Submit Applications for Fonseca Leadership Program

WWF, through the Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN), provides funding support to current and aspiring conservation researchers, leaders, and practitioners to gain the knowledge, expertise, skills and leadership critical in developing conservation interventions to address challenges to people and nature across the globe.

The Global Environment Facility is dedicated to enhancing the capacity of developing countries and economies in transition to addressing environmental and sustainable development challenges. Fellows will also have an opportunity to join the expansive global community of EFN alumni to enable knowledge exchange and collective success.

Focus Areas

• The Fonseca Leadership Program is open to current and next generation of researchers and practitioners in Latin America to pursue graduate-level studies (master’s and PhDs). The research topics may cover the following areas/themes, but examples are not limited to this list:
  • Focus applied conservation: specifically courses of study and research that ground students in ‘real world’ conservation challenges therefore providing training that will be critical for the early career researchers to design and implement conservation action.
  • Focus on ecological and socioeconomic context of biodiversity conservation and why the proposed work is needed at local, national, and regional levels.
  • Emphasis on gender dimensions, equity, and inclusion.
  • Build on partnership and active engagement with local communities, academic research, and practitioners.
  • Consider human dimensions in conservation and sustainable development: community-based conservation and science, indigenous people’s knowledge systems, emphasis on enhancing local expertise, skills, and knowledge.

Funding Information

• Applicants may apply for up to two (master’s) and three (PhD) years of funding and request up to $30,000 per year.
• The amount of funding approved will vary.
• Accepted applicants will be notified by May 2025.

Eligible Countries

• The fellowship is open to nationals of eligible countries within WWF-US and the GEF priority areas, who are already enrolled/are interested in enrolling in a master’s or PhD program:
  • Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru and Suriname.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must meet all the following criteria to be eligible:
  • You must be a citizen and legal permanent resident of an eligible country.
  • You must preferably have at least two years of conservation-related work or research experience.
  • You must be enrolled in or admitted to a master’s or PhD program in-country, across the region, or internationally.
  • You must plan to begin your studies no later than January 2026.
  • You must contact EFN if you are a WWF or GEF employee, consultant or previous EFN grant recipient to determine eligibility.
  • You must submit all required documents by the application deadline.

Selection Criteria

• Finalists will be identified through a competitive selection process and scored based on a set of criteria including, but not limited to the following areas:
  • Academic and professional contributions/potential: applicant’s commitment to their academic, research, and professional development.
  • Strength and quality of the research proposal: uniqueness of proposed topic, relevance, and detailed plan of action. The proposed work demonstrates the fellowship’s rationale – Focus applied conservation and that the proposed research work highlights the intent to explore solutions that address ‘real world’ conservation challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean; the proposed activities are feasible within the proposed work plan and realistic budget.
  • Individual and collective impact: the applicant’s ability to succeed in conservation research and leadership; short and long-term impacts as well as lasting conservation outcomes beyond proposed academic/research timeframe. The proposed work aims to engage diverse stakeholders, including gender mainstreaming and involvement of local and indigenous communities. The applicant demonstrates potential to build partnerships and active engagement with local communities, academic research, and practitioners.
  • Project measurability: the proposed research has measurable outcomes and outputs.
  • Collaborations: the applicant’s demonstrated potential to enhance partnerships beyond the proposed objectives and timeframe.
  • Recommendation letters: the applicant meets the specific criteria for the fellowship with specific examples which demonstrate the applicant’s abilities.

For more information, visit WWF.