AWF Charles R. Wall Fellowships

African Wildlife Foundation March 13, 2024
Fellows pose behind an Instagram post cutout

For decades, AWF has worked to address the lack of entry points for youth seeking careers in conservation. This youth engagement strategy has developed into fellowship programs that give young people hands-on experience in conservation science, policymaking, and management. Fellows and grant recipients have demonstrated the impacts of their education and training—many have become influential leaders in the conservation sector. 

Today, the AWF Charles R. Wall Youth Leadership Program offers two fellowship programs, focusing on international environmental governance and conservation management. 

>>Learn more about our legacy fellowship programs

A fellow presents at a podium.

 

AWF Charles R. Wall Young African Policy Fellows

The Young African Policy Fellows program seeks to establish a pool of young African professionals with training and hands-on experience in international biodiversity governance. The program launched in March 2021 in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, and its inaugural cohort graduated 17 fellows in 2022. 

Fellows graduate with the skills they need to contribute to policy formulation and review processes at country, regional, and international levels. Four elements of the program prepare the fellows to become hands-on experts in policy and negotiation skills:

  • Workshops: The blended program features two virtual workshops, a one-week in-person event in Nairobi, Kenya, and a three-month virtual policy boot camp.
  • Policymaking conferences: Fellows participate in conventions and conferences related to international environmental governance, with a particular focus on the Convention on Biological Diversity (or CBD, the world’s largest biodiversity convention). 
  • Policy briefs: Fellows write and publish policy briefs on environmental issues they care about.
  • Networking opportunities: The program provides opportunities for fellows to network with peers and conservation and policy experts.

 

Fellows walk down a forest path.

 

AWF Charles R. Wall Conservation Leadership and Management Fellows

AWF’s Conservation Leadership and Management Fellowship (CLMF) is a nine-month intensive leadership program for young African professionals in the conservation sector. With a key focus on self-leadership, team leadership, and organizational leadership, the fellowship brings together young African professionals from businesses, NGOs, the public sector, and community-based entities that are leading environmental action. CLMF imparts fellows with transformational leadership and management skills needed to effect systemic impact on environmental issues.

CLMF is structured around four elements:

  • Workshops: The program starts with a 360 assessment to map the fellows’ strengths and areas of growth, which informs training tailored for fellows around themes of self-leadership, leading purpose-driven teams, organizational leadership, and conservation fundamentals.
  • Innovation mentorship: We guide fellows to identify organizational challenges and coach them through leadership solutions. 
  • Placement: We pair up fellows with leaders in conservation organizations (including AWF) for month-long visits, exposing the fellows to how different leaders address organizational challenges. 
  • Networking: Similar to the policy fellowship, we connect fellows with peers and leaders in conservation.

 

Resources

Policy Fellowship 2024 Brochure

Conservation Leadership and Management Fellowship 2024 Brochure

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