Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

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Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

VISION

Protecting Wildlife, Transforming Lives

Lewa envisions a future where people across Kenya value, protect and benefit from wildlife.

The long-term conservation of the wildlife and habitats in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy relies on
the success of its neighbours, including farms, communities, conservancies and public protectedareas alike.

MissionThroughout 2023, our commitment to improving the lives and livelihoods of the indigenous
communities around us and empowering them to own the conservation agenda endured. Follow
along to learn the incredible milestones we achieved in community-based conservation and wildlife
management with your partnership and support.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy serves as a model and catalyst for the conservation of wildlife and its
habitat. It accomplishes this through the protection and management of species, the initiation andsupport of community conservation and development programmes, and the education of neighbouring communities on the value of wildlife.

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Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

CONSERVATION AND WILDLIFE

Surveys and monitoring efforts revealed
an increase in avifauna, a high diversityof waterbirds and raptors, an observablerise in raptor nesting activities and

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy has demonstrated remarkable success in fostering a resilient and diverse
ecosystem that supports stable and growing wildlife populations. The Conservancy’s unwavering dedication to habitat protection, sustainable practices and community engagement has played a pivotal
role in achieving these milestones.
Lewa employs a combination of research, advanced technology and community involvement to safeguard and oversee the conservation of numerous endangered species. This holistic approach has notably
boosted wildlife populations, particularly our flagship species, the rhino, as well as other endangered
species, such as the Grevy’s zebra and pancake tortoise.The Conservancy serves as a safe haven for a variety
of wildlife, including elephants, lions, birds and reticulated giraffes and made the following strides
in 2023:

successful raptor breeding

The number of herpetofaunain the landscape surged, with192 pancake tortoises and46 terrapins being sighted

Lewa’s Grevy’s zebra population

increased by 19%. Currently, 359 canbe found in Lewa, up from 310 in 2022

by the community, Community
Forest Associations, Lewa and otherarrival of mountain bongos

5 acres of land

9,176 acres of exclusion

was cleared

Kona Safi, Kangauru, Mlima

with invasive species

zones were established at

Loishimi and Sirikoi, to improve

42 rhinos, underwent
ear notching and 7 rhinos

were equipped with long range
transmitters, enabling real-timetracking of their movements

3Meru Bongo and Rhino Sanctuarystakeholders, in preparation for thevegetation diversity

260 rhinos were present inLewa, 132 of them blackrhinos and 128,
white rhinos

4,550 trees were planted at the4

Human-wildlife conflictcases decreased by 11%

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

EDUCATION
The Lewa Education Programme (LEP) provides crucial support to over 9,000 students every year
and is one of the most effective ways in which Lewa fosters development, at both the individual andcommunal level, in neighbouring communities. By increasing the opportunities available to students,Lewa is ensuring young people become socially responsible and productive members of society.
LEP is advancing education in the landscape by building the capacity of teachers, school leaders, andparents, developing infrastructure, providing students with scholarships and conservation education
trips, and operating a digital literacy programme. LEP seeks to address needs expressed by teachers,schools and community members. The Programme produced the following outcomes in 2023:

53% of the students who47 students successfullycompleted secondary school in 2023

transitioned from secondary

are poised to pursue bachelor’s

to tertiary education

degree courses in university

LEP recorded a 30%
increase in secondary school
registration, with 65 students

enrolling in the programme, exceeding
the target of 50

Over 1,000 learners inThe Programme expanded its

Lewa-supported schools benefitted

coverage to four additional schools,

from the Feeding Programmebringing the total number of schools
supported to 27

More than 300 students

At least 4,243 learners and 657

Lewa’s Bursary Programme

Conservation Education Centre in 2023

received full scholarships throughteachers visited the conservancy’s544 Lewa staff mentored 977
students across the 27

51 high school graduates

received guidance on university

LEP-supported schools

and college course selection

202 Board of Management members and 27 headteachers in Lewa-supportedschools were trained on good governance and school management

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Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

Digital Literacy Programme
EDUCATION

Lewa’s Digital Literacy Programme is an integral componentof the Lewa Education Programme. In 2016, the Kenyan
government distributed over a million digital tablets tomore than 19,000 public primary schools across the country
as part of its mandate to ensure every Kenyan child receives
quality education that equips them with 21st century skills.
To supplement the national programme and ensure
students in remote northern Kenya schools have accessto quality education, Lewa, through its Digital Literacy
Programme provided free, age-appropriate digital content
that was accessible offline, as well as library infrastructure
and management technology.

207 learners
successfully coded
12 projects using Scratch

6,261 experiments wereconducted on PhET, reflecting 287

4,500 learners and 150
teachers demonstrated improved358 tablets were
distributed across 14

knowledge and skills in digital literacy

hours dedicated to this interactive
computer simulation platform

schools

Through the Digital Literacy Programme, in 2023:

552 tutorials were createdusing Camtasia, facilitating
comprehensive learning

490 topics from

182 teachers and4,916 learners in
25 Lewa-supported schools

Grade 4 through secondary
school were digitized

actively engaged with digitalcurriculum resources78

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

School Infrastructure
Programme
EDUCATION

Constructed classrooms

Fenced Shambani Primaryin Ngare Ndare Secondary andand Victoria High School

Victoria High School

Lewa seeks to increase access to education by addressing the most urgent needs of neighbouring
schools and building their capacity to manage education resources. Every year, the Conservancy invests
in infrastructure development, improving the learning conditions of students across the 27 Lewasupported schools in the Lewa-Borana landscape and its environs. Lewa implemented the following
infrastructure projects in 2023:

Constructed a dining

Issued Early Childhood

hall and donated furniture toDevelopment Educationequipment to Enaikishomi andLokusero Secondary School andRugusu Primary School
Constructed a 24-doorsanitation block at Lokusero

Secondary and Ntalaban Primary School

Constructed a kitchenwith energy-saving
stoves at Junior Pupils

Subuiga Primary School

Renovated classrooms

at Enaikishomi Primary School

Preparatory School910

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
WME achieved an 80%

723 women benefitted from mentorship
The communities around Lewa perceive conservation as a multifaceted resource that fosters
sustenance, economic prospects, healthcare and more.

loan repayment rateand counselling sessions provided during
workshops and exposure visits

Lewa envisions a future where people across Kenya value, protect and benefit from wildlife.
Therefore, the Conservancy works hand in hand with indigenous communities and deems
them indispensable partners in its conservation initiatives.
Operating at the nexus of wildlife conservation and sustainable development, Lewa actively
supports its neighbouring communities and addresses their most pressing needs, providing
access to clean water, education, better healthcare and vocational skills training. Lewa’s community development programmes positively impact the lives of 205,000 people, underscoring
our commitment to fostering holistic community well-being.

32 women groups received governance and management training,
promoting transparency and accountability in their operations

Women’s Micro-enterprise

Since its inception in 2003, the Women’s Micro-enterprise Programme (WME)
has supported over 2,000 women from Lewa’s neighbouring communities instarting small businesses and promoting livelihood diversification. The established
enterprises include retail shops, flour mills, hair salons, and tailoring and livestockkeeping businesses. With the support of the Women’s Microfinance Initiative,
WME provides women with microloans, training and a business networking
platform.
The Programme achieved the following milestones in 2023:

2,050 women actively participatedin the activities of the WME, a 14%
increase from the previous year

741 women underwent

entrepreneurship and business
management training

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Healthcare
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

With the recent acquisition of a modern ambulance, Lewa has significantly enhanced its healthcare
programmes, and provides indigenous communities with access to crucial health services. The
introduction of the ambulance has led to a decrease in fatalities and improved community members’
access to healthcare services. During emergencies, community members now contact Lewa’s radio
room, demonstrating increased awareness of and trust in Lewa’s ability to respond effectively tohealth-related issues.
In fulfilment of Lewa’s commitment to improving community well-being, in 2023:

Lewa’s ambulance evacuated

220 patients, addressing

community health, maternal,
accident-related andemergency needs

2,754 patients receivedmaternal and reproductive

health services through Lewa
Clinic’s maternity wing

14,400 community members
and 8,643 learners were engaged
through Lewa’s healthcare outreachprogrammes, improving community
health education and awareness

53,766 patients received

medical attention at the four clinics
supported by Lewa

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Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

Sustainable Agriculture
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
11 demonstration plots (6 in the

Lewa’s Sustainable Agriculture Programme has established 11 demonstration plots in 6community farms and 5 schools. These plots showcase modern farming techniques andalongside the training of 2,125 farmers, contribute to knowledge dissemination and skill
development, potentially leading to improved household income.
Throughout 2023, Lewa collaborated with key partners, including AICCRA CIAT, theInternational Center for Tropical Agriculture, East African Seed Company, Syngenta,
Bayer East Africa, Corteva, Agri-Farm, CKL Africa Limited, Agitech, and SoilCares toamplify its impact on farmers and community livelihoods through sustainable agriculture.
By establishing partnerships, reinforcing stakeholder engagements, capacity building andproviding farm inputs and market linkages, Lewa expanded opportunities for farmers
and strengthened agriculture value chains.

community, 5 in schools) were established

302 farmers wereconnected to markets

182 farmers went on Lewa-supported

14 new partnerships were established, which provided farmers

skills in innovative farming methods

connections to markets, amplifying Lewa’s impact

with farm inputs, training, knowledge-sharing opportunities andexposure tours, gaining knowledge and1,214 farmers enrolled foron modern farming techniques

agricultural training, showcasingLewa’s effectiveness in engaging local
farmers to drive agricultural initiatives

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on farms to increase theirproductivity

To further support farmers, in 2023:

2,125 farmers were trained

402 soil tests were conducted16

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

Water MANAGEMENTCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The majority of the people living in the settlements surrounding Lewa depend on rivers andstreams for water, which negatively impacts the fragile ecosystem. Proper resource management isparamount to ensuring the existence of a sufficient water supply that sustainably meets wildlife andcommunities’ needs.
Lewa works with the national government through the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, water
resource users associations and indigenous communities to identify solutions to water shortages andprovide access to clean, safe water for domestic and livestock use.

Phase 1 of the construction of the 200,000 cubic

1 new water project was established in

the onset of the rainy season, the Dam is full, significantly

number of water projects implemented to 18

metre Subuiga Dam was completed, and with

Kithima kia Mugumo, bringing the total

bolstering water availability in the region

To improve water supply in neighbouring communities, Lewa undertook the following initiatives
in 2023:

3,478 water project members underwent

35 water tanks were distributed to schools

capacity in water resource management

facilitating rainwater harvesting

training on sustainable water use, building their

17and farmers, encouraging guttering and18

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

SECURITY
6 rangers underwent refresher

12 rangers underwent tactical training, enhancing

training in occupational first aid

their security and wildlife management skills

Maintaining world-class security operations remains a top priority for Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, amission that is achievable through our strong partnership with the neighbouring communities, whoplay a vital role in our broader conservation efforts, ensuring the safety and well-being of the wildlife
in our care.
To improve security in the Conservancy and its environs, in 2023:

35 rangers received snake awareness training,
increasing their capacity to handle snake encounters

89 rangers underwent training,enhancing their ability to capture
data and monitor wildlife using
EarthRanger applications65 rangers underwent longrange radio technology training, and 9
rangers were trained on enhanced
radio communication and maintenance

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Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

ANTI-POACHING operations
The Lewa-Borana landscape provides a secure habitat for many of the world’s most vulnerable species,
with Lewa serving as the central hub for security and wildlife monitoring across the region and the 45
community-owned member conservancies of the Northern Rangelands Trust.
Using real-time data from EarthRanger, a high-tech monitoring system, and working closely with theneighbouring communities, Lewa’s world-class wildlife ranger and security teams not only conserveand protect the Conservancy’s flora and fauna, but also enhance security for people in the region.

5 National Police Reservist drivers

31 National Police Reservists underwent routine

underwent skill-based training

enhanced operations skills training and modern
equipment provision

Lewa achieved the following wildlife protection milestones in 2023:

6 National Police Reservist medic patrols
underwent annual refresher training

0 rhino poaching at Lewa

0 illegally killed elephants at Lewa

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Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

Special Projects
12 black rhinos weretranslocated to LoisabaConservancy

Lewa is globally recognised as a catalyst and model for endangered species management andcommunity-centred conservation.
A pioneer of the conservancy movement in Kenya and beyond, Lewa regularly runs various
special projects throughout the world, which improve species and rangeland health, and advancethe frontiers of wildlife conservation.
In 2023, the Lewa-Borana landscape reached its capacity for rhinos. As one of the Conservancy’s
special projects, Lewa, in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service, began plans to translocate
rhinos in 2024 to various sanctuaries in other parts of the country, making a step forward insaving this endangered species.

4 white rhinos weretranslocated to Sera

Community Conservancy

Lewa is also an implementing partner of the Meru Bongo Rhino Conservation Trust, supporting
the Trust in its plans to restore the mountain bongo to self-sustaining levels in the wild andimprove the lives of communities and wildlife near Mount Kenya’s forests, by airlifting 25
mountain bongos from the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation in Florida, in the UnitedStates of America (USA), to a sanctuary on the northern slopes of the Mount Kenya ForestReserve. In phase 2 of the project, Lewa will provide support in reintroducing the black rhino tothe same forest reserve.
Additionally, Lewa implemented the following special projects in 2023:

Established and officiallyopened the Mountain Bongoand Rhino Sanctuary23242524

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

FINANCIAL Summary
Global Revenue (USD)

2022

2023

Donations

3,728,028

3,042,533

Net Trading Income

860,667

1,304,571Tourism Income

1,918,366

2,045,547

Other Income

147,649

405,490

Total Revenue

6,654,708

6,798,141

Global Expenditure (USD)

2022

2023

Programme Expenditure

4,161,018

4,329,678

Administration

1,571,899

1,518,289

Fundraising

173,783

188,477

Total Expenditure

5,906,699

6,036,444

2022

2023

748,009761,698

Net Increase in Assets

Global 2023 Revenue
Net Trading Income

19%

6%

Tourism
Income30%

Donations45%

Global 2023 Expenditure
ProgrammeExpenditure

These global consolidated financial figures are unaudited but are
based on the audited or otherwise externally scrutinised financial
statements of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy organisations in Kenya,
the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Other Income

72%

Administration

25%

Fundraising

3%

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Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

CONCLUSION

Asante Sana!
The impact and milestones we achieved in 2023 would not have been possible without ourglobal network of partners, donors, and supporters. Our deepest appreciation goes to each andevery one of you.

We envision a future where people across Kenya value, protect and benefit from wildlife. Thisfuture depends on communities being able to derive their day-to-day livelihoods in ways thatare compatible with thriving wildlife habitats.

In the last year, with you by our side, we made quantum leaps in conservation and community
development. We are proud of the work we accomplished together and excited about the roadahead!

We will continue working to maximise the positive impacts of conservation within Lewa andneighbouring communities as we strive to advance community conservation best practices inKenya and beyond.

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Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

get involved

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Say Hello

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We would love to hear from you!

No Lewa project is successful in isolation. Lewa’s 360 approach is an interwoven fabric of programmes,
people and partnerships working together, that has enabled Lewa to achieve significant long-term
results over nearly three decades.

@lewaconservancy

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
P.O. Box 60300, Isiolo, Kenya
Email: info@lewa.org
Phone: (+254) 722 203 562/3@LewaConservancy
The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy@LewaWildlifeConservancy

Any unrestricted donation to Lewa is a gift to Lewa 360 and an investment in Lewa’s overarching
mission and model. Join us as a Lewa 360 donor, and your gift will be utilised by Lewa
where your support is most urgently needed.

@lewawildlife
www.lewa.org

There are many impactful projects that you can support and various ways to give.
Check them all out here: www.lewa.org/donate

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Photography by Martin Buzora and Jeff DeKockLewa Wildlife Conservancy Annual Report | 2023

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