article / 3 April 2023

Apply now: Women in Conservation Technology Programme, Tanzania

Are you an early career Tanzanian conservationist looking to explore emerging conservation technologies while networking with a strong cohort of other female leaders? Apply now for our Women in Conservation Tech Programme!

This program will select ten early career Tanzanian women for a three-month training, including two in-person workshops and a conservation internship placement, focused on technological solutions to overcome pressing wildlife conservation challenges in Tanzania. All participants will be funded for in-country travel and on-site accommodation.

To apply, complete the application form and submit with the supporting documents to [email protected] with the subject line: “Women in Conservation Technology Application”. Applications close on April 30 2023, Midnight EAT.

Have questions? Get in touch with Victoria Mkessa at [email protected]

About the Programme

Technology holds the potential to help conservationists better understand and mitigate critical environmental threats. Camera traps, acoustic sensors, and networked devices improve the efficiency, scale, and quality of data collection; powerful reporting software can generate novel conservation and management insight. While devices are gaining popularity as they become cheaper and easier to use, the knowledge to employ such tools is not equally accessible.

In Tanzania, women are historically underrepresented in the conservation sector. We believe that empowering underrepresented groups to become leaders in conservation technology  generates innovative ideas, novel solutions, and diverse perspectives that engender conservation success. As such, we seek to equip Tanzanian women with foundational knowledge in conservation tech to advance their careers while spreading awareness of novel solutions to their networks and home organizations. We also aim to support women in the conservation community by creating a connected cohort of women working with conservation tech tools across Tanzania and East Africa more broadly.

We are now accepting applications for our Women in Conservation Technology Programme: Tanzania

We are accepting applications to participate in our Women in Conservation Technology Programme: Tanzania, a three-month experience in which a cohort of early career women will be selected to explore technological solutions to overcome conservation challenges. This programme has two primary aims: the first is to introduce participants to a diversity of hardware, software, and data management tools used for wildlife monitoring, wildlife protection, and resource management, so that they may effectively use these tools in their own work. The second is to arrange opportunities for professional development and networking to empower a community of women working in conservation technology across this region.

This programme is run by Grumeti Fund via Research and Innovation for the Serengeti Ecosystem (RISE), WILDLABS, and Fauna & Flora. The Grumeti Fund is a non-profit organization carrying out wildlife conservation and community development work in the western corridor of the Serengeti ecosystem. RISE is a Grumeti Fund program aiming to develop research that targets tangible solutions for conservation problems and contributes to developing the next generation of Tanzanian conservation scientists. WILDLABS is the global online hub for conservation technology, providing connections, resources and training to conservationists, researchers and engineers around the world. Fauna & Flora is an international NGO dedicated to protecting the planet's threatened wildlife and habitats. An overarching aim of Fauna & Flora is to provide capacity building programs that empower people to embrace new approaches to conservation.

Programme details

Participants will attend two in-person workshops at the Grumeti Fund with the first running for five days and the second for three days. During the three-month interim period between workshops, we will facilitate virtual and in-person professional development training. Additionally, participants will have opportunities to continue engaging with the cohort and broader networks of women and conservational professionals in Tanzania after the completion of the program. 

The first workshop in June will provide an immersive introduction to hardware and software tools used for wildlife monitoring, wildlife protection, community engagement, and resource management. The program will have mentorship and networking sessions where participants can interact with other female leaders in the conservation technology field. 

Over the subsequent three months, WiCT will support the participants as they facilitate the uptake and use of technological tools to advance conservation practice. Participants who are not currently involved with a conservation organization will receive an internship placement that will enable them to engage with conservation technology. During this time, participants will engage with virtual programming on WILDLABS which will provide further opportunities to develop their conservation tech skill sets and connect with their cohort and regional mentors. 

In October, the cohort will reconvene for a three-day workshop to share their experiences on the practical application of conservation technology tools in their work, highlighting their successes,challenges, and future goals. This meeting will also be an avenue for the participants to deepen connections and relationships within and beyond the cohort.

And after the programme’s formal conclusion, the WILDLABS platform will serve as an invaluable meeting point. Through our WiCT groups, cohort members will continue to connect with each other, as well as with women from our previous Kenyan cohort and future cohorts, including one based in Tanzania that is slated to commence later in 2023. With dedicated spaces for all of our cohorts to engage and support each other, and with access to a global audience of their fellow conservation tech users and makers, their successes, collaborations, and positive impacts in the field will reach far beyond their own regions through WILDLABS. 

Benefits and expectations

Participants will find mentorship, build meaningful connections with the regional and global conservation technology community, and gain valuable professional development and job experience. Up to ten participants will be funded for in-country travel and on-site accommodation. Contributions for childcare costs during workshops are possible. Participants must be available to attend the complete range of program dates (workshop 1: June 25 - July 1; workshop 2: TBD). The program will be taught in a combination of Swahili and English and a certification will be issued upon completion. 

Eligibility requirements

This program is geared towards early-career women in the conservation field, although women at later stages of their conservation career are welcome to apply. Applicants must:

  1. Be a Tanzanian national and identify as a woman.

  2. Be at least 18 years old and have completed a Diploma, B.Sc., or M.Sc. in Wildlife Conservation or a related area. 

  3. Be passionate about conservation and curious about technology.

  4. Have a demonstrated interest in securing a position as a research assistant, field program staff, or pursuing an advanced degree related to conservation science. Individuals already employed with a conservation organization are encouraged to apply.

  5. Be able to commit to both in-person workshops and internship (if applicable), as well as participate in virtual programming. 

How to apply

Applicants must submit the following materials via email to [email protected]

with ‘Women in Conservation Technology Program Application’ in the subject line.

  1. Completed application document (see below) 

  2. Scanned copy of Diploma/B.Sc./M.Sc. certificates

  3. One letter of reference from a lecturer, employer, or mentor that can speak to your career aspirations and interests.

  4. Copy of National Identification Card or Passport

  5. CV or other supporting material 

Reference writers – please clarify your relationship with the applicant in your submission and comment upon their suitability for this position and how it would benefit the applicant’s career goals. Please email your signed recommendations to [email protected] and reference the name of the applicant in the subject line.

Applications are due by midnight EAT on 30 April 2023. Fellowship recipients will be announced by 15 May 2023. For questions or inquiries, contact Victoria Mkessa at [email protected]

Learn more about the Women in Conservation Technology Programme

The Women in Conservation Technology programme was launched in 2022 with the overarching goal of supporting East African women in the field of conservation technology.  

If you're considering applying to our Women in Conservation Tech Programme: Tanzania, we'll leave you with some advice from our graduating cohort: 

  • “I would advise them to embrace technology and gain these important technology skills as it is needed in conservation, today's conservation world needs technology” 
  • “Just as the sky is big enough for all your dreams, the tech space is big enough for you! take time to explore what you want and need and you will find tech tools aligning with your purpose and goals” 
  • “Be open and ready to dive into a whole new and exciting world of conservation technology!” 

 


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