The Consortium of African Funds for the Environment (CAFÉ) has welcomed four new Conservation Trust Funds (CTFs) into its growing network, marking a significant milestone at the conclusion of the 16th CAFÉ General Assembly, held in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, from 28 September to 2 October 2026.
The new members are:
- Liberia Conservation Fund (LCF) – Liberia
- Cubango-Okavango River Basin (CORB) Fund – Botswana, Namibia and Angola
- Blue Economy Development Fund (ProAzul) – Mozambique
- Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Guinea (FCG) – Guinea
Their admission further strengthens CAFÉ’s role as a continental platform for Conservation Trust Funds to exchange knowledge, build partnerships and advance sustainable financing for conservation.
With the addition of the four new members, CAFÉ now brings together 25 Conservation Trust Funds operating across 26 countries. This expansion reflects the growing recognition of the importance of African-led institutions in mobilising, managing and sustaining long-term finance for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
Strengthening a Continental Community
The admission of the new members comes at a pivotal moment for CAFÉ and the wider conservation finance community in Africa. The 16th General Assembly brought together more than 160 participants from 58 countries, including Conservation Trust Fund leaders, policymakers, government representatives, technical experts, development partners and conservation practitioners.
Held under the theme “Coastal and Marine Landscapes – Integrating Ecosystems, People and Culture,” the Assembly provided a platform for peer learning, strategic dialogue, partnership building and collective action on some of the continent’s most pressing conservation finance priorities.
The discussions highlighted the importance of innovative and durable financing approaches, including conservation endowments, blue economy and blue carbon finance, blended finance and debt-for-nature approaches.
The Assembly also underscored the importance of strengthening access to finance for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities and ensuring that conservation finance delivers meaningful benefits for people and nature.
Welcoming the New Members
The four new members bring valuable experience, perspectives and opportunities for collaboration to the CAFÉ network. Their inclusion expands the geographical reach of the network while creating new opportunities for peer exchange and collective action across different conservation landscapes.
From the forests and rivers of the Cubango-Okavango Basin, to the coastal and marine landscapes of Mozambique and Guinea, and Liberia’s emerging conservation finance landscape, the new members add important dimensions to CAFÉ’s growing continental community.
CAFÉ warmly welcomes the Liberia Conservation Fund, Cubango-Okavango River Basin Fund, Blue Economy Development Fund (ProAzul), and Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Guinea to the network.
As CAFÉ continues to grow, its members remain committed to building a stronger, more connected and more influential African conservation finance community — mobilising sustainable finance for nature, people and future generations.
Welcome to the CAFÉ family!