AWF Charles R. Wall Leadership Program for Young Africans 2024 – Apply Now

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is excited to announce the call for applications for the Charles R. Wall Leadership Program. This unique fellowship program comprises two components: the Charles R. Wall Young African Policy Fellows and the Charles R. Wall Conservation Leadership and Management Fellowship. These programs aim to bring together a community of professionals from various sectors who are passionate about making a positive impact in the world through conservation.

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

On the other hand, the Charles R. Wall Conservation Leadership and Management Fellowship is an AWF-led pan-African leadership program for young African professionals in the conservation sector. This program brings together youth from government, NGOs, the private sector, and community-based entities that are leading impact in the environmental space. 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.

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. 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 learned through placements in successful conservation organizations and development partners.

The fellowship will prepare participants with tools, resources, and knowledge to lead systemic change that transcends beyond the environmental sector into non-conventional spaces. 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. An online or pre-recorded video interview may also be part of the recruitment process. Applications will only be accepted online, and the deadline for submission is February 3, 2024. For questions, please send an email to [email protected] 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. Visit the AWF website for more details.