Structural shifts in policy and practice

While existing policies may provide a conducive environment for conservancies, operationalizing these policies and making necessary changes will be instrumental in enabling conservancies to thrive. If policies shift towards devolving rights and responsibilities to local communities, granting them greater control and ownership over the management of wildlife resources, conservancies will thrive and generate more benefits for communities. This includes allocating wildlife-use rights, creating revenue-sharing mechanisms, and transferring management responsibilities to conservancies. As recognition of conservancies grows, there will be more need for integrated land use planning that balances conservation objectives with the socio-economic needs of local communities. Umoja recognizes the importance of shifts in practices among communities and landowners to encourage formation and enhance investments in conservancies by communities, landowners, government and the private sector. These structural changes will help create an enabling system that facilitates positive impact and allows conservancies to flourish.

Although conservancies in Uganda are experiencing growth, there remains a lack of awareness regarding the transformative benefits they bring to communities. Mindset change, therefore, plays a crucial role in the success and effectiveness of conservancies in Uganda. It involves shifting perspectives, attitudes, and beliefs towards a more sustainable and community-centered approach to wildlife management and conservation. Umoja aims to address this by fostering a positive narrative around conservancies and community-based conservation. Through its work, Umoja will actively engage in building community and national support for conservancies in Uganda, promoting a shift in mindset—from exploitation to stewardship, from conflict to collaboration, from exclusion to inclusion, and from dependence to empowerment. By highlighting the positive impacts of conservancies on communities, Umoja seeks to further accelerate their growth and ensure their long-term sustainability. Umoja’s strategic approach to change involves implementing structural changes, addressing relational barriers, and fostering a positive mindset to advance the growth and impact of conservancies in Uganda. By focusing on these three key shifts, Umoja aims to strengthen the conservancy movement, promote collaboration among stakeholders, enhance operational practices, and build support for community-based conservation throughout Uganda.