This updated analysis fills a gap in knowledge regarding international donor funding to combat IWT. It has collated data on international donor funding committed to combat IWT in Africa and Asia from 2010 to September 2018, which totals over US $2.35 billion and is equivalent to approximately US $261 million per year. Given the current magnitude of the wildlife crime crisis, additional resources over a sustained period will be required to reduce poaching, trafficking, and demand. This analysis provides a baseline to track future donor funding commitments and can support donor coordination efforts. The data collected, database created, online repository, and points of contact established with donors can be used to be further understand funding processes, effectiveness, and impacts and to inform donor strategic planning efforts. This analysis can be built upon in consultation with recipient countries to establish a future vision of how best to optimize the use of IWT financing in terms of priority geographic and thematic areas. A global understanding of existing contributions, trends, and target investment areas can facilitate a sharing of lessons learned.
The following recommendations for taking forward this work are proposed for the consideration of donors and are based on the results of the funding analysis, on feedback received by the donors, and on the WBG team’s experience in conducting this portfolio review. The recommendations fall into two categories:
Strategic:
Enhance donor engagement platform to bring international donors together in periodic virtual/in-person
meetings to increase communication and collaboration. The existing donor engagement platform allows community of
donors to proactively discuss issues, share information and lessons learned to enhance decision making,
establish synergies, and support wider efforts to combat IWT. Data should be exchanged every two years.
Coordinate country or regional investments and project activities with donor representatives, including
embassy staff and other relevant agencies, to map ongoing and planned IWT investments, sequence, and de-conflict
activities among donors in countries where coordination on wildlife trafficking is limited.
Pilot donor strategic planning activities in one or more countries in Africa or Asia.
Analytical and Technical: