CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROGRAM Developing the Future of African Conservation

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1 CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROGRAM Developing the Future of African Conservation A 24-month conservation management immersion program for highly qualified recent master s degree graduates

2 Conservation Management Training Program DEVELOPING THE FUTURE OF AFRICAN CONSERVATION Background and Purpose 1 Candidate Profile 1 CMTP Structure and Schedule 2 CMTP Remuneration and Benefits 3 Application Instructions 4 Selection Process 4 The Conservation Management Training Program (CMTP) will be geared toward high-potential future leaders in African conservation.

3 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE For more than 50 years, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) has been a key player in African conservation and sustainable development. Through our African Heartlands Program, AWF has defined large conservation landscapes that are essential to securing the future of Africa s wildlife. Within these Heartlands, AWF employs an integrated approach to conservation, including land use planning, education and capacity building, development of conservation enterprises to improve livelihoods, and applied research. Founded in 1961 at the height of the African independence movement, AWF (then known as the African Wildlife Leadership Foundation) was created to help newly independent African nations and people conserve their own wildlife. AWF s first approach was to train and educate African conservation professionals. AWF helped establish the College of African Wildlife Management, as well as wildlife clubs in a number of African countries, and has sponsored dozens of African scholars in their pursuit of master s and doctoral degrees in conservation. Consistent with our historic focus on conservation leadership development, AWF is now pleased to offer a program geared toward developing leadership capacity within AWF. AWF s 24-month intensive Conservation Management Training Program will recruit highpotential future conservation leaders from the best master s degree programs worldwide. During this program, trainees will spend time in AWF s Conservation Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, working directly with AWF s best thinkers, and be deployed at one or more AWF project sites across the continent to gain on-the-ground experience. Trainees will emerge from the program ready to serve as serious conservation professionals in African conservation. AWF s first approach was to train and educate African conservation professionals. CANDIDATE PROFILE The Conservation Management Training Program (CMTP) will be geared toward high-potential future leaders in African conservation who meet the following criteria: You are a recent master s degree graduate (within the last 3 years of CMTP start date) with studies focused on conservation science, environmental economics & policy, climate change, social entrepreneurship, and related fields. You have at least 1 year experience working on African conservation issues with a serious and demonstrable dedication to Africa and AWF s mission. You have superb writing and oral communication skills. Fluency in English is required. French is highly desirable. Familiarity with other language(s) relevant to work in Africa is also a plus. Conservation Management Training Program (CMTP) will be geared toward high-potential future leaders in African conservation. You are willing to be based in Nairobi with at least one long-term assignment at an AWF s Heartland project site (possibly remote) during the 24-month program. You are a well-rounded team player, who is energetic, driven to succeed, and comfortable working in sometimes challenging and culturally diverse environments. -1-

4 CMTP STRUCTURE AND SCHEDULE Stage 1: Orientation AWF s Systems and Conservation Methodologies 02 July September 2012 Conservation Management Training Program (CMTP) trainees will report to AWF s headquarters, the AWF Conservation Centre, located in the Karen suburb of Nairobi. Here they will receive an in-depth orientation to AWF s program, systems, tools, and staff. Working directly with AWF s program leadership, trainees will participate in one or more short desk assignments intended to produce tangible intellectual outputs for AWF, define the CMTP agenda for the following 21 months, and fully immerse trainees in AWF systems and organizational culture. Trainees will come away from this orientation period with a full grasp of the issues within each AWF Heartland, strong working relationships with AWF s key staff, and a set of personal learning/ development goals to be addressed during the program. Stage 2: Internship 01 October March 2014 Following the orientation period, the CMTP trainee team will be split, with half of the individuals progressing first to Schedule A and the other half moving first to Schedule B (description follows). Trainees will be assigned to groups based upon their skillset and capabilities so as to ensure balanced teams. All trainees will participate in both Schedules A and B during the 18-month internship period. Schedule A Technical Mentorship and Kenya Field Work 01 October June 2013 OR 01 July March 2014 Located at AWF s Conservation Centre in Nairobi, Schedule A will provide trainees with an intensive period of mentorship under some of AWF s technical leaders in conservation. Assignments will be made based upon each trainee s experience, interest, and education, and may include one or several of the following topics: Conservation biology / ecology GIS technology and Heartland mapping Climate change policy and best practices Program and financial management Grant writing and management Land use planning / land tenure issues Conservation enterprise development Community engagement best practices Program design and conservation planning New landscape scoping AWF s headquarters, the African Wildlife Foundation Conservation Centre, located in the Karen suburb of Nairobi. -2- In addition to Nairobi-based mentorship, trainees will be deployed to AWF project sites within Kenya to link theoretical work to real-world impact. Schedule A will be multidisciplinary and geared toward extending participants education beyond the classroom into practical application. Trainees will be expected to produce tangible intellectual capital during this 9-month period in the form of written reports, fundraising proposals and concept notes, technical manuals, and new ideas for future testing and application.

5 Schedule B Field Assignment 01 October June 2013 OR 01 July March 2014 Schedule B will embed trainees in one or more of AWF s Heartland project sites around the continent. Trainees will work with the Heartland teams to gain a realworld understanding of how conservation strategies are implemented. They will operate as regular staff members, complete with time-bound deliverables and reporting assignments. Trainees may or may not travel together during Schedule B, with specific assignments being based on need, funding, and the skills/interests of each individual. Program participants should be prepared to function in difficult working conditions. Stage 3: Planning AWF s Future Reflection, Documentation and Career Planning 01 April June 2014 Following Stage 2 of the program, CMTP participants will reconvene at AWF s Conservation Centre in Nairobi for a final 3-month period of reflection and documentation. Trainees will help pre-screen and interview the next class of CMTP applicants, recommending 20 exceptional finalists for consideration by AWF s senior management team. Trainees will then work as a team to produce a holistic report on AWF s operations and challenges, and recommend new ideas/strategies/bestpractices for AWF s future work. This final report will allow CMTP participants to leave a lasting impact not only on AWF, but on conservation as it is practiced in the context of Africa. This period will also serve as the stepping stone for trainees Trainees will work with the Heartland teams to gain a real-world understanding of how conservation strategies are implemented. into their longer-term career in conservation. Beginning 01 January 2014, those completing their CMTP will be eligible to apply for opportunities within AWF in fields such as conservation program management, conservation enterprise, community engagement, and program design. While no longterm position is guaranteed, successful trainees will receive CMTP REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS -3- first priority consideration for any position coming open during the last 6 months of the program. Further, CMTP graduates will receive special consideration for employment with AWF throughout their careers. AWF s Conservation Management Training Program (CMTP) is an intensive assignment requiring a long-term and unwavering commitment over the 24-month period. In addition to invaluable training and experience, AWF will offer the following: 1 roundtrip economy class air ticket between trainee s home city and Nairobi, Kenya. Conveniently located housing in Nairobi for use while stationed at AWF s Conservation Centre. Housing (appropriate to station location) while stationed at Heartland program site(s). Laptop computer for use while participating in the CMTP (to remain the property of AWF). US$2,000 per month stipend. Individual medical coverage.

6 APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS SELECTION PROCESS Individuals wishing to be considered for AWF s Conservation Management Training Program must apply by 6 April 2012 by submitting the following: a) AWF Conservation Management Training Program Application Datasheet; b) Cover letter describing (1) applicant s personal link to conservation in Africa, and (2) justification as to why s/he should be considered for the program (not to exceed 2 pages); c) Curriculum Vitae (not to exceed 2 pages); d) Summary of applicant s Master s thesis/project and its relevancy to AWF s mission and work (not to exceed 3 pages); and e) 3 professional and/or academic references. Application materials should be well written and presented in a professional manner. Application items b through e should be consolidated into a single PDF document. Applications will be accepted via only to the following account: [email protected] 6 April 2012 Application deadline 9 13 April 2012 Application shortlisting 16 April 4 May 2012 Interview process 18 May 2012 Notice to successful candidates 25 May 2012 Signed acceptance letter due from candidates 31 May 2012 Notice to alternate candidates (if necessary) 2 July 2012 Program start date (arrival in Nairobi, Kenya) For questions on the program or clarifications on the application process, please contact: Evelyn Wanyonyi Director of Human Resources [email protected] African Wildlife Foundation Conservation Centre Ngong Road Karen P.O. Box 310, NAIROBI, KENYA Tel: Fax: Photo Credits: Amy Cobden, Paul Thomson, Mohammed Hashim, Greg du Toit and AWF. -4-

7 The African Wildlife Foundation, together with the people of Africa, works to ensure the wildlife and wild lands of Africa will endure forever.

8 African Wildlife Foundation Conservation Centre Ngong Road Karen P.O. Box 310, NAIROBI, KENYA Tel: Fax: Sixteenth Street NW Suite 120 WASHINGTON, DC 20036, USA Tel: Toll free: Fax: