AWF Launches Geospatial Leaders Fellowship for Africa’s Conservation Innovators

NAIROBI, Kenya – The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) today announced the launch of the AWF Geospatial Leaders Fellowship, a groundbreaking 10-month, hands-on training program designed to build an influential cadre of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) professionals dedicated to solving Africa's most pressing conservation and development challenges.

Africa stands at a critical juncture. While hosting approximately 25 per cent of the world’s biodiversity, a foundation for economies and ecosystem services, the continent faces accelerating biodiversity loss, with wildlife populations declining by 76% in the last 50 years. This crisis directly impacts the more than 62% of rural Africans who depend on natural ecosystems for their livelihoods.

The AWF Geospatial Leaders Fellowship addresses this urgent need by equipping young African professionals with the advanced geospatial tools, data access, and solution-development skills required to put nature at the heart of Africa’s development agenda. The leaders will learn to transform spatial data into actionable intelligence for tracking deforestation, mapping wildlife corridors, mitigating human-wildlife conflict, and informing sustainable land-use planning.

"GIS is no longer just a mapping tool; it's a decision-making superpower for conservation," said Kaddu Sebunya, AWF CEO. "By investing in Africa's brightest young minds through this fellowship, we are building a generation of leaders equipped with the spatial intelligence to safeguard both nature and human well-being for the future."

The fully funded fellowship seeks passionate African citizens under 35, based in the eligible African countries*, who hold relevant degrees and have at least two years of experience in GIS or the environmental sector. Applicants must be working with an organization that has clear GIS application needs. Six (6) fellows will be accepted for the 2026 cohort and will go through an engaging online program, a physical workshop in Nairobi, and work on a tangible project.  

Applications are now open and will close at 5:00 PM East Africa Time on January 15, 2025. Interested candidates must submit a complete application via the designated online platform, including a CV, personal statement, employer recommendation letter, academic transcripts, and an optional portfolio. The application form can be found here. https://bit.ly/4qyaVAT   

Eligible countries: Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Senegal, Tunisia, and Kenya.

For full details on eligibility, the application process, and the fellowship journey, visit: https://bit.ly/3L7JKO1 

About the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF)

The African Wildlife Foundation is the primary advocate for the protection of wildlife and wildlands as an essential part of a modern and prosperous Africa. Founded in 1961 to focus on Africa’s conservation needs, we articulate a uniquely African vision, bridge science and public policy, and demonstrate the benefits of conservation to ensure the survival of the continent’s wildlife and wild lands.