Founded under the National Wildlife Policy (2018) and the National Parks and Wildlife Act (Amended 2017), KAWICCODA was established to enable community co-management of Kasungu National Park with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW).

In November 2020, a formal Co-Management Agreement (CMA) was signed with DNPW, granting KAWICCODA 25% of the Park’s tourism revenue and access to non-cash benefits like non-timber forest products. These resources are reinvested in community-led conservation and livelihood initiatives.

KAWICCODA was structured with a clear governance framework, featuring a Board of Trustees, a 12-member Executive Committee, and local representation through nine zone committees aligned with Traditional Authorities, supported by 160 Village Natural Resources Committees (VNRCs).

Its conservation strategy gained considerable traction: by 2023–2024, KAWICCODA had secured over MK300 million (approx. US $185,000) from the IUCN-BIPAMA and Biodiversity & Protected Areas Management Programme to fund climate-smart farming, goat rearing, woodlot development, and other livelihoods interventions.

This funding supports pilot programs such as soybean cultivation to improve soil fertility and community income while reducing pressure on park resources. To date, interventions like goat pass-on schemes have helped households regain food security, improve soil through compost, and reduce encroachment and poaching.

KAWICCODA also plays a central role in mitigating human–wildlife conflict. As of 2024, it partnered with IFAW and DNPW to construct a 130-km solar-powered fence, employing over 500 community members to reduce elephant raids and promote coexistence.