The West Africa Mammal Partnership (WAMP) and Fellowship (WAMF) programs were established to address these gaps through various approaches, collectively aiming to reverse the trend of biodiversity loss in the regions and secure a future for small mammals in West Africa. The program is unwavering in its commitment to the principle of generating and relying on conservation evidence to guide effective intervention strategies. The Mammal Partnership represents a collaborative effort spanning multiple regions and international institutions and universities.
Moreover, local partners within each region actively engage in recruiting and collaboratively supervising fellows as part of ongoing projects. Fellow support is a joint effort involving both local and international partners within WAMP. Consequently, fellows benefit from the guidance of mentors in-country and internationally. Alongside mentorship, the program offers training in practical field techniques, refreshers on specialized ecology topics, and skills development in GIS, statistics, and molecular techniques. Additionally, fellows receive a mini-grant and access to necessary equipment.
This program aims to enhance the research and conservation skills of West African postgraduate students in the realm of small mammal studies, achieved through a two-stage process: (1) a classroom and field course, and (2) a mentorship program.
Benefits:
- Research grant
- Book and equipment loans
- Mentorship from distinguished scientists
- Networking and collaboration opportunities
- Integration into the West Africa Mammal Partnership post-Ph.D.
- The Fellowship duration aligns with the postgraduate studies.
- Bilingual communication – English and French, applicable to the field course and all communications.
Requirements:
- Applicants must be accepted or enrolled in a postgraduate program at a West African University.
- The applicant’s supervisor must be affiliated with the West Africa Mammal Partnership.
- Applicants should have a strong interest in small mammal research and conservation.
- The proposed research for postgraduate students must be conducted in West Africa and focus on small mammal studies and conservation.
- Applicants must be available to participate in a 2-week intensive field course.
Selection Process:
- Applicants are required to fill out the online application form before the specified deadline.
- A team of conservation and research experts will review all applicants.
- Selected applicants will be contacted for an all-expenses-paid 2-week field course.
- All applicants are required to submit carefully designed project proposals within 2 weeks of the post-field course.
- Approved projects will be notified, and recipients will be awarded fellowships.
- Fellows will be assigned mentors and become eligible for all associated fellowship benefits.
Method of Application:
For More Information,
Application Deadline: January 25, 2024.
