Applications are now open for the fully funded 2026 AWF Geospatial Leaders Fellowship for African GIS professionals
Closing Date: 15 January 2026
Applications are now open for the fully funded 2026 AWF Geospatial Leaders Fellowship for African GIS professionals
Are you an African GIS professional ready to apply your skills where they matter most, at the intersection of conservation, climate, and sustainable development?
Well, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) Geospatial Leaders Fellowship is now open for applications, offering a fully funded 10-month opportunity to deepen your technical expertise while working on real-world challenges such as deforestation monitoring, wildlife corridor mapping, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and land-use planning.
AWF GIS Fellowship Overview
The AWF Geospatial Leaders Fellowship is an initiative crafted to empower the next generation of African Geospatial professionals dedicated to conservation. If you’re driven to use spatial data to protect biodiversity and guide sustainable development, this 10-month program is your launchpad. In partnership with ESRI, the fellowship delivers high impact technical training, real-world project experience, and personalized mentorship. Fellows will gain hands-on exposure to modern GIS tools and learn to design innovative solutions for Africa’s most urgent environmental and development challenges from mapping ecosystems to supporting climate adaptation strategies.
African Wildlife Foundation is eager to learn about your journey, your passion for geospatial innovation, and the impact you’re ready to build in conservation.
Eligibility
This AWF Geospatial Leaders Fellowship call is for African GIS professionals under 35 with a relevant degree and at least two years of experience in GIS or the environmental sector, currently working with an organization that has clear GIS application needs. Six fellows will be selected for the 2026 cohort to take part in a blended learning experience, combining an intensive online program, an in-person workshop in Nairobi, and the delivery of a practical project aligned to institutional priorities.
You are the right fit for this program if you meet the following requirements.
- You are between the age of 18- 35 years old and a citizen of any of the following African countries. (Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda, DRC, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Senegal, Tunisia, Kenya)
- You work with an organization that has clear needs and opportunities for GIS applications, such as a government agency, NGO, conservancy, or research institution.
- You hold a degree in GIS, Geography, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.
- You have at least two years of experience in GIS or the environmental sector
- You are actively championing conservation, whether through action, project implementation, research, or policy initiatives. (Priority consideration will be given to candidates and organizations working on projects that directly benefit landscapes.)
If you are ready to turn spatial data into decision-making tools that shape Africa’s conservation and development future, apply by 5:00 PM EAT on 15 January 2026 via the online application form. Eligible countries include Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Senegal, Tunisia, and Kenya.
Learn more about the programme through this link here:
How to Apply
- Click the Apply button on the right. You’ll be prompted to CREATE AN ACCOUNT.
- Use your official name and a reachable email address to set up your account.
- Once you’re in, begin your application. You can save your progress and log back in anytime using your email and password.
Click Here To Apply
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