The Conservation Leadership Programme Team Awards 2024: funding, support and a 3,000-strong network for early-career conservationists

The Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) is a partnership between BirdLife International, Fauna & Flora and the Wildlife Conservation Society. Each year, CLP grants Team Awards to groups of early-career conservationists leading projects to save threatened species. Award-winning teams benefit from a project grant, and opportunities to develop their professional skills and build connections through the CLP Alumni Network.

The programme invites applications from teams undertaking research, practical actions and community outreach to promote solutions for threatened fauna and flora. We are particularly encouraging applications from marginalized groups, including but not limited to Indigenous Peoples, women and gender-nonconforming individuals, people living in the community where the project is based and those working on data-deficient species. The programme is particularly designed for applicants who are at the beginning of their conservation career (less than 5 years paid experience). Applicants do not need to have an academic background, as long as they can demonstrate a commitment to and knowledge about their focal species. Applicants from eligible countries must have at least three team members and need to work with species listed as Data Deficient, Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered on the global IUCN Red List.

Applications for the CLP 2024 Team Awards must be submitted using the online platform by 11:59 pm GMT on 10 October 2023. For more information, visit conservationleadershipprogramme.org/grants. Winners will be announced in April 2024. For any questions, contact [email protected].

The 2024 CLP Team Awards have been made possible thanks to support from Arcadia—a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin.

The Rufford Small Grants Programme

The Rufford Foundation runs the Rufford Small Grants Programme supporting early-career conservationists in the developing world. The programme focuses on funding fieldwork undertaken by current MSc or PhD students (or equivalent), or those who have graduated from such studies in the past 3 years and are seeking to undertake a conservation project. First grants support small-scale or pilot projects rather than providing a small amount of funding for a large-scale project. In some cases, The Rufford Foundation will fund 100% of the project costs. Projects can focus on particular species or have a more general focus, for example on a threatened habitat or a major issue such as human–wildlife conflict or environmental education. The Rufford Foundation considers work on any species listed in the IUCN Red List, provided it is not categorized as Least Concern. Projects on species that do not appear on the IUCN Red List because they have yet to be assessed but are thought to be threatened will also be considered. There are no restrictions on projects focusing on threatened habitats. This is a five-stage funding programme and successful grantees are encouraged to apply for further support provided they meet the eligibility criteria. To see examples of funded projects, visit rufford.org. Further information on eligibility criteria, as well as instructions on how to submit your application, can be found at apply.ruffordsmallgrants.org. There is no deadline for applications. Each application will be reviewed once the required three references have been received.

Cambridge Masters in Conservation Leadership

The Masters degree in Conservation Leadership at the University of Cambridge is a full-time, 11-month course for graduates of leadership potential with at least 3 years of relevant experience in biodiversity conservation. Hosted by the Department of Geography, the course is delivered by members of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, a partnership between six university departments and nine conservation organizations based in the David Attenborough Building. Applications open in September 2023 for entry to the course in October 2024. For application details visit cl.geog.cam.ac.uk. The closing date for applications will be in early December 2023. There is no application fee for students from the least developed and other low-income countries. For information on eligibility for a fee waiver, see postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/application-process/how-do-i-apply/application-fee.

We are able to offer a number of scholarships to support students attending the Masters course. These scholarships cover full fees and living expenses. Successful applicants for scholarships will have outstanding conservation leadership potential but be unable to fund their studies from other sources. Priority for scholarships will be given to those from countries rich in biodiversity but poor in financial resources. For queries about making an application, contact Lisa Harris ([email protected]).