KNCHR and WWF-Kenya Sign MOU to Promote Human Rights in Natural Resource Conservation

human rights-based approach to conservation

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and the World Wide Fund for Nature-Kenya (WWF-Kenya) have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance  a human rights-based approach in environmental conservation.  A unique collaboration that recognizes the crucial link between natural resource governance and the rights of the people who depend on healthy ecosystems for their livelihoods and well-being.

The MOU solidifies a shared commitment between the two organisations  to  expand the integration of human rights principles into the governance and management of Kenya’s natural resources through research, capacity building, community outreach, strengthening alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, public awareness and education.

While emphasizing the importance of the partnership during the signing ceremony at the WWF-Kenya Panda House Headquarters in Nairobi, Mr Mohamed Awer–Chief Executive Officer, WWF-Kenya, said “environmental conservation is about safeguarding the rights of people as much as it is about nature that sustains our economy, livelihoods, and well-being. Our partnership with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reinforces our commitment to a human rights-based approach to conservation. At WWF-Kenya, we work hand-in-hand with communities in some of the most unique and fragile ecosystems in Kenya, while also supporting protected areas. By placing the Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework at the centre of all our interventions, healthy ecosystems and thriving communities will become a reality.”

Hon. Sara Bonaya, the Commissioner, who represented KNCHR at the ceremony, underscored the significance of integrating human rights into environmental conservation efforts. Noting that “Environmental rights are human rights. The Commission has been receiving numerous concerns on human rights violations in the conservation sector.   Developing tools that address the intersection between human rights and conservation is a crucial step in the right direction. This day, therefore, marks a new beginning as we strengthen our capacities to integrate these critical aspects into our work, ensuring human rights for all.”

The pioneering collaboration sets a powerful precedent, enhancing human rights in all WWF-Kenya’s place-based conservation efforts across four key landscapes: Southern Kenya, Kenya Rift Lakes, Coastal Kenya, and Northern Kenya, as well as national cross cutting initiatives focusing on climate change, policy, research, innovation, safeguards and sustainable finance.