The Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) is a global training and capacity-building initiative supporting early-career conservationists from biodiverse countries. Established through a partnership between BirdLife International, Fauna & Flora, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, CLP strengthens conservation leadership through funding, mentorship, training, and long-term professional support. Since 1985, the programme has empowered thousands of practitioners, contributing to species discoveries, protected area designations, local conservation organisations, and policy development. Future Conservationist Award The Future Conservationist Award provides up to US$15,000 for early-career teams implementing applied conservation projects. Funding supports ecological research, community engagement, policy-relevant action and leadership skills development. Teams must comprise early-career conservationists (with fewer than five years of professional experience) who show strong leadership potential and a commitment to long-term biodiversity protection. Awardees also gain access to CLP’s international training and a lifelong alumni network. How to Apply All applications must be submitted via the online portal by Friday, January 9, 2026, 11:59 PM GMT.Key requirements include: • Applications must be in English• Emailed submissions will not be accepted• Applicants must use the Step-by-Step Guidelines on the portal• Projects must meet all eligibility criteria• Country eligibility must be confirmed before submission• Applications must be complete, original and prepared by the applicant team• Teams may request feedback from CLP Alumni Reviewers between 10 November and 5 December 2025 Eligibility Criteria Team Requirements • Minimum of three team members• All must be nationals of the project country (one non-national may be justified if essential)• Each member must have fewer than five years of conservation work experience• No educational minimum is required• No member may be a paid employee/contractor of BirdLife, Fauna & Flora, or WCS• Volunteers at partner organisations must disclose this and explain project independence• Individuals may participate in only one CLP project at a time• Diversity, equity, and inclusion are strongly encouraged in team composition Project Requirements • Must take place in an eligible low- or middle-income country• Duration must be 3–12 months• CLP funding requested must not exceed US$15,000 and must cover at least 50% of total budget• Project must target globally important, at-risk species or habitats• For multi-species projects, each taxonomic group studied must include at least one at-risk species• Work must be new, not an extension of an existing project• Must go beyond academic research conducted for a degree• If laboratory work is included, it must be clearly conservation-critical Considerations for a Strong Proposal CLP recommends allocating:• 70% effort to sections marked “Important for Proposal”• 30% effort to background sections Successful applications should demonstrate: • Clear English communication• A capacity-building plan for each team member• Integration of gender and diversity considerations• SMART objectives (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)• A strong Theory of Change• A balanced combination of research and conservation action• Strong links to national or regional conservation priorities• Target sites that are conservation priorities (e.g., KBAs, IBAs, Ramsar Sites, AZE Sites)• A plan for how project outcomes will influence conservation beyond the project timeline Budget Considerations • Up to US$2,500 may be allocated for team per diems (not consultants)• Contingency must not exceed 5% of the total budget• Training costs must be clearly justified CLP Does Not Fund • Conference attendance or academic tuition• Consultants• Projects initiated by CLP partner organisations• Gene storage or captive breeding (except in rare justified cases)• Any form of plagiarism or fraudulent submissions Judging Criteria Applications are evaluated based on Team and Project Delivery, across four core criteria: Feasibility • Realistic aims, appropriate methods and achievable within timeframe• Cost-effectiveness and strong value for money• Clear outputs such as reports, publications or education tools• Demonstrated collaboration with communities, institutions and government Technical Capacity • Appropriate ethical methods• Experienced advisors supporting the team• Clear demonstration of each team member’s skills and leadership potential• Interdisciplinary strengths Conservation Impact • Alignment with national biodiversity strategies• Long-term relevance to local conservation efforts• Tangible benefits to stakeholders• Influence on environmental awareness or behaviours Diversity, Equity and Inclusion • Inclusive stakeholder participation• Engagement with underrepresented groups• Participatory approaches such as community workshops• Equal learning opportunities for all team members• Use of local languages where appropriate Support Resources • CLP video tutorials on eligibility and non-fundable items• Step-by-Step Application Guidelines• Alumni Reviewers (available 10 Nov–5 Dec 2025)• CLP staff support for feasibility questions• Conservation Project Manual and fundraising guides in multiple languages DOWNLOAD RHE CALL FOR APPLICATION HERE For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.