GDF Conservation and Communities Fellowship 2025 for Global South Leaders (Fully Funded) Deadline: 13 June, 2025

The Global Diversity Foundation (GDF), in collaboration with Common Purpose and The HumanEdge, has launched the second edition of the Conservation and Communities Fellowship (CCF) for 2025–2026. This seven-month hybrid (online and in-person) program is specifically designed for community-based conservation leaders from the Global South working at the intersection of biodiversity and livelihoods.

The 2025 CCF cohort will consist of 24 fellows, offering them mentorship, technical support, leadership development, and networking opportunities to help scale their impact. This fully funded fellowship is a transformative opportunity to build both personal leadership capacity and organisational resilience in conservation.

About the Program

The Conservation and Communities Fellowship (CCF) will run from November 2025 to May 2026. It provides a comprehensive leadership and capacity-building experience to selected fellows through online modules and a fully-funded in-person meet-up in Kenya. The program is rooted in equity, peer learning, and organisational development and includes:

• Mentorship training

• Leadership development

• Workshops on proposal writing, project management, and evaluation

• Seminars on policy and conservation discourse

• Post-fellowship support including mini-grants and mentoring

The fellowship is structured to respond to the unique challenges and contexts of grassroots leaders across the Global South. Through a contextual approach, it embraces indigenous knowledge systems and fosters horizontal learning among peers.

Eligibility Criteria

This opportunity is open to:

• Citizens of Global South countries

• Leaders working with local or grassroots organisations at the intersection of biodiversity conservation and community development

• Individuals committed to equitable, community-led environmental solutions

• People capable of engaging in both self-reflection and peer learning

• Candidates with the ability to commit to all online sessions and the in-person convening in Kenya

Participants must be able to articulate their learning needs and should demonstrate a commitment to long-term social and ecological change through local leadership.

Program Streams

Fellows will participate in four main learning streams:

1. Mentoring

Led by The HumanEdge, this stream develops mentoring skills to foster effective team and relationship building.

2. Leadership

Led by Common Purpose, fellows will learn to “Lead Beyond Authority”—a powerful framework for influencing change in cross-sectoral environments.

3. Capabilities & Capacities

This includes practical workshops on fundraising, proposal writing, project design, and monitoring and evaluation, guided by GDF’s technical team and CCF alumni.

4. Communities and Conservation

Fellows will explore critical discourse on conservation policy, community engagement, and knowledge-sharing.

Key Benefits

• Fully funded participation, including training, online materials, and workshop facilitation

• In-person convening in Kenya (with only a modest contribution from fellows toward travel costs)

• Skills development in leadership, mentoring, proposal writing, and project management

• Post-fellowship opportunities, including:

  • Seed grants

  • Intern hosting support

  • Co-publication opportunities

  • Ongoing mentorship

Timeline

• Application Deadline: June 13, 2025 (Midnight BST)

• Shortlisted Candidates Notified: July 25, 2025

• Final Participants Announced: August 10, 2025

• Program Starts: November 11, 2025

• Program Ends: May 7, 2026

Attend an Info Webinar

Two information webinars are scheduled for those interested in applying:

• May 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM CEST – Register here

• May 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM CEST – Register here

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the official GDF portal. You can find full application details and the application form on the official webpage linked below.

Apply here

Please read the fellowship information carefully before submitting your application.

For more information, visit the official call for applications website

If you’re a grassroots leader from the Global South working to protect biodiversity and improve community livelihoods, the GDF Conservation and Communities Fellowship 2025 is your chance to enhance your leadership, grow your network, and access the tools you need to scale your impact. Apply before June 13, 2025, and become part of a global movement of conservation changemakers!

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