AWF opens 2027 Geospatial Leaders Fellowship for conservation GIS staff

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) has opened applications for the 2027 cohort of its Geospatial Leaders Fellowship, a ten-month Pan-African programme for mid-level GIS professionals working in conservation. Applicants come from NGOs, government agencies, research institutions and community-based organisations. The listed application deadline is 14 December 2026.

Eligibility is limited to nationals who also work in one of eleven countries: Cameroon, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia and the DR Congo. Candidates need a minimum of two years of practical GIS work in conservation, natural resource management or a related area.

Each candidate must be attached to an organisation that will host a capstone project and must supply an employer letter confirming full participation. The fellowship combines virtual sessions, self-paced learning, mentorship check-ins and the capstone, and fellows must be able to attend an in-person workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, on 13-20 June 2027.

AWF has said it is seeking six fellows for this second cohort, which runs from March to December 2027. Applications go through AWF's online portal.

Why it matters: The fellowship offers a structured route into technical and leadership training for conservation GIS staff in eleven African countries, with a capstone project that benefits their employers. With only six places and a deadline about five weeks away, eligible practitioners need to move quickly.

Sources: Opportunities For Africans