Applications Invited for Current and Aspiring University Faculty Fellowship 2024-2025

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About the Organization

WWF knows that investing in training and education is critical for biodiversity conservation. That's why for 30 years the Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN) has been providing financial support to conservation leaders in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to gain the skills and knowledge they need to address the conservation challenges in their home countries. EFN supports conservationists to pursue graduate studies, attend short-term training courses, and train local communities in WWF priority places.

About the Fellowship

While progress has been made to address the shor2all of adequate exper7se at higher education in many countries, locally led and relevant solu7ons are s7ll needed to recruit, retain, scale, and sustain academic and research exper7se at ins7tu7onal and country levels.

WWF’s Russell E. Train Educa7on for Nature Program (EFN) provides funding support to current and aspiring university faculty that are affiliated with or currently employed at African, Asian, and La7n American and Caribbean universi7es. This opportunity is for doctoral degree study in natural and social science and other conserva7on-related fields. Strong university faculty is fundamental for effec7ve exchange of knowledge, exper7se and skills, and leadership. Faculty members inspire and mentor students, design curricula, promote learning and idea sharing, lead and collaborate on research, and disseminate scien7fic outcomes.

WWF Train Fellows must enhance, expand, or support the development of intergenera7onal scien7fic exper7se at a university in their home country or region. In doing so, WWF aims to improve the capacity of local and regional faculty to ac7vate the training of current and future conserva7on leaders, leading to more equitable and accessible conserva7on science capacity, educa7on, and leadership for the benefit of people and nature. Fellows will also have an opportunity to join the expansive global community of EFN alumni to enable knowledge exchange and collec7ve success.

Applicants may apply for up to three years of funding and request up to $30,000 per year. The amount of funding approved will vary. Accepted applicants will be no7fied by early June 2025.

Focus Areas

The fellowship aims to bridge academic excellence and conservator research to provide hands-on experience, learning, and training opportunities. The proposed research topics may cover a wide range of themes. Finalists will be identified through a competitive selection process and scored based on a set of criteria including, but not limited to, the following areas:

Academic and professional contributions/potential: applicant’s commitment to their academic, research, and professional development.

• Strength and quality of the research proposal: uniqueness of proposed topic, relevance, and detailed plan of Acton. The proposed work demonstrates an understanding of the fellowship’s rationale. The proposed research work highlights the intent to explore solutions at the interface of climate, conservation, people, and sustainable development; the proposed actives are feasible within the proposed work plan and realis7c budget.
• Individual and collective impact: the applicant’s ability to succeed in conservation research and leadership; short and long-term impacts as well as lasting conservation outcomes beyond proposed academic/research timeframe. The proposed work aims to engage diverse stakeholders, including gender mainstreaming and involvement of local and indigenous communities. The applicant demonstrates potential to build partnerships and ac7ve engagement with local communities, academic, research, and practitioners.
• Project measurability: the proposed research has measurable outcomes and outputs.
• Collaboratons: the applicant’s demonstrated potential to enhance partnerships beyond the proposed objectives and timeframe.
• Recommendation letters: the applicant meets the specific criteria for the fellowship with specific examples which demonstrate the applicant's abelites

Eligibility

• Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible.
• You must be a citizen and legal permanent resident of an eligible country.
• You must have at least two years of conservation-related work or research/academic experience.
• You must have an existing affiliation with a college or university in an eligible country and demonstrate collaboration and strategic partnership with country and/or regional institutions. Priority will be given to individuals affiliated with underserved universities.
• You must have a demonstrated commitment to working in academia in an eligible country; For example,
• commitment to providing targeted mentorship and guidance to early career conservation leaders and scientists.
• You must be enrolled in or admied to a PhD program in-country or anywhere in the world.
• You must plan to begin your studies no later than January 2026.
• You must contact EFN if you are a WWF employee, consultant, or previous EFN grant recipient to determine eligibility.

How to Apply

Applicants can access the online application and guidelines at www.worldwildlife.org/efn. Applicants may apply in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese.

The application deadline is December 18, 2024 by 11:59 PM US Eastern Time.

For more information please check the Link

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