Charlotte Conservation Fellowship Program to Benefit Southern Sudan

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is pleased to announce it is now accepting applications for the 2008-2009 Charlotte Conservation Fellows scholarship program.

This year, the program will specifically benefit emerging and aspiring scholars from Southern Sudan – where, despite years of civil war, scientists recently discovered abundant populations of elephants, white-eared kob, tiang antelope, Mongalla gazelle, and other wildlife to rival that of Tanzania’s legendary Serengeti.

To help the region build the infrastructure and capacity it needs to protect its magnificent wildlife, and to ensure that these resources benefit local people, AWF is soliciting applications only from nationals of Southern Sudan. Applicants living outside Southern Sudan must demonstrate a commitment to return to and apply their knowledge in the region.

The expenses covered by AWF under the scholarship will depend on the program selected by the individual Fellow, with each scholarship valued at a maximum of US$25,000. Fellows whose education costs exceed that amount must show they have secured enough non-AWF funding to complete their studies.

Since its founding in 1961, the African Wildlife Foundation has worked to build the capacity of Africa’s people to manage and protect the unparalleled diversity of Africa’s lands. It helped establish the first school to train African wildlife managers in Tanzania, producing more 3,000 wildlife managers to date. And over the years, it has continued investing in training and scholarship opportunities, with the goal of enhancing the effectiveness and impact of African nationals in fields that contribute to conservation and ensure sustainable development.

Applications for the 2008-2009 Fellowship program are due by July 31, 2008. To download the application and other materials, and to learn more about the Charlotte Conservation Fellowship Program, click here. To read about past fellows, click here.