Keystone Partnership Welcomes New GEF–RWF Collaboration to Support Africa’s Keystone Protected Areas
Collaboration will help eligible African governments pair GEF-9 resources with up to $50 million in matched philanthropic funding from the Rob Walton Foundation, with technical assistance from Conservation International
As part of the Africa Keystone Protected Area Partnership, the Rob Walton Foundation is proud to support a new collaboration with the Global Environment Facility designed to help eligible African governments mobilize greater support for the effective management of Africa’s Keystone Protected Areas — 162 protected and conserved areas identified as foundational to biodiversity, water security, livelihoods, and sustainable development across the continent.
Through the collaboration, eligible countries that choose to direct GEF-9 resources toward NGOs operating in qualifying Keystone Protected Areas may be able to pair those resources with up to $50 million in matched philanthropic funding from the Rob Walton Foundation. In addition, Conservation International would provide technical assistance to support country-led project development aligned with GEF processes and national conservation priorities.
This collaboration builds on the Keystone Partnership, launched in 2025 to support the long-term, effective management of the 162 Keystones Protected Areas by 2035. Keystones are foundational to Africa’s biodiversity, water security, livelihoods, and long-term resilience. Strengthening their management requires sustained investment, durable partnerships, and strong country leadership.
This new collaboration is intended to create a practical pathway for governments to mobilize additional resources and technical support for these landscapes.