The Women in Conservation Technology Programme (WiCT) is supporting early career women conservation technologists around the world. Launched in Kenya in 2022, WILDLABS, Fauna & Flora International (FFI), and Ol Pejeta Conservancy (OPC) launched this programme with a goal of fostering, empowering and developing women conservation technologists and leaders in order to advance and strengthen conservation impact. With this programme, we are supporting women, who are recognized as key conservation stewards, to grow their skills, knowledge, and networks to then apply them in their own work and eventually mentor others in both their host institutions and in future cohorts to come.
The first cohort of this Programme was selected out of a field of 200 applicants. Our 15 emerging female Kenyan conservationists are now going through a 6-month training, aimed to equip them with foundational knowledge in conservation technology and to advance their potential for impactful conservation careers.
Our fantastic inaugural cohort and trainers from WILDLABS, FFI and OPC {Photo credits: Francis from Shades of Acacia Thorn Safaris}
Get to know our first cohort:
- Ann Wambui from Mugie Conservancy
- Christine Mwaniki Mwende from African Wildlife Foundation
- Consolata Gathoni Gitau from University of Nairobi
- Cynthia Waithera Gichimu from Friends of Kinangop Plateau
- Eunice Wanjiku Kamau from Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
- Janet Kavutha Simon from Giraffe Conservation Foundation
- Mary Waithira Ngugi from Mpala Research Center
- Naomi Kung'u from Action For Cheetahs in Kenya
- Zipporah Nyokabi Mureithi from Egerton University
- Phyllis Sherril Masudi from International Livestock Research Institute
- Rita Orahle from Loisaba Conservancy
- Rose Hakofa Abae from Wildlife Research Training Institute, Coastal and Marine Research Ecosystem Center
- Susan Lentaam from Loisaba Conservancy
- Susana Wachia Kihia from Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute:Oceanography and Hydrography department
- Wismer Cherono from Mpala Research Center
View the collection - Making Progress: Women in Conservation Technology Programme, Kenya
Group curators
- @Kungu
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- 1 Resources
- 9 Discussions
- 3 Groups
- @SueWachia
- | she/her
A marine environmentalist with diverse experience in collaborating on multidisciplinary & community-centred marine research focused on: fisheries management, blue carbon strategies, seagrass ecosystems, & ocean literacy.
- 1 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 7 Groups
- @Wismer_Cherono
- | She/Her
Senior Research Scientist and conservationist with a key interest in the conservation of birds through research.
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 5 Groups
- @EstherGithinji
- | She/Her
WILDLABS & Fauna & Flora
I am the WILDLABS East Africa Conservation Technology Coordinator
- 102 Resources
- 32 Discussions
- 4 Groups
Holder of BSc in Applied Zoology. Ecologist at Ruaha National park
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 2 Groups
- @TaliaSpeaker
- | She/her
WILDLABS & World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
I'm the WILDLABS Research Specialist at WWF-US
- 13 Resources
- 56 Discussions
- 24 Groups
Sustainability Manager for CERES Tag LTD. An animal health company; animal monitoring, conservation, & anti-poaching/ rural crime. Wildlife, livestock, equine & companion. #CeresTrace #CeresWild #CeresRanch
- 2 Resources
- 19 Discussions
- 24 Groups
Wildlife Drones
Wildlife Drones has developed the world’s most innovative radio animal-tracking system using drones so you can track your radio-tagged animals like never before.
- 11 Resources
- 8 Discussions
- 32 Groups
- @Kavutha
- | Her/She
- 0 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 7 Groups
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 2 Groups
- @HollyCormack
- | she/her
Biodiversity Knowledge Management Intern at the Biodiversity Consultancy Ltd
- 6 Resources
- 5 Discussions
- 6 Groups
Natural resource management scientist and conservationist with a key focus on biodiversity conservation, climate change, gender, wildlife, community empowerment, and sustainable development.
- 1 Resources
- 2 Discussions
- 1 Groups
- @ZoeDagan
- | She/her
I'm Zoe, an ecologist at the intersection of SaaS, conservation, and community science. I build programs and advance projects that accelerate solutions to our most urgent climate and conservation challenges.
- 0 Resources
- 4 Discussions
- 10 Groups
- @StephODonnell
- | She / Her
WILDLABS & Fauna & Flora
I'm the Executive Manager at WILDLABS.
- 152 Resources
- 665 Discussions
- 30 Groups
- @tkswanson
- | she/her
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Research Coordinator II for the Conservation Technology Lab at SDZWA
- 2 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 7 Groups
Hello, and welcome to this article. My name is Cynthia Waithera Gichimu, and I am passionate about bird conservation. I will share with you some of my experiences and insights as a volunteer with two amazing...
30 November 2023
Article
Read our interview with Clementine Uwamahoro, African Parks’ Country Manager in Conservation Technology overlooking technology operations for both Akagera National Park and Nyungwe National Park.
29 November 2023
In the sprawling African savannas, the Acacia xanthophloea takes the spotlight, weaving a tale of resilience against herbivores. The defense mechanisms of plants, such as spines, thorns, and prickles emerge as nature's...
28 November 2023
TagRanger® is a state-of-the-art wildlife finding, monitoring and tracking solution for research, conservation and environmental professionals. With superior configurability for logging data, reporting location and...
23 November 2023
The Women in Conservation Technology Programme, Kenya Cohort have made substantial progress towards their conservation tech objectives as pitched at the closing workshop in November 2022. We catch up with the cohort as...
14 November 2023
At KENVO's Environmental and Conservation Department, I was able to participate in detailed bird, biodiversity and threatened plant species monitoring in Kereita Forest as part of an ITF restoration project, as well as...
14 November 2023
My passion is in designing and implementing conservation projects that address conservation challenges in the grassroots. The WiCT Programme is exactly what I needed to realise and get a clear picture of my...
14 November 2023
Lewa-Borana Landscape (LBL) has over 490 bird species and using the pointers above, I have been able to develop a bird’s photo evidence database which is currently over 80%. The database helps us document the birds of...
14 November 2023
Article
Support from the WiCT Programme assisted me in pursuing research on the electric rhino fence effects on other wildlife species in Loisaba Conservancy. This project will provide insight into how the design of the fence...
14 November 2023
Leading the International Primates Day Awareness Celebrations in the TRPNR, Kenya's center for primate conservation and home to five of the nine primate species and three of the eleven primate subspecies on the Kenyan...
14 November 2023
Engaging in seagrass conservation research along the Kenyan coast with dynamic approaches that integrate the skills I gained from the WiCT Training as part of my Master’s (by thesis) in Zoology program at Stellenbosch...
14 November 2023
Gaining access to research equipment including a new laptop and hard disk has been a game changer for my master’s project. I am now able to carry out data analysis and communication of findings more efficiently.
14 November 2023
December 2023
Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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Hi All,I am Loveness Lamuel Mutungi. I hold a Bsc in Environmental sciences and management from Sokoine University of Agriculture. I am... |
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Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT), East Africa Community | 20 hours 29 minutes ago | |
Hi @emmahiggins , sounds like a great plan. Could you tell more about the content of the program, and perhaps the institutional context (which department(s) is(are)... |
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Build Your Own Data Logger Community, AI for Conservation, Autonomous Camera Traps for Insects, Biologging, Camera Traps, Citizen Science, Climate Change, Acoustics, Community Base, Connectivity, Conservation Dogs, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Data management and processing tools, Drones, Early Career, Earth Observation 101 Community, East Africa Community, eDNA & Genomics, Emerging Tech, Ending Wildlife Trafficking Online, Ethics of Conservation Tech, Footprint Identification Technique (FIT), Human-Wildlife Conflict, Marine Conservation, Open Source Solutions, Protected Area Management Tools, Remote Sensing & GIS, Sensors, Software and Mobile Apps, Sustainable Fishing Challenges, Wildlife Crime, Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT) | 2 days 8 hours ago | |
Thank you very much for this Esther. I also came across Trade in Wildlife Information Exchange (TWIX) which is a enforcement tool for international wildlife trade. |
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Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT), Citizen Science, Emerging Tech, East Africa Community | 1 week 4 days ago | |
I actually will be in Panama for an internship during June-July in the Azuero peninsula!! What organization are you both involved in? |
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Conservation Tech Training and Education, Early Career, Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT) | 2 months ago | |
Super, I'll be in touch soon! |
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Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT) | 3 months 1 week ago | |
You could look at WILDLABS' State of Conservation Tech research results! Shows ~⅓ of survey respondents are female (though this is obviously just a subset of the total people/... |
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Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT) | 4 months 1 week ago | |
IntroductionNairobi County, Kenya’s capital, has an initiative that reshapes the lives of animals—the Kenya Society for... |
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Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT) | 4 months 2 weeks ago | |
Hi folks! Happy 2024 and thanks in advance for your patience in case I over-used tags. If you’re using any form of natural language... |
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AI for Conservation, Citizen Science, Climate Change, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Data management and processing tools, Early Career, East Africa Community, Emerging Tech, Ending Wildlife Trafficking Online, Ethics of Conservation Tech, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Open Source Solutions, Software and Mobile Apps, Wildlife Crime, Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT) | 4 months 2 weeks ago | |
Hello Rob, I am hoping to have a follow-up soon on this, thanks for the boost!Chat soonNaomi |
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Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT) | 6 months ago | |
Conservation Training Programs:Tropical Biology AssociationTraining conservation leaders and giving them the skills and support they need to be effective on the ground. TBA... |
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East Africa Community, Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT) | 9 months 3 weeks ago | |
These are great materials to refer to. I just have to wrap my amateur brain around the technological words but I should be fine. Thank you Harold. |
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Conservation Dogs, Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT) | 1 year 2 months ago |
Meet Our Cohort & Mentors: Women in Conservation Technology Programme, Tanzania 2024
30 May 2024 1:16pm
Introduction and Networking
27 May 2024 4:29pm
Thoughts on new MSc in Conservation Technology
24 May 2024 3:54pm
Technology for Environmental Governance in Kenya
15 May 2024 8:36am
15 May 2024 10:55am
Hello @nyokabi great question! What I know of is the following, hope it's helpful:
- WildlifeDirect's “Eyes in the Courtroom” project, which monitors wildlife crime cases in court to inform and support improvements to environmental law and prosecution. Think it utilizes some sort of app software.
- MIKE
16 May 2024 9:03pm
Thank you very much for this Esther.
I also came across Trade in Wildlife Information Exchange (TWIX) which is a enforcement tool for international wildlife trade.
Voices of Sustainability: Perspectives from - Africa Wholesome Sustainability Explained: What is E-PIE
7 May 2024 3:06am
Hiring Chief Engineer at Conservation X Labs
1 May 2024 12:19pm
Delving into #tech4wildlife Innovation across East Africa with Sandra Maryanne & Catherine Njore
30 April 2024 11:37am
A Year of Supporting East African Conservation Technology: Lessons on How You Can Amplify #Tech4Wildlife
29 April 2024 10:52am
3 May 2024 4:14pm
9 May 2024 1:52pm
9 May 2024 1:53pm
Program Manager: Integrating movement and camera trap data with international conservation policy
22 April 2024 10:16pm
Starting a Conservation Technology Career with Vainess Laizer
16 April 2024 1:34pm
Celebrating #IWD2024 in Collaboration with SHE Changes Climate, Shortlist Futures & Women in Renewable Energy
9 April 2024 6:32pm
Apply Now: Women in Conservation Technology Programme, Tanzania 2024
25 March 2024 11:10am
Introduction + Mentorship/Research Partnership
20 March 2024 1:41am
20 March 2024 2:14pm
Me and @Hubertszcz are working on biodiversity monitoring for habitat restoration on the Azuero penninsula in August. I don't have any like paid research opportunities i know of myself, but if you find yourself in panama, im sure they can use help!
22 March 2024 2:28pm
I actually will be in Panama for an internship during June-July in the Azuero peninsula!! What organization are you both involved in?
Empowering women, protecting nature: Insights from WiCT 2023
22 March 2024 7:59am
A PHD POSITION AT NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY
27 February 2024 9:42am
WiCT active?
16 January 2024 9:14am
26 January 2024 2:17pm
Hi Paola! It's Meredith (former Pringle lab in Gorongosa) - great to see you here! Would love to touch base about the WiCT network and programming - we ran a similar programme to this in Gorongosa two years ago and are gearing up for another women's session in Gorongosa this August. It would be great to involve you if you're interested?
16 February 2024 1:30pm
Hi Meredith! let's definitely chat. my tel is +258-84-304-8602
18 February 2024 4:22pm
Super, I'll be in touch soon!
Adeeper look into the future of sustainable human-wildlife co-existence
22 January 2024 9:36am
Women in conservation technology
17 January 2024 12:58pm
18 January 2024 3:23pm
You could look at WILDLABS' State of Conservation Tech research results! Shows ~⅓ of survey respondents are female (though this is obviously just a subset of the total people/women in conservation tech, the subset being those who filled out the survey).
@EstherGithinji runs some of the WILDLABS Women in Conservation Tech programs so she would have lots of insights into this!
Data-Driven Insights into Canine Welfare and ConservationEfforts in Nairobi County
8 January 2024 8:15pm
Presentation opportunity: Text analysis for conservation (NACCB 2024)
8 January 2024 4:05pm
Spotlight on the Towering Marvels: Exploring the population dynamics of Reticulated Giraffes in Mugie Conservancy.
2 January 2024 1:48pm
Data dissemination to boost community-based conservation.
1 January 2024 9:07am
Understanding wildlife crimes in the Tsavo ecosystem...
31 December 2023 8:22pm
WICT2022: Bridging Gaps, Shaping Women in Global Conservation.
31 December 2023 2:03pm
Foraging behavior of the Vulnerable Somali Ostrich in Northern Kenya
22 December 2023 9:05am
22 December 2023 11:17am
Project support officer - Conservation Tech
11 December 2023 10:24pm
Data Viz Inspo for the Holidays
11 December 2023 8:42pm
My Experience and Takeaways at the 1st WildlifeScientific Conference
1 December 2023 4:42pm
Taking on the conservation Strides
1 December 2023 4:18pm
Conservation of Kikuyu Escarpment Forest
1 December 2023 12:38pm
26 May 2024 4:43am
Hi @emmahiggins ,
sounds like a great plan.
Could you tell more about the content of the program, and perhaps the institutional context (which department(s) is(are) going to offer the course, and which research programs or projects are related to it) , so we'll have something to orient our thoughts?