Apply Now: Women in Conservation Technology Programme – Tanzania

They’re seeking ten early-career Tanzanian women to participate in a six-month programme that includes two in-person workshops and virtual training courses. These sessions will equip you with foundational skills in technological solutions to overcome pressing wildlife conservation challenges.

In East Africa, women are historically underrepresented in the conservation sector. They believe that empowering underrepresented groups to become leaders in conservation technology generates innovative ideas, novel solutions, and diverse perspectives that engender conservation success. This programme seeks 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. They also aim to support women in the conservation community by creating a connected network of women working with conservation tech tools across Tanzania and East Africa more broadly.

This programme has two primary objectives: First, they 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, they 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.
• 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, the 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.

Expectations

• Up to ten participants will be funded for in-country travel and on-site accommodation during the two in-person workshops. Contributions to childcare costs during these sessions are possible. Participants are required to attend the complete range of programme dates (workshop 1: June 2-8; workshop 2: December 3-7) and must submit a letter of support from their current supervisor acknowledging that the applicant has secured permission to attend both in-person and virtual trainings. A certificate will be issued upon completion.

Eligibility Requirements

This programme is designed for early-career women in the conservation field. Applicants must:

• Be a Tanzanian national and identify as a woman.
• Be at least 18 years old and have completed a Diploma or B.Sc. in Wildlife Conservation, Forestry, Environmental Science, Zoology or a related area.
• Have less than three years of professional experience in the conservation field (not including time spent on education).
• Be passionate about conservation and curious about technology. Individuals with a demonstrated interest in securing a position as a research assistant, field programme staff, or pursuing an advanced degree related to conservation science are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Individuals already employed with a conservation organization are encouraged to apply, with the support of their supervisor.
• Be able to commit to both in-person workshops and participate in virtual programming.

For more information, visit WILDLABS.