Call for applications: Fully-funded Life through Wildlife Fonseca fellowships for MPhil in Sustainable Development

Ednah Carrick July 9, 2025

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Closing Date: 31 July 2025

Call for applications: Fully-funded Life through Wildlife Fonseca fellowships for MPhil in Sustainable Development

This call for applications is for the Life through Wildlife Fonseca Fellowships for MPhil in Sustainable Development with a focus on community conservation and the wildlife economy in Africa

Background

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) funds the Fonseca Leadership Program, which provides scholarships to conservation professionals from developing countries. The Life through Wildlife (LtW) Fonseca fellows are one group of conservation professionals funded through this programme. The LtW Fonseca Fellowship Programme strives to enable conservation professionals to be change agents, who can contribute new knowledge and work towards transforming community-based natural resource management and wildlife economies in Africa. This is vital because a weak understanding of wildlife governance and economics limits the livelihood and conservation benefits of current community conservation initiatives.

With enhanced human capacity, there is potential to develop an inclusive, profitable wildlife economy in the savannas of Africa, using the wildlife economy to expand national economies and the livelihoods of marginalized communities through inclusive, deliberative sustainable wildlife governance that includes participatory budgeting and sharing of benefits at the household level.

Call for applications

Up to four Life through Wildlife Fonseca fellowships will be offered to conservation professionals from SADC countries who are eligible for submission to the part-time MPhil in Sustainable Development offered by the Centre for Sustainability Transitions. Successful candidates will conduct their research on a topic related to community conservation or the wildlife economy that is directly related to the work that they are already involved in.

Funding

Jamma Conservation & Communities is administering the LtW Fonseca Fellowship Programme and has an agreement with the Centre for Sustainability Transitions to cover full tuition fees, including registration and module fees for the MPhil in Sustainable Development at Stellenbosch University. Jamma will pay independently for fellow travel to and accommodation in Stellenbosch for the in-person taught modules during the MPhil programme. Support for research costs will be assessed on an individual basis, as it is expected that research should be directly related to existing work and largely supported by employers. As this funding is designed for working professionals, there is no support provided for living costs.

Requirements

Citizen of a country in Africa, preferably a SADC country.
Full-time employment as a conservation professional in the fields of community conservation or the wildlife economy in Africa with employer support for undertaking an MPhil degree with requirements for in-person taught components and data collection.
Either a Postgraduate Diploma (NQF level 8) in Sustainable Development from Stellenbosch University or a qualification equivalent to an Honours-level degree (NQF level 8) with preference for an average mark of 65% or higher.
In a position to influence policy or practice related to community conservation or the wildlife economy.

To apply

If you meet the above requirements, then please following the below procedure:

Fill in the Microsoft form at this link: https://forms.office.com/r/qQ41RX7S2L.
Send the below documents to [email protected] with the following included in the subject line “Fonseca_Fellow_Application”. Please note that the file names of each of the documents should start with your surname e.g. Mandela_CV.pdf; Mandela_degree certificate.pdf etc.
A motivation letter detailing your skills, experience and areas of research interest and how they are relevant to this call.
A detailed CV that includes your academic record, previous work experience, any scientific publications on which you have been an author, and the names of at least two referees.
Copies of degree certificates and academic transcripts.
At least one example of recent written work (e.g. a report) in English.