NACOFA’s focus/key strategic focal areas of work include Organizational Development, Capacity Building, Networking, Lobbying and Advocacy, Environmental management and livelihood improvement, Research and Development.
NACOFA is run by a board of eleven (11) members (regional community representatives) with extensive experiences in Natural Resource Governance. The board members represent eight regions in the country (North Eastern, Eastern, Western, Nyanza, North Rift, South Rift, Central, Coast, Women and Youth Reps). Each region is represented by an active CFA adjacent to a forest station that acts as a regional office for NACOFA and chaired by a NACOFA board member.
NACOFA’s operations and performances are run by a competent secretariat of five (5) staff. These include- a CEO who is also the NACOFA board secretary and a retired forester, Program Manager, Project manager, assistant project manager and a finance officer.
NACOFA has successfully implemented four (4) projects and is currently implementing and coordinating 3 projects funded by various development partners. These projects are: -
With support from IUCN, empowerment of forest adjacent communities to conserve and use forests sustainably in Kenya (2008-2009).
With support from the Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers (KENFAP) (2007-2009). USD 72,000
(Development Process Facilitation of the Forest Conservation and Management Act 2016). Year (2011-2014) with support from Embassy of Netherlands through ACT-Kenya, EU 289,500.
for five CFAs in the Mau Mara Ecosystem Region in Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) with support from WWF-Kenya. Year (2017-2019); USD: 54,500.
(Bengo FLR project for East Africa) with support from WWF-Germany and WWF-Kenya. Year (2020-2024); (On-going); EUR 335,014. Restoration of 300 hectares of degraded forest sites in three forest blocks in the Aberdares Ecosystem (Milestones- NACOFA has rehabilitated 358.7 ha. with assorted indigenous seedlings and 31.2 Ha. Bamboo).
With support from WWF-Kenya. Building the capacity of twelve CFAs in Nakuru County to form County CFA Networks. Year 2022-2024; EUR 78,975. (Project ongoing).
With support from WWF-K. (2023-2027). 36,027.52 Euro. (Project on-going).
Forest Incentives and Benefit Sharing Regulations, Community participation in Sustainable Forest Management, Natural Resources Benefit Sharing Bill 2022, and The National Forest and Landscape Restoration Plan (FOLAREP) 2022-2027.
The National Alliance of Community Forest Associations (NACOFA) is the central organization uniting Community Forest Associations (CFAs) across Kenya. NACOFA promotes collaboration among CFAs, advocates for local community rights, and fosters sustainable forest management to ensure equitable sharing of resources and ecosystem preservation for future generations.