About the Programme 

The third session of our Women in Conservation Technology Programme will be a six-month training programme for early career Tanzanian women. Selected participants will explore technological solutions to regional conservation challenges. This programme has two primary objectives: 

• First, we aim to familiarize participants with a diversity of hardware, software, and data management tools to empower participants to apply these technologies effectively in their own work. 

• Second, the programme offers leadership training, professional development opportunities, and networking platforms to cultivate a supportive and inspiring community of women working in the conservation technology sector across East Africa. 

This year, the Women in Conservation Technology programme is run in partnership by the Grumeti Fund’s Research and Innovation for the Serengeti Ecosystem (RISE), the WILDLABS Conservation Technology Community, and the international wildlife NGO, Fauna & Flora. 

Programme Details

Participants will attend two in-person workshops at the RISE field institute in the Serengeti. During the five-month interim between workshops, we will facilitate virtual skills building and professional development training. After completing the programme, participants will have ongoing opportunities to engage with their cohort, the Women in Conservation Technology alumni community, and broader networks of women and conservational professionals across East Africa.

The first workshop, scheduled for June 3-7 2024 (arrive June 2 and depart June 8), will offer a hands-on introduction to hardware and software tools currently used for wildlife monitoring, wildlife protection, and human-wildlife mitigation. Led by field experts, this workshop will also include leadership training and networking sessions where participants can connect with established female leaders in the East African conservation technology sector.

The Mentors Shaping our Third Cohort of the Women in Conservation Technology Programme in Tanzania

This year, the program has chosen three expert women across diverse disciplines within conservation technology in Tanzania to run technical training sessions, as well as mentorship and career guidance activities, as they share their knowledge and experiences to empower the emerging generation of female Tanzanian conservation technology leaders. Get to know who our mentors are for this year’s programme by checking out their profiles below. 

The Outstanding Women in Our Third WiCT Cohort 

This year, we’re welcoming eleven early-career Tanzanian women in conservation, selected through a competitive review process. The cohort comprises extraordinary conservationists with a predominantly wildlife management background ranging from human-wildlife conflict mitigation to biodiversity monitoring. Each woman has a unique experience, perspective, and drive toward applying various technological tools to solve conservation-related challenges across biodiverse Tanzania. 

The outstanding women joining this year’s programme are excited to network among peers with similar interests and career pursuits and learn in a supportive, all-female environment from experienced Tanzanian experts setting the pace in conservation technology. All participants will be funded for in-country travel and accommodation. Get to know our cohort for this year’s programme by checking out all eleven of their profiles below. 

Benefits and Expectations

Over the subsequent five months, the programme will support the participants as they apply and integrate technological tools into their conservation practice. Participants will take part in virtual trainings on WILDLABS to further develop their conservation tech skill sets while maintaining active connections with their cohort and mentors.

The cohort will reconvene for a three-day workshop December 4-6 2024 (arrive Dec 3 and depart Dec 7) on innovation and impact, exploring emerging tools and the future of the conservation technology sector. Participants will share their experiences on applying conservation technology tools in their work, highlighting their challenges, successes, and defining their future goals as conservation technology leaders. 

And after the programme’s conclusion, WILDLABS will serve as a vital hub for continued support, connection, and collaboration. Through dedicated virtual groups, our alumni network can sustain connections and access a global audience of fellow conservation technology practitioners. This platform offers opportunities to share conservation journeys, form new collaborations, and highlight positive impacts of technology in the field that will reach the worldwide WILDLABS community.

Follow Along as we Embark on this Journey...

As we launch the first in-person workshop for our third Women in Conservation Technology Programme in Tanzania, we invite you to follow our cohort on their journey. Join the Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT) WILDLABS Group to keep up to date with the programme activities. Daily updates will also be posted on our X, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages. Follow along to learn more!