While progress has been made to address the shor2all of adequate exper7se
at higher educa7on in many countries, locally led and relevant solu7ons are
s7ll needed to recruit, retain, scale, and sustain academic and research
exper7se at ins7tu7onal and country levels.
WWF’s Russell E. Train Educa7on for Nature Program (EFN) provides funding
support to current and aspiring university faculty that are affiliated with or
currently employed at African, Asian, and La7n American and Caribbean
universi7es. This opportunity is for doctoral degree study in natural and
social science and other conserva7on-related fields. Strong university faculty
is fundamental for effec7ve exchange of knowledge, exper7se and skills, and
leadership. Faculty members inspire and mentor students, design curricula,
promote learning and idea sharing, lead and collaborate on research, and
disseminate scien7fic outcomes.
WWF Train Fellows must enhance, expand, or support the development of
intergenera7onal scien7fic exper7se at a university in their home country or
region. In doing so, WWF aims to improve the capacity of local and regional
faculty to ac7vate the training of current and future conserva7on leaders,
leading to more equitable and accessible conserva7on science capacity,
educa7on, and leadership for the benefit of people and nature. Fellows will
also have an opportunity to join the expansive global community of EFN
alumni to enable knowledge exchange and collec7ve success.
Applicants may apply for up to three years of funding and request up to
$30,000 per year. The amount of funding approved will vary. Accepted
applicants will be no7fied in June 2026.
Eligible Countries
This fellowship is open to applicants from
eligible countries within WWF-US priority
areas.
§ Belize
§ Bhutan
§ Bolivia
§ Brazil
§ Cambodia
§ Cameroon
§ Central African Republic
§ Chile
§ Colombia
§ Dem. Republic of Congo
§ Ecuador
§ Fiji
§ French Guiana
§ Gabon
§ Guatemala
§ Guyana
§ Honduras
§ Indonesia
§ Kenya
§ Laos
§ Madagascar
§ Malaysia
§ Mozambique
§ Myanmar
§ Namibia
§ Nepal
§ Paraguay
§ Peru
§ Republic of Congo
§ Suriname
§ Tanzania
§ Uganda
§ Vietnam
§ Zambia
Deadline: December 18, 2025
11:59 PM US Eastern Time
CURRENT
AND ASPIRING
UNIVERSITY
FACULTY
FELLOWSHIPS
© kichigin19 / Adobe Stock
RUSSELL E. TRAIN EDUCATION FOR NATURE PROGRAM 2
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible.
§ You must be an applicant of an eligible country.
§ You must have at least two years of conserva7on-related work or research/academic experience.
§ You must have an exis7ng affilia7on with a college or university in an eligible country and demonstrate
collabora7on and strategic partnership with country and/or regional ins7tu7ons. Priority will be given to
individuals affiliated with underserved universi7es.
§ You must have a demonstrated commitment to working in academia in an eligible country. For example,
commitment to providing targeted mentorship and guidance to early career conserva7on leaders and
scien7sts.
§ You must be enrolled in or admiZed to a PhD program in-country or anywhere in the world.
§ You must plan to begin your studies no later than January 2027.
§ You must contact EFN if you are a WWF employee, consultant, or previous EFN grant recipient to determine
eligibility.
§ You must submit all required documents by the applica7on deadline (December 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM US
Eastern Time).
Focus Areas
The fellowship aims to bridge academic excellence and conserva7on research to provide hands-on experience,
learning, and training opportuni7es. The proposed research topics may cover a wide range of themes. Finalists will be
iden7fied through a compe77ve selec7on process and scored based on a set of criteria including, but not limited to,
the following areas:
§ Academic and professional contribu7ons/poten7al: applicant’s commitment to their academic, research, and
professional development.
§ Strength and quality of the research proposal: uniqueness of proposed topic, relevance, and detailed plan of
ac7on. The proposed work demonstrates an understanding of the fellowship’s ra7onale. The proposed research
work highlights the intent to explore solu7ons at the interface of climate, conserva7on, people, and sustainable
development; the proposed ac7vi7es are feasible within the proposed work plan and realis7c budget.
§ Individual and collec7ve impact: the applicant’s ability to succeed in conserva7on research and leadership; short
and long-term impacts as well as las7ng conserva7on outcomes beyond proposed academic/research
7meframe. The proposed work aims to engage diverse stakeholders, including gender mainstreaming and
involvement of local and indigenous communi7es. The applicant demonstrates poten7al to build partnerships
and ac7ve engagement with local communi7es, academic, research, and prac77oners.
§ Project measurability: the proposed research has measurable outcomes and outputs.
§ Collabora7ons: the applicant’s demonstrated poten7al to enhance partnerships beyond the proposed objec7ves
and 7meframe.
§ Recommenda7on leZers: the applicant meets the specific criteria for the fellowship with specific examples
which demonstrate the applicant’s abili7es.
RUSSELL E. TRAIN EDUCATION FOR NATURE PROGRAM 3
Applica4on Process
The call for applica7ons will close on December 18, 2025 by 11:59 PM US Eastern Time. An overview of the grant
7meline is below.
§ December 18, 2025: Deadline for submissions of applica7ons in the portal
§ January-April 2026: Selec7on process
§ June 2026: Successful applicants informed
§ July-August 2026: Contracts signed, and grants issued