Mr Reinhard Bonke Nyandire

Research Associate

Bio

Mr Reinhard Bonke Nyandire is a distinguished expert in biodiversity conservation, conservation finance, and the intersection of wildlife economies with sustainable development. With over a decade of experience, he has worked extensively across Africa, integrating conservation economics, land tenure rights, and nature-based solutions into economic development frameworks. His expertise spans policy development, advocacy, research, and stakeholder engagement, with a strong emphasis on securing equitable benefits for Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPs and LCs) in wildlife economies. 

Reinhard holds an MPhil in Conservation Leadership from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Planning and Management from Kenyatta University. He has played a key role in shaping Africa’s wildlife economy landscape, contributing to the discussions on the development of frameworks that align biodiversity conservation with sustainable livelihoods. His career includes high-impact roles with the African Wildlife Economy Institute (AWEI), WWF Africa, Birdlife International, Conservation Strategy Fund, Forest Stewardship Council, and Justdiggit, among others.

@AWEI

Nyandire has been an integral part of AWEI since 2022, serving on various capacities and now as a Research Associate. In this role, he is helping lead and support key initiatives aimed at understanding and enhancing biodiversity economies in Africa. His work focuses on helping or making contributions to the following thematic areas:

• Developing research strategies on wildlife economies, private sector financing, and community-based biodiversity enterprises.
• Supporting African governments and local communities in policy and program development for sustainable wildlife economies.
• Conducting research on biodiversity economy value chains and ecosystem services valuation, with a strong emphasis on Indigenous-led conservation initiatives.
• Facilitating capacity-building initiatives for community-led conservation enterprises, including training programs on governance, sustainable resource management, and economic opportunities in wildlife conservation.
• Engaging in strategic partnerships to promote innovative financing mechanisms for wildlife economies and nature-based solutions for adaptation.

Through his engagement with AWEI, Reinhard has been at the forefront of developing evidence-based strategies that balance conservation with economic sustainability, ensuring that local communities derive tangible benefits from Africa’s rich biodiversity.

Planned Activities 

Over the coming years, Reinhard will continue to drive research, policy influence, and strategic engagement under AWEI. His key focus areas include:

• Contributing towards developing the Africa-wide framework for integrating biodiversity economies into national development plans, with a focus on equitable benefit-sharing for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
• Expanding research on biodiversity finance, including carbon and biodiversity payment mechanisms and their role in strengthening community-driven conservation models.
• Capacity-building and knowledge exchange programs, targeting policymakers, conservation practitioners, and local communities in Africa’s priority landscapes.
• Collaborating with key stakeholders (governments, NGOs, private sector) to design innovative financing mechanisms for Africa’s wildlife economies.
• Publishing research findings on wildlife economies, conservation finance, and sustainable development, ensuring that evidence-based solutions inform conservation and economic policies.
• Advancing dialogues on wildlife economies in international policy platforms, contributing to frameworks such as the Global Biodiversity Framework (CBD), African Union policies, and national conservation strategies.