The Wildlife Conservation Society Graduate Scholarship Program has opened applications for the Fonseca Leadership Program in Africa, a highly competitive opportunity designed to support emerging African conservation leaders. The programme is funded through the support of the Global Environment Facility and focuses on strengthening leadership capacity within biodiversity conservation across the continent.
The fellowship honours the late Gustavo Fonseca, whose career was marked by long-term contributions to global biodiversity conservation. The programme targets African professionals who are ready to deepen their academic training through a Masters or Ph.D. degree while maintaining a strong focus on applied conservation work within their home countries or regions.
This initiative is aimed at individuals who have already demonstrated dedication to conservation and are positioned to generate meaningful impact through future leadership roles. Successful fellows are expected to return with skills and knowledge that directly benefit conservation practice, policy development, and institutional strengthening across Africa.
Purpose and Focus of the Fellowship
The Fonseca Leadership Program in Africa supports candidates whose professional paths align with practical, on-the-ground conservation outcomes. The fellowship prioritises individuals whose academic pursuits will strengthen real-world conservation efforts rather than purely theoretical research.
The most suitable candidates are those whose work and future plans reflect a clear understanding of local environmental challenges and the capacity to contribute to sustainable solutions. The programme is structured to support leadership development, collaboration, and long-term conservation impact.
Candidates selected for the fellowship are expected to embody the following qualities:
- Deep and genuine commitment to conservation within their country or region
- At least five years of relevant work experience in conservation-related roles
- Demonstrated leadership potential and initiative
- Strong collaboration skills across sectors and disciplines
- High levels of self-motivation and professional discipline
- An applied conservation focus with clear national or regional benefits
- Career readiness for advanced academic training and institutional impact
Eligibility Requirements
Only nominated applicants will be considered for this fellowship, and unsolicited applications will not be reviewed. All nominees must meet specific eligibility criteria to be considered competitive within the selection process.
Eligible candidates must be citizens of a Global Environment Facility recipient country in Africa. In addition, all applicants must be nominated by a pre-approved and eligible nominator.
Approved nominators may include:
- Government officials
- Senior officials from intergovernmental agencies
- Academic professors
- Senior conservationists within international conservation organisations
- Senior conservationists within selected national conservation NGOs
Applicants do not need to have secured admission into a graduate programme at the time of application. However, selected fellows must plan to begin their academic studies no later than October of the year following the award.
2026 Call for Nominations
The call for nominations for the 2026 Fonseca Leadership Program in Africa is now open. The application process will take place in two structured stages to ensure thorough review and assessment of candidates.
- Stage 1 involves the submission of a short-form application, which is due on February 6, 2026
- Stage 2 requires shortlisted applicants to submit a long-form application, due on March 30, 2026
- Final scholarship decisions are expected to be announced by June 2026
Nomination and Application Process
The nomination process is mandatory and forms the foundation of the application. Each approved nominator is permitted to submit only one nomination during the call period.
To obtain approval for a proposed nominator, interested applicants must submit the required information via email. The submission must include:
- A brief summary of the proposed nominator, including name, job title, place of employment, and role
- An abridged curriculum vitae of the proposed nominator, limited to four pages
Once the nominator is approved, official nomination forms will be provided to both the nominee and the approved nominator. These forms will require completion of short-answer questions, submission of an abridged curriculum vitae for the nominee, and provision of three letters of recommendation.
Referees may include academic advisors, professional supervisors, or other individuals familiar with the applicant’s qualifications and conservation experience.
FAQs
Who can apply for the Fonseca Leadership Program in Africa?
Only individuals who are formally nominated by an approved nominator and meet the eligibility requirements can apply.
Is prior admission into a university required?
No prior admission is required at the application stage, but successful candidates must begin studies by October following the award.
Can more than one person be nominated by the same nominator?
No. Each nominator is allowed to submit only one nomination.
What level of study does the fellowship support?
The fellowship supports both Masters and Ph.D. degree programmes aligned with applied conservation.
When will final decisions be announced?
Final scholarship award decisions are expected by June 2026.
Send your email to kmastro@wcs.org
