Call for applications for the 2017 Kinship Conservation Fellows programme

Kinship Conservation Fellows is accepting applications for its environmental leadership training programme. The programme targets mid-career conservation practitioners who are interested in applying market-based solutions to environmental challenges.

The month-long, residential programme is delivered by a faculty of global experts using a case study approach in which participants design and evaluate market-driven conservation approaches through discussions, system-thinking exercises and peer-learning sessions. The programme provides Fellows with the tools to lead conservation programmes by demonstrating the power of market-based tools and collaborative practices. Through real-world examples, Fellows learn how to adapt and apply similar strategies to their own work.

The programme is open to conservation leaders with at least 5 years of experience. Successful applicants will be familiar with business and economic principles and work in a setting where these principles can be integrated with conservation work. ‘The fellowship offered a much richer understanding of the impact investment sector than I could ever have gained on my own, and in an interactive, applied-learning format that integrated the knowledge into my everyday practices. The perspectives and skills I gained during the fellowship allowed me to exercise a broader leadership role within my organization and beyond’ said 2015 Fellow Emy Brawley.

The 2017 programme will take place in Bellingham, Washington, USA, from 25 June to 26 July 2017. Visit kinshipfellows.org for more information about the programme, full eligibility requirements, and to access the online application form. The deadline for applications is 16 January 2017.

The Rapid Response Facility

The Rapid Response Facility is an emergency funding mechanism that supports the conservation of natural World Heritage sites in times of crisis. A partnership between the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and Fauna & Flora International (with funding provided by Fondation Franz Weber and the Arcadia Foundation), the fund aims to protect the biodiversity value of natural World Heritage sites.

Successful applications will address an emergency situation within a designated or tentative UNESCO natural World Heritage site in a non-OECD country. The Rapid Response Facility has a clear definition of emergency. The proposal must demonstrate that an immediate response is critical to mitigate the impacts of the emergency, and clearly explain how support will make a significant and measurable contribution to reducing the threats identified.

In order to provide rapid support in times of crisis, the Rapid Response Facility has a target decision time for grant applications of 8 working days. Grants of up to USD 30,000 are awarded for projects of up to 6 months duration. There is no deadline for the submission of applications, which are received on a rolling basis, in response to need. Government organizations, NGOs or other institutions are all eligible to apply as long as official endorsement from the relevant site management authority is provided. Applications are accepted in English, French or Spanish.

To date the Rapid Response Facility has provided support in a range of emergencies in natural World Heritage sites, including natural disasters, armed conflicts and illegal infrastructure development. For example, in June 2016 the Facility provided support to the Wildlife Conservation Society to tackle severe forest fires at a site in Cambodia that were threatening the integrity of the site and its globally significant populations of breeding birds.

More information on eligibility, including the Rapid Response Facility definition of emergency and instructions on how to apply, are provided at www.rapid-response.org.