Young Conservation Leaders Awards

For the last 30 years, BirdLife has supported early-career conservation professionals to become the conservation leaders of the future. Now, building on the success of the Conservation Leadership Programme, and with funding from the British Birdfair, we are launching a programme to develop the skills and capacity of early-career conservation leaders to conserve Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) now, and into the future.  

The BirdLife-Birdfair Young Conservation Leaders Awards aim to build the skills and capacity of the next generation of conservation leaders.

Awards in 2017 will be granted to teams of young conservationists to support conservation projects at Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas. Teams will receive £10,000 of grant funding, the opportunity to attend an international management and leadership training course, and mentoring and career development support throughout their projects and beyond. In 2017, awards will be granted in Africa.

Projects should improve local knowledge, skills and attitudes concerning conservation, and reduce threats to biodiversity. The results from the projects should inform national action plans and international conservation priorities.

Teams should consist of at least three early-career conservationists (with less than 5 years’ experience) that demonstrate strong links to the BirdLife Partnership in their countries.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to make contact with the National BirdLife Partner in their country before developing their proposal. Projects should demonstrate strong links to the BirdLife Partnership at national or local levels.

Find here the Application form.

How to apply

• Download the application form and Application Guidance document here.
• Thoroughly read the Application Guidance prior to filling out the application form. Pay special attention to the eligibility criteria for projects and project teams.
• Applicants must meet each of the criteria outlined in the eligibility criteria.
• The application form must be completed fully by the team leader and must be in English.
• billy.fairburn@birdlife.org by Sunday, 22nd January 2017.
• If you have any questions, check out our FAQs