AWF Commences the 2024 Cohort of the AWF Charles R. Wall Youth Leadership Program 

Friday, 12^th April 2024 - Nairobi, Kenya - The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is thrilled to announce the official commencement of the 2024 cohort of the Charles R. Wall Youth Leadership Programme. This year's program marks a significant milestone as we welcome a diverse group of passionate professionals dedicated to making a lasting impact on conservation. 

 The AWF Charles R. Wall Youth Leadership Program comprises two distinct components: the Charles R. Wall Young African Policy Fellows Program and the Charles R. Wall Conservation Leadership and Management Fellowship. Both programs aim to foster a unified community of professionals from various sectors committed to worldwide conservation efforts. 

 AWF is proud to have graduated the 2023 cohort earlier this year, and onboarded the 2024 cohort, bringing the total number of fellows and alumni to 77, representing 29 countries. This growing footprint underscores AWF's vision of an Africa led by its youth, united in preserving our natural heritage for future generations. 

 The 2024 cohort proudly represents a wide array of environmental interests, including environmental defenders, researchers, community managers, wildlife practitioners, lawyers, and more. Notably, this year's cohort includes representation from new countries, including South Sudan and Malawi, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, Guinea Bissau, Liberia and Zambia, alongside other African nations such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe. 

 Kaddu Sebunya, AWF CEO, expressed his enthusiasm for the 2024 cohort, stating, "Congratulations to the 2024 cohort of the Charles R. Wall Leadership and Management Fellowship. Your selection reflects not only your individual achievements but also your potential to impact conservation in Africa. As you embark on this journey, remember that you are part of a community of changemakers committed to safeguarding Africa's biodiversity and promoting sustainable development. Welcome to the AWF family, and I wish you a year of transformative learning and growth." 

 The Young African Policy Fellows Program, co-facilitated by AWF and the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP), focuses on equipping participants with technical and practical policy-making skills. Guided by key international environmental governance bodies, particularly the Convention on Biological Diversity, this program prepares fellows for the upcoming 16th Conference of the Parties (COP) in Columbia later this year. 

 Meanwhile, the Conservation Leadership and Management Fellowship, led by AWF, is a trailblazing initiative designed for young African professionals in the conservation sector. With a focus on self-leadership, team leadership, and organizational leadership, this program brings together individuals from government, NGOs, the private sector, and community-based organizations driving environmental impact across the continent. 

Fellows in the Conservation Leadership and Management program can expect an intensive, hands-on learning journey aimed at developing their leadership and management skills while fostering valuable networks within their cohort and with experts and leaders across Africa. Each fellow will embark on innovative projects during the program, contributing to the advancement of conservation efforts continent-wide. 

Fellows in the Policy program will be immersed in theoretical and hands-on learning experiences, including negotiation simulations based on the Convention on Biological Diversity, attending policy-making conferences, and policy brief writing training, fellows will be equipped to influence policy decisions effectively. 

The commencement of the 2024 cohort of the AWF Charles R. Wall Youth Leadership Programme marks another milestone in AWF's commitment to nurturing informed, empowered, and connected leaders for conservation.