Call for Applications for 2024 Charles R. Wall Youth Leadership Programs

(NAIROBI, KENYA — January 3, 2024) The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is announcing the call for applications for the Charles R. Wall Leadership Program. The program consists of two components — the Charles R. Wall Young African Policy Fellows which is ushering in its third cohort and the Charles R. Wall Conservation Leadership and Management Fellowship which was revamped last year and is ready to take on its second cohort of leaders. Both programs seek to build a unified community of professionals from different sectors that are passionate about leaving an indelible mark in the world through conservation.

The Young African Policy Fellows Program is co-facilitated by AWF and the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) focused on technical and practical policy making skills guided by key International Environmental Governance bodies, especially the Convention on Biological Diversity which is set to hold its 16th conference of the parties (COP) later this year in Columbia.

The inaugural Conservation Leadership and Management Fellowship is an AWF-led trailblazing pan-African leadership program for young African professionals in the conservation sector. With a keen focus on self-leadership, team leadership, and organizational leadership, this program brings together youth from government, NGO, the private sector, and community-based entities that are leading impact in the environment space. Charles R. Wall Conservation Leadership and Management Fellowship, better referred to as the CLMF program seeks to impart the leaders of today with transformational leadership and management skills which will accelerate us closer to the continent’s shared goals.

"In the vibrant tapestry of conservation, youth play a pivotal role as the architects of a sustainable future. The energy, innovation, and passion that young leaders bring to the table are unparalleled and we at AWF keep learning from these innovative young minds. We are honored to be part of the much-needed paradigm shift towards ensuring we are implementing people-centric sustainable solutions at scale.” Kaddu Sebunya, AWF CEO shares.

The 9-month intensive programs have seen a total of 43 fellows graduate successfully over the past two years creating a vibrant community of like-minded individuals who are continuously learning from each other even beyond the program’s training period.

“Being in the program was transformational. It not only shaped my skills but helped me cultivate a profound connection to the environment. The program unlocks your potential, ignites your passion, and connects you to a community of change-makers. Through this enriching experience, I gained intellectual prowess to drive positive change in the conservation realm while also learning the art of leading purpose-driven teams from seasoned experts. I have also benefited immensely from the invaluable indigenous knowledge we exchanged in classes that breathes life into conservation efforts.”- Gabriel Alele(Uganda), 2023 Cohort CLMF

A group of 30 (15:15) young leaders will join both programs set to commence in April 2024. The fellowship will prepare participants with tools, resources, and knowledge to lead systemic change that transcends beyond the environmental sector into non-conventional spaces.

This is a call to African youth aged 20-35 years to apply for either of the two training programs, which will include virtual workshops and a corresponding physical workshop in Nairobi, Kenya.

Policy fellows in particular, will have several opportunities to engage in national and international policymaking meetings and conventions while leadership and management fellows will have opportunities to apply the skills learnt through placements in successful conservation organizations and development partners. The application deadline is February 3, 2024.

Each applicant is expected to submit a motivation letter responding to why the candidate would like to be considered alongside a Curriculum Vitae and reference letter from their university, employer, or any senior person with whom they have worked closely with. An online or pre-recorded video interview may also be part of the recruitment process.

Applications will only be accepted online. For questions, please send an email to charleswallfellows@gmail.com with the subject line ‘Charles R. Wall Young African Policy Fellows’ or ‘Charles R. Wall Conservation Leadership and Management Fellowship’ depending on which program your query relates to. Kindly note that only successful applicants will be contacted.

More information on the eligibility criteria and the application forms can be found below:

Charles R. Wall Young African Policy Fellows 

Charles R. Wall Conservation Leadership and Management Fellowship