The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is pleased to announce it is now accepting applications for the 2009-2010 Charlotte Conservation Fellows scholarship program. This year the scholarship will focus on candidates from Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Women who meet the eligibility requirements are particularly encouraged to apply.

AWF introduced the Charlotte Conservation Fellows program in 1996 to provide support for African nationals pursuing masters’ degrees or doctoral research in conservation-related fields. The program was launched in tribute to the late Charlotte Kidder Ramsay, a long-time conservationist. While expenses and materials vary according to the recipient, scholarships are awarded for amounts of up to $25,000. Each year, AWF supports as many as five Charlotte Fellows. Since its inception, the program has helped more than 40 students from East, West, Central and southern Africa.

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 2009-2010 Fellowship program are due by July 31, 2009. To see eligibility requirements, download the application forms, and to learn more about the Charlotte Conservation Fellowship Program, visit:
http://www.awf.org/section/people/education/charlotte/2009application

To read about past fellows, click here.