RCMRD and IUCN Renew Partnership to Advance Sustainable Natural Resource Management in Eastern and Southern Africa

The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) has renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), reinforcing a long-standing partnership committed to advancing sustainable natural resource management in the region.

The MoU was officially signed at the IUCN offices in Nairobi. It brings together IUCN’s globally recognized expertise in conservation with RCMRD’s geospatial and technical capabilities. This collaboration aims to strengthen data-driven decision-making, promote regional cooperation, and support policy development aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

RCMRD’s recent designation as a Technical and Scientific Support Centre under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) further underscores the importance of this partnership. Through joint efforts, RCMRD and IUCN will:

·        Provide technical support to Member States in Eastern and Southern Africa;

·        Enhance national capacities to integrate biodiversity data into policy and planning;

·        Promote regional knowledge sharing and collaboration; and

·        Support evidence-based, inclusive approaches to environmental governance.

Speaking during the signing, leaders from both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to advancing biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the region. The renewed MoU represents a significant step toward ensuring that governments and stakeholders have access to reliable data, innovative tools, and collaborative platforms necessary to achieve biodiversity targets.

Together, RCMRD and IUCN are building a stronger foundation for sustainable natural resource management and inclusive governance, ensuring that regional priorities are aligned with global biodiversity goals.