Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association

We, in partnership with the One Mara Carbon Project (OMCP), are working to finalise a Youth Engagement Framework that will reflect the needs, ideas, and aspirations of young people across the Mara. This important conversation is being shaped with and by the youth—not for them. Through ongoing sessions, young people are sharing their views, asking questions, and helping to define what their future in conservation and opportunity should look like. Because we know one thing for sure—the future of the Mara will be shaped by the choices they make today. Today in Nkoilale, we had an interactive session where OMCP teams walked the youth through the project, opening conversations about new opportunities and the grievance & feedback-receiving mechanisms. We continue tomorrow at the Mara Leadership Center in Talek! If you're a young person in the Mara, come join us—your voice matters, and your ideas count.

Youth Engagement Sessions In partnership with the One Mara Carbon Project, we shall hold youth engagement sessions to listen, share, and have open conversations about the carbon project and the youth engagement framework—especially about the concerns that matter most to you. This is because we believe that Conservation is not a choice; it is a responsibility we owe to future generations. Your voice matters. Come and be part of the conversation and help shape the future of our landscape. Please check the poster for dates and venues, and join the session in your cluster

CALL FOR QUOTATIONS! The Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association (MMWCA) invites qualified vendors to submit quotations for the supply and delivery of ICT equipment. If you are a registered supplier with the capacity to deliver quality ICT solutions, we encourage you to apply. For detailed specifications and submission guidelines, please check 👇maraconservancies.org/wp-content/upl…

Reliability is one of the key pillars of our partnership with AirKenya. Because of AirKenya’s dependability, our staff, board members, partners, and donors travel with confidence—knowing they will arrive safely and on time, often taking the opportunity during the journey to catch up on our publications such as The Voice of Mara. In our work, every moment matters, and their reliability ensures that timing, coordination, and trust come together to create a smooth and seamless travel experience. Behind every flight is a dedicated team working quietly in the background—pilots, operations staff, dispatch teams, and our own teams on the ground—coordinating each step of the journey. This close collaboration ensures smooth transitions at the airstrips and gives travelers peace of mind that their onward journeys are well managed. For us, this reliability means our teams can remain focused on what matters most: advancing conservation and supporting communities across the Mara landscape.

For us, International Women’s Day was not just a celebration — it was a powerful milestone in an ongoing journey. A journey that tells the story of the women of the Mara rising from passive observers to frontline champions and equal partners in conservation. Even as heavy rains poured, nothing could dampen our spirit. Through the Women’s Forum led by our Chairperson, Penina Taki, we came together to celebrate the progress we have made in advancing inclusivity, equity, and opportunity. Today, the women of the Mara are not just participants in conservation — they are leaders, protectors, and voices of change shaping the future of our landscapes and communities. Because when we build a landscape free from gender bias — one that values every voice and every contribution — we all rise together, and conservation becomes stronger. Together, we give, we grow, and we gain #IWD2026 #GiveToGain

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the gallant women trailblazers restoring ecosystems, protecting Indigenous rights and conserving nature for present and future generations. Happy #WomensDay2026 #IWD

On this auspicious International Women’s Day, we take pride in the significant strides made in empowering women in the Mara through resilient livelihoods and coexistence. Through collective support and strong partnerships, women in the Mara have risen to become frontline champions of community-led conservation, including serving as female rangers across our member conservancies. Their journey reflects remarkable progress — from passive Conservation participants to equal partners at decision-making tables, within conservancy leadership, the MMWCA Board, and as respected landowners. As a membership body of the Mara conservancies, and in the spirit of this year’s theme “Give to Gain,” we remain committed to giving by creating an equal playing field for all actors in the Mara. In doing so, we collectively gain through equity, fairness, and sustainable conservation for present and future generations.

In today's discussion at the Business of Conservation Conference-2026, the conversation focuses on what truly drives success in community-led conservation—highlighting both the achievements that inspire progress and the obstacles that continue to challenge community institutions. The discussion explores the importance of tailored approaches that reflect local realities, as well as the role of capable leadership and inclusive governance in strengthening community conservation models. When communities are empowered with the right structures, skills, and opportunities, conservation becomes more than protection of nature—it becomes a pathway to ownership, resilience, and sustainable economic opportunity through the growing wildlife economy. In the discussion, our CEO, Daniel Sopia, insists that for community conservation to succeed it must pay. It must put food on the table. #businessofconservationconference2026

“Conservation investments is more rewarding and sustainable Equitable governance is prioritized.” Dickson Kaelo at the #BusinessOfConservation2026 #BCC2026

Business of Conservation Conference 2026 A powerful and timely conversation is taking place at the Business of Conservation Conference 2026 — one that is based on practical conservation solutions that benefit both nature and communities. The conversation is happening today from 14:55 – 15:30. Join our Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Sopia, alongside distinguished panelists, as they tackle a critical question: How can community-led institutions build resilient, investable business models that sustain natural resources while delivering tangible economic value — even with modest budgets? Across Africa, communities are proving that conservation and economic empowerment are not mutually exclusive. From nature-based enterprises to locally driven conservation models, practical lessons are emerging on how to build institutions that are financially viable, socially inclusive, and environmentally sustainable. This session will draw from real-world case studies, sharing insights from experienced practitioners who have built, tested, and strengthened community conservation enterprises in dynamic and often challenging contexts. Join the conversation that designs actionable models that reposition communities from recipients of aid to credible, investible partners.

World Wildlife Day offers us an opportunity to focus on solutions and to reflect on the importance of protecting our planet’s incredible wildlife. It reminds us of the irreplaceable contributions that wildlife makes to the health, balance, and resilience of our natural world. On this day, we celebrate not only our wildlife but also the Mara community and our member conservancies, on whose land wildlife continues to thrive. Through their dedication, generosity, and commitment to community-based conservation, wildlife finds a secure home — and future generations inherit a living, thriving ecosystem.

Birth of a Conservancy - Voices of Pardamat Partnerships changing livelihoods youtu.be/TaXD3fNkvQA?si… @MConservancies @Saruni_Basecamp

We are proud to share that on Saturday, 7th February, we successfully held the Mara Ripoi Conservation Trust Annual General Meeting (AGM) with other key stakeholders. 15 new trustees were inaugurated, and we warmly thanked outgoing trustees, led by David Ole Sururu, for over 8 years of service. Congratulations to the new leadership team of William Sanoe (Chairman), Daniel Lepore (Vice Chairman), Veronica Senewa (Secretary), and Ben Lakati - PLWD (Treasurer) as we build a stronger future for Mara Ripoi. @WildlifeKe_ @KWCAKenya @KWSKenya

Sharing Spaces In conservation, coexistence means a state where people and wildlife live alongside each other in shared spaces, ensuring the wellbeing of both humans and wildlife. It highlights a shift from viewing wildlife as separate to one recognizing shared spaces, requiring effective governance, community buy-in, and solutions that balance cultural, economic, and ecological needs. Conservation should be about protecting nature for people, not from people. Location: Mbokishi Mara conservation area mbokishi.org #coexistence

The One Mara Carbon Project (OMCP), in partnership with Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association (MMWCA), Conservation International (CI), and Aheuni, has successfully convened Special General Meetings (SGMs) in four conservancies; Enoonkishu, Naboisho, Mara Siana, and Mara North Conservancies with the more meetings scheduled for the rest of the conservancies. These Special General Meetings are critical engagements with landowners across the Mara landscape, aimed at ensuring full disclosure of information before any conservancy agrees to participate in the OMCP. The SGMs form a key part of the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) process, against which the project will be evaluated. During the sessions, landowners and conservancy leaders are taken through a clear and transparent overview of the project. Following these discussions, conservancies are expected to deliberate and approve the following resolutions: • Approve the Conservancy’s participation in the OMCP. • Recognize Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association (MMWCA) as the initial Project Proponent, and OMCP Mara Carbon Limited (OMCP CLG) as the eventual Project Proponent. • Acknowledge the resolutions passed by conservancy landowners through their respective conservancy management companies. • Confirm the transfer of carbon rights from landowners to the conservancy through existing lease agreements, and approve the subsequent transfer of these rights from the conservancy to OMCP CLG as the Project Proponent. • Approve the principles for allocating revenue generated from the sale of project carbon credits, including payments for services rendered in support of OMCP. • Authorize the transfer of confidential and personal information required for project implementation. • Approve consent, opt-out, and resignation procedures for landowners and conservancies. • Approve and authorize the Conservancy’s execution of the Members’ Agreement with OMCP CLG. These engagements mark a key milestone in ensuring that the One Mara Carbon Project is transparent, engaging, legally compliant, and aligned with FPIC and international best practices in carbon project development.