Apply for the Fully funded African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) Geospatial Leaders Fellowship 2027

Overview

The African Wildlife Foundation Geospatial Leaders Fellowship is a ten-month professional development programme spanning from March to December 2027. Designed for emerging geospatial and GIS professionals, the initiative seeks to address environmental challenges by strengthening the capacity of participants to translate data into conservation strategies. The programme combines virtual learning, self-paced activities, mentoring, and an in-person workshop in Nairobi, Kenya.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants must be citizens of and currently working in one of 11 specified African countries, namely Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, or Uganda. Candidates are required to hold a degree in Geographic Information Systems, geography, environmental science, natural resource management, or a related field. Applicants must possess at least two years of hands-on GIS experience in conservation, natural resource management, or a related sector, and must be employed by or attached to a government agency, non-governmental organisation, research institution, private-sector organisation, or community-based organisation. Additionally, candidates must provide an employer recommendation or support letter confirming organisational backing. The second cohort will select a total of six fellows.

What you get

Selected participants receive advanced GIS training, expert mentorship, leadership development, and practical project support. Technical training areas include modern Geographic Information Systems tools, geospatial data management, field data collection techniques, real-time GIS applications, satellite imagery and image analysis, spatial analysis and mapping, and the application of geospatial information in conservation planning. Fellows also develop an applied project addressing a conservation priority within their organisation, resulting in a practical geospatial product such as a conservation map, spatial model, interactive dashboard, or geospatial decision-support tool. Furthermore, participants gain access to a Pan-African professional network of conservation professionals and GIS specialists.

Key dates

Applications close on 14 December 2026. The programme runs from March to December 2027.