Biodiversity is not spared by the double security and economic crisis affecting West Africa. In this context, the German development agency Kreditanstaltfür Wiederaufbau (KfW) is providing a grant of 16.4 billion CFA francs (more than 25 million euros) to the West African Savannah Foundation (FSOA) for the sustainable management of the W-Niger National Park and its neighbouring reserves, notably those of Tamou, Dosso and Zone giraffe.
Part of this support, i.e. 13.1 billion CFA francs (20 million euros), will be used as a trust endowment fund for the account of the Niger Window at FSOA. Thus, the interest generated by the investments in the financial markets, about 656 million CFA francs (1 million euros) per year, will be used for the sustainable management of these protected areas. The other part of the financing granted by the German cooperation, i.e. 3.3 billion CFA francs (5 million euros), will allow the restructuring of the W-Niger National Park and its riparian populations until 2025.
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The FSOA is a financing mechanism set up to preserve the ecosystems of the W-Arly-Pendjari transboundary complex (WAP) jointly managed by Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso. This natural site, created in 1954, covers one million hectares. The complex is home to large mammals, including elephants, hippos, as well as leopards, warthogs, baboons, buffaloes, cheetahs, lions, etc.
Benoit-Ivan Wansi