“Ultimately conservation is about people. If you don’t have sustainable development around these wildlife parks, then people will have no interest in them, and the parks will not survive.” – Nelson Mandela. Functioning ecosystems are critical for biodiversity and livelihoods but face threats such as unsustainable resource use, population growth, and weak governance. In response, SADC countries have established Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) to integrate conservation with community development. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), through the TUPNR programme, supported two Strategic Projects (SPs) from 2015–2020 in the Malawi-Zambia and Lubombo TFCAs. The evaluation, based on OECD-DAC criteria and cross-cutting issues (gender, participation, cooperation), showed both SPs promoted governance, community engagement, and conservation. In Malawi-Zambia, activities improved law enforcement and livelihoods, though sustainability was threatened by budget constraints. In Lubombo, gains were made in community awareness and tourism, though impacts on poverty reduction remained limited. Project designs faced implementation challenges due to short timelines, wide geographical scopes, and complex structures. Still, the SPs laid foundations for improved management and donor engagement. Key recommendations target governments (business-oriented TFCA management, harmonised park access), implementing partners (empowering women, combining short- and long-term benefits), donors (aligned planning, stricter evaluations), and communities (presenting needs, strengthening local groups). Tangible benefits and community-led participation are essential for lasting conservation impact in Southern Africa’s TFCAs.