approximated to cover an area of 847,158 square km. TBCAs have become an important tool for promoting environmental sustainability and diplomatic relations between neighboring countries. These areas serve as platforms for dialogue and cooperation, addressing the paradox of globalization and the challenges posed by militarized interstate disputes in conservation efforts. 

The Kenya-Tanzania Transboundary Marine Conservation Area (TBCA) delivers ecological, socio-economic, and governance benefits. It links vital habitats like mangroves, seagrass, and coral reefs, supporting biodiversity, species migration, and ecosystem resilience to climate change. The TBCA provides annual ecosystem services ranging between US$127–229 million/year (UNEP, 2023). Eco-tourism and recreational services contribute an additional US$65-117 million annually, improving livelihoods and advancing conservation efforts.

The purpose of the Academy was to support participants in developing the skills and experience necessary for leadership in navigating complex systems and fostering agroecological transformation.
A suitable concept to fulfill this purpose was developed over a span of three months (July – September 2023): 

Consequently, the purpose was distilled into three key objectives: Learning, Acting, and Networking. These objectives were reflected in the design of each session and supported at three levels:  individuals, country teams, and the global cohort.
The methodology of the Agroecology Leadership Academy was based on 7 principles:

• A close connection between the topic of Agroecology (the “What”) and Transformation and Leadership (the “How”)
• A clear focus on transformation skills and mindset
• Transformation initiatives as core learning projects
• In-Country facilitators to support the country teams
• Linking Learning, Acting and Networking
• Systemic, experiential and relational learning
• The strong role of communication

The general structure of the Academy was organised into four phases: Sowing, Growing, Harvesting and Transforming. Various learning formats were implemented throughout these phases, including an online kick-off event, two international in-presence learning events, four international online sessions, and individual workshops for the different country teams. These formats concentrated on the aforementioned levels. While the meetings within the country teams emphasised teamwork at the national level, the international sessions facilitated mutual learning among the global cohort. 

After the concept development phase, the participant selection process commenced. The goal was to assemble a heterogenous group representing diverse stakeholder groups, skills, ages and genders. 
A call for applications was sent out to a pre-defined group of potential participants from agroecology-networks in the respective countries. Following the evaluation of initial applications based on predefined selection criteria, individual selection conversations were conducted to finalise the group composition, with five participants chosen from each country. 
In selecting participants, not only individual criteria were considered, but also the need for complementary skills within the group composition.  Each participant was expected to contribute something from their personal background that would benefit the group as a whole.
This selection process ensured that different levels of the agricultural and food system were represented - participants included, among others, farmers, founders of agricultural enterprises, university professors, and representatives of ministries of agriculture - as well as ensuring a balanced gender ratio within the group.

Mapping the degraded areas within Mvai Forest Reserve was an essential first step to identify the extent of encroachment and prioritize restoration efforts. The process involved assessments of the reserve to locate areas impacted by charcoal production, firewood collection, and farming expansion. By 2021, 450 hectares of the forest were confirmed as affected by encroachment activities. This mapping provided a clear view of degradation hotspots and facilitated targeted interventions, forming the foundation for boundary demarcation, enforcement strategies, and community engagement. The mapped data helped the project team and local authorities to understand the scale of degradation and to set measurable targets for restoration and conservation, ensuring that resources and efforts were allocated effectively to the most critical areas.

The formation of the Entarara Community Forest Association (CFA) marked a critical step in managing and conserving the forest through community engagement. WWF facilitated discussions with the seven nearby villages on the benefits of creating a CFA to allow legal and organized community involvement in forest management. By 2023, the CFA was officially formed, with a governance structure and a participatory forest management plan (PFMP) developed in collaboration with the Kenya Forest Service and Kajiado County. The CFA serves as the primary organization responsible for implementing restoration, protection, and community-led activities in the forest. It plays an essential role in mobilizing community members, organizing user groups, and ensuring that forest resources are managed sustainably, offering an inclusive platform for local voices and promoting ownership.

To address the degradation and encroachment of Entarara Forest, the Kajiado County government initiated an area survey and boundary marking in 2018. The entire 23-acre forest was officially surveyed, and processing of beaconing      is underway to underway to determine the official boundaries. This process is crucial in halting unauthorized expansion by neighboring farmers and reclaiming encroached areas. The survey provides legal recognition and clarity over the forest's extent, enabling authorities to enforce protection measures effectively. Boundary marking also facilitates subsequent restoration activities, such as tree planting in previously encroached zones and removing invasive species. This building block established the foundational framework for community engagement, leading to the formation of the Community Forest Association (CFA) and the development of a participatory forest management plan (PFMP).

Community-based approaches refer to strategies that involve local communities in the management and decision-making processes of their natural resources. In the context of fisheries management, these approaches engage local inhabitants in conserving and sustainably managing fish stocks and aquatic ecosystems. This local involvement helps ensure that fishery management practices are culturally appropriate, environmentally sustainable, and economically beneficial, ultimately leading to improved resource management and community well-being. Such approaches are particularly relevant for small-scale fisheries in natural waterbodies, where community livelihoods are closely tied to the health and productivity of aquatic environments.

The community entry process is a systematic method to initiate successful and sustainable fisheries management by focusing on trust and close cooperations between local communities and other stakeholders. The solution outlines the measures required to establish those cooperations and a fisheries management system through the election of a management committee. Furthermore, the approach assists existing or new established committees, such as dam or community fish refuge committees to develop objectives and activities, an effective administration and monitoring and evaluation system.

As a first step, to evaluate the feasibility of a community-led fisheries management system, it is most important to comprehend the current situation in the community regarding the power dynamics between relevant players, such as local government and community representatives. Going to the right location, doing site inspections, and having one-on-one meetings with those stakeholders are part of this phase in the process. These activities can be further supported by conducting workshops or interviews with all stakeholders.

The network was created to improve FLR governance and coordination in Kajiado County. By bringing together 24 member organizations, the network provides a unified platform for planning and resource mobilization. A governance framework was developed, including a constitution, strategic plan (2023–2028), finance policy, and human resources manual. These documents ensure operational transparency and resource efficiency. Regular meetings of the general assembly and secretariat facilitate accountability and trust among members. The governance structure also supports FLR funding integration within County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs), strengthening the alignment of restoration activities with local development goals.

To get a better understanding of the social roles and activities of men and women in the fish value chain, a value chain analysis with the focus on gender inequality can be applied. Based on the analysis a gender strategy can be promoted focusing on the development of a joint pathway towards gender equality.

The analysis takes place on different levels, including both desk reviews as well as field research. The country level includes documentation of leadership positions of men and women, access and ownership of land and water resources, wage deployment in the fish value chain and the access to education.

On a macro level, the review of sector relevant policies and strategies such as the water policy for example and their acknowledgement of a framework for gender mainstreaming and a gender bias is conducted. The results of this review are than compared with the actual implementation of these sector specific policies in activities of institutions, because legislative framework and the practical application of gender mainstreaming in actions may differ.

While the meso level focuses on partner organisations and their support of gender-balanced participation and implementation of gender mainstreaming, the micro level includes a qualitative analysis, concentrating on the target group. Questions include sector specific and business knowledge as well as power relations at both community and household levels. Finally, extension service workers are asked about their specific gender training and knowledge.

For example, the gender analysis conducted by the “Fish for Food Security” (F4F) project in Zambia indicated that men tend to dominate fishing and farming (95 %) while women (90 %) dominate the post-harvest fishing activities, active in retailing, marketing, and selling fish. This leads often to an income gap between male and female traders. Additionally, the analysis helped to identify barriers, socio-norms and power differences hindering women from doing fish farming. It identified key strategic areas for implementation, such as using a household approach for gender mainstreaming to redistribute power relations, integrating gender mainstreaming in already existing interventions at community level, partner organisations capturing more and better gender-related data or having a special gender mainstreaming budget line.
 

When creating a communications campaign about fisheries and aquaculture, it is essential to tailor the messaging to the target audience to ensure maximum impact and engagement. Consider the specific demographics, interests, and knowledge levels of the audience you are trying to reach. Understanding the target audience and traditions surrounding the perception, practices, and consumption of fish, can help in crafting messages that are relatable and impactful. Adapting the messages to the cultural context is also crucial when planning a media campaign, because it ensures that the content resonates with the target audience in a meaningful way.

The “Let Me Tell You” series animations, focusing on the nutrition value of fish, sustainable aquaculture practices, the fish value chain, and WASH elements, is particularly suitable for the rural Zambian context for several reasons. Firstly, the use of animations can effectively convey complex information in a visually engaging and easily understandable format, making it accessible to a wide audience, including those with low literacy levels.

Secondly, targeting school kids with this animation series is a strategic approach to start early sensitization on the importance of fish and the potential of the fisheries and aquaculture sector. By educating children about these topics, they can become advocates for sustainable practices within their families and communities, helping to instill a culture of responsible consumption and environmental stewardship from a young age. Additionally, animations have the ability to capture the attention and interest of children, making the learning process more enjoyable and memorable. This can lead to increased retention of information and a greater likelihood of behaviour change towards more sustainable practices related to fish consumption and the fisheries sector. While the animation is inspired by Zambia’s rural landscape and its communities’ culture and traditions, the series still resonates with other countries in the Southern African region.

Cultural context influences how individuals perceive and interpret messages. Adapting the messaging to align with cultural norms, values, beliefs, and language can enhance the effectiveness of the campaign. By considering these factors, the campaign can avoid misunderstandings, misinterpretations, or unintended offense. This also demonstrates respect for the diversity and uniqueness of different communities, fostering a sense of inclusivity and connection with the audience.
 

Communication campaigns play a vital role in advancing sustainability goals in these sectors. These campaigns educate various stakeholders in the fish value chain, including fishers, fish farmers, retailers, consumers, policymakers, and the general public, about the importance of sustainable practices and the nutritional value of fish. A communication campaign can effectively communicate the value of fish in nutrition, the potential of the fisheries and aquaculture sector to create jobs and income, the challenges facing the industry, and the importance of sustainable practices and innovations. By highlighting these key points, the campaign can foster collaboration among stakeholders in the sector to address common challenges and work towards shared goals. This collaboration can lead to the building of partnerships between government agencies, industry players, non-profit organisations, and other relevant stakeholders to promote sustainable practices, support innovation, and drive economic growth in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Through communication campaigns, stakeholders can be mobilized to participate in training programmes aimed at improving skills, knowledge, and practices in the industry. These campaigns can also mobilize support for initiatives that promote sustainable fisheries management, conservation efforts, and responsible aquaculture practices. By engaging with stakeholders and raising awareness about the importance of these initiatives, communication campaigns can encourage behaviour change in both ­production and consumption patterns, leading to more sustainable practices and a healthier marine ecosystem.