April, 19, 2026. The Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association, in partnership with the Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association, recently conducted a Governance and Human Rights Training for Mgeno Wildlife Conservancy at Voi Wildlife Lodge.
The four-day training brought together board members to strengthen governance systems and enhance leadership effectiveness in conservancy management.
As community conservancies continue to play a critical role in conservation and local livelihoods, strong governance remains central to their sustainability. The training offered the board members an opportunity to reflect on current governance practices, better understand their roles and responsibilities, and identify practical actions that can improve institutional performance.
The sessions focused on building leadership capacity for stronger decision-making, clearly defining the governance roles of boards and management, addressing institutional governance challenges, improving understanding of policies, bylaws, and frameworks, and identifying ways to strengthen transparency, accountability, and inclusivity.
Key Highlights
Participants reviewed Mgeno Conservancy’s governance journey, from its establishment in 1971 to its transition into a formal conservancy in 2020. Several milestones were highlighted, including the recruitment of professional management, the development of the 2020–2030 Management Plan, ranger recruitment through partner support, the adoption of SMART monitoring technology, and improved financial stability through carbon credit partnerships.
The open discussions created space for participants to celebrate achievements while also reflecting collectively on areas that require improvement.
Key Gaps Identified
The training identified several priority gaps, including inadequate governance tools, limited inclusivity and youth representation, incomplete institutional policies, the absence of a clear benefit-sharing framework, boundary-related conflicts with neighbouring communities, and, most importantly, limited communication and visibility platforms.
Following these discussions, participants recommended the development and adoption of key governance instruments; finalization and implementation of policies such as Human Resources, Procurement, and Safeguarding policies; establishment of benefit-sharing and grievance redress mechanisms; strengthening inclusivity within governance structures; and the development of a communication strategy, including a website to enhance visibility.
Looking Ahead
Mgeno Conservancy has demonstrated resilience and steady progress over the years. Addressing the identified gaps will further strengthen its governance systems and support long-term sustainability. TTWCA and KWCA, together with other partners, remain committed to providing continued technical support and follow-up to help implement the agreed actions.