1. Education for Nature

Russell E. Train Fellowships

Russell E. Train Fellowships support individuals pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in conservation and related fields. Each year, WWF supports committed conservation leaders and scientists from target countries to receive financial support for their studies and research.

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2024 Fellowship: Food Systems

The social, cultural, economic, and environmental dimensions of food systems and transformation at the national level

WWF’s Russell E. Train Education for Nature (EFN) Program invites applications from aspiring and experienced researchers, practitioners, and leaders to pursue graduate-level studies (master’s degree and PhD) geared towards research that cultivates a better understanding of the place-based nature of food systems and transformation. There is substantial evidence at the global scale of the urgent need for food system transformation, but less attention has been paid to how transformations toward more healthy and sustainable food systems might play out at the national level.

The aim of the Food Systems Fellowship is to support outstanding master’s or doctoral students to develop evidence-based, innovative, and interdisciplinary research on food systems at the national level to catalyze the process of generating an improved understanding of the country-specific nature of food systems and transformation. Fellows will also have an opportunity to join the expansive global community of EFN alumni to enable knowledge exchange and collective success.

The fellowship is open to nationals of eligible countries within the WWF-US priority areas: Belize, Brazil, Bhutan, Bolivia, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Dem. Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guiana, Gabon, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Congo, Suriname, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam who already enrolled/are interested in enrolling in a master’s or PhD program. Applicants may apply for up to two years of funding and request up to $30,000 per year. The amount will vary.

The deadline to submit an application is December 18, 2023 by 11:59 PM US Eastern Time. Applicants should submit their completed proposals via this link. Applicants may apply for up to two years of funding and request up to $30,000 per year. The amount of funding approved will vary. Accepted applicants will be notified by early May 2024. Any questions about the application process or program should be directed to [email protected].

View full grant guidelines in PDF version. EN ESPAÑOL

APPLY HERE

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2024 Fellowship: Current and Aspiring University Faculty

To strengthen local capacity in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and Caribbean, WWF’s Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN) seeks to support current and aspiring faculty members to pursue their PhD in-country, regionally, or globally. The objective of this competitive fellowship is to advance the development of a critical mass of outstanding and well-trained experts, natural and social scientists, and practitioners who will continue to increase the learning, research, and engagement in conservation science and leadership.

The fellowship is open to nationals of eligible countries within WWF-US priority areas who are already enrolled/are interested in enrolling in a PhD program. Eligible countries include: Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Dem. Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guiana, Gabon, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Congo, Suriname, Tanzania, Uganda, and Vietnam.

The deadline to apply is December 18, 2023 by 11:59 PM US Eastern Time. Applicants should submit their completed proposals via this link. Applicants may apply for up to three years of funding and request up to $30,000 per year. The amount of funding approved will vary. Accepted applicants will be notified by early May 2024. Any questions about the application process or program should be directed to [email protected].

View full grant guidelines in PDF version. EN ESPAÑOL

APPLY HERE

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2024 Fellowship: Conservation Science Capacity and Leadership 

Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Uganda

WWF’s Russell E. Train Education for Nature (EFN) Program invites applications from the current and next generation of conservation scientists, leaders, and practitioners to pursue graduate-level studies (master’s degree) focused on dimensions of human-wildlife conflict and coexistence in Uganda. The growth of human populations combined with expansion of settlements and agricultural land has increasingly resulted in widespread conflicts between people and wildlife. Long-term resolution of human-wildlife conflict and co-existence calls for effective multifaceted, interdisciplinary, practical and socio-culturally relevant approaches and solutions. This competitive fellowship aims to strengthen the in-country capacity of outstanding and well-trained experts, natural and social scientists, and practitioners to undertake academic and field-based training to address issues of human-wildlife conflicts.

This fellowship is open to Ugandan nationals who are enrolled in, admitted to, or have applied to a master’s program at an accredited institution of study in Uganda and that already possess a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (i.e., biology, ecology, conservation, zoology, geography). The master’s research will focus on developing solutions for human-elephant conflict around the northern border of Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda.

The deadline to submit an application is December 18, 2023 by 11:59 PM US Eastern Time. Applicants should submit their completed proposals via this link. Applicants may apply for up to two years of funding and request up to $15,000 per year. The amount of funding approved will vary. Accepted applicants will be notified by early May 2024. Any questions about the application process or program should be directed to [email protected].

View full grant guidelines in PDF version. 

APPLY HERE

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For More Information

For more information, please e-mail us at [email protected]. EFN's Facebook page is also an opportunity to learn about grant availability and other program news.