Fonseca Leadership Program 2026 in Africa

Job Description

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Applications are now open for the Fonseca Leadership Program 2026, a prestigious graduate scholarship opportunity supporting emerging African conservation leaders. Through the support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Graduate Scholarship Program is offering this leadership programme to individuals seeking to pursue a Master’s or Ph.D. degree in conservation-related fields.

The programme is designed for practical, field-focused conservation professionals whose career goals are rooted in real-world environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development across Africa.

About the Fonseca Leadership Program

The Fonseca Leadership Program 2026 aims to strengthen conservation leadership in Africa by supporting talented individuals who demonstrate commitment to applied conservation practice. Successful candidates will receive support to begin graduate studies and develop leadership skills that contribute to long-term environmental impact.

Applicants do not need to have secured admission into a graduate programme at the time of application, but must plan to commence studies no later than October of the year following the award.

Eligibility Criteria

Only nominated applicants will be considered for the Fonseca Leadership Program 2026. Unsolicited applications will not be reviewed.

All candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Be nominated by a pre-approved and eligible nominator
• Be a citizen of a GEF-recipient country in Africa
• Demonstrate strong commitment to applied, on-the-ground conservation work
• Have clear career goals focused on practical conservation rather than purely academic research

Eligible nominators include:

• Government officials
• Senior officials from intergovernmental agencies
• Academic professors
• Senior conservationists within Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
• Senior conservation professionals from WWF, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Conservation International (CI)
• Senior conservationists within selected national non-governmental organisations

Nomination and Application Process

The application process for the Fonseca Leadership Program 2026 will take place in two stages and is administered through the WCS Graduate Scholarship Program.

Stage One

• Submission of a short-form application
• Deadline: February 6, 2026

Stage Two

• Applicants approved from Stage One will be invited to submit a long-form application
• Deadline: March 30, 2026

Final Selection

• Scholarship award decisions are expected to be announced by June 2026

Nominator Approval Process

Interested applicants must first obtain approval for their nominator. To request approval, applicants should email the following information to the WCS Graduate Scholarship Program contact:

• A brief summary of the proposed nominator, including name, job title, organisation, and role description
• An abridged Curriculum Vitae of the proposed nominator, not exceeding four pages

Once approved, nomination forms will be shared with both the applicant and the approved nominator.

Required Nomination Documents

The nomination package for the Fonseca Leadership Program 2026 includes:

• Short-answer questions
  • Five questions completed by the nominator
  • Three questions completed by the nominee
• An abridged Curriculum Vitae for the nominee, maximum of four pages
• Three letters of recommendation
  • Referees may include academic advisors, supervisors, or professionals familiar with the applicant’s qualifications and experience