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
- | she/her
- 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
- @christine
- | She/Her
A wildlife biologist currently engaging in counter wildlife trafficking through tracking wildlife crime cases in Kenya - Tsavo. An elephant lover, passionate about empowering people and a tech enthusiast!
- 1 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 4 Groups
- @csugarte
- | Miss
I am a PhD student working on human-carnivore conflict and coexistence
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 3 Groups
Researcher in wildlife conservation, hydrology and meteorology
- 1 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 2 Groups
- @Jackeline
- | She
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 7 Groups
A wildlife scientist, focusing mainly in primates conservation & research, Community-based conservation and ecosystems management.
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 6 Groups
- @RHugtenburg
- | He/They
Student at Aberystwyth University. Bug Fanatic🪲. Worked at Octophin Digital for my industrial year placement 🐙.
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 20 Groups
- @nancyalice
- | she/her
Conservation Communicator | Technology for Wildlife Foundation (TfW)
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 10 Groups
- @CynthiaGw
- | Her/she
Hi, Cynthia Gichimu here. I'm a conservationist, and a champion for youths. I believe in environmental sustainability for posterity. I volunteer as a Project Officer with the Friends of Kinangop Plateau, a community-based local action group committed to biodiversity conservation.
- 1 Resources
- 2 Discussions
- 6 Groups
- @Mary_Waithira
- | she/her
I am a conservation enthusiast who aims at learning more about conservation and its technology. My research interests lie in wildlife conservation in anthropogenic landscapes.
- 1 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 9 Groups
University of Suffolk
Researcher on the 8 Primates Project, building a library of primate calls for bioacoustic surveys
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 7 Groups
- 2 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 8 Groups
- 1 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 13 Groups
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
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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
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My research sought to determine whether Acacia xanthophloea (yellow fever) trees allocate more resources to physical defenses, like spines, in areas where herbivore activity is high. This involved an experimental study...
14 November 2023
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October 2023
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Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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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 | 2 minutes 17 seconds 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) | 1 month 3 weeks ago | |
Super, I'll be in touch soon! |
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Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT) | 2 months 3 weeks 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) | 3 months 4 weeks 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 1 week 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 1 week 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) | 5 months 3 weeks 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 1 week 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 |