Across WCS, our field programs understand that building local capacity to plan, implement, evaluate and adapt conservation actions is key to sustaining conservation over the long-term. In support of these efforts, Conservation Support staff manage scholarship and training programs to strengthen individual and organizational management capacity, within WCS and our partner organizations around the world. We also offer direct support to our programs in the field in the design, implementation and evaluation of capacity-building projects and activities.

As part of a WCS strategy to find and invest in the next generation of conservation leaders, the Graduate Scholarship Program (GSP) provides scholarships for exceptional conservationists from Asia/Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and North American indigenous groups to complete masters and doctoral degrees at the highest-standard universities. WCS staff, or individuals working with WCS partner organizations, are nominated for scholarships by WCS country program directors. Scholars are selected based on their potential to become conservation leaders and the extent to which their training will contribute directly to WCS conservation objectives. For further information, please contact Kate Mastro.

The Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) is a partnership of WCS, BirdLife International, Conservation International and Fauna & Flora International. The program offers approximately 20 Future Conservationist Awards (up to $12,500 each) to teams of early-career conservationists to support their efforts to conserve a species or site of global conservation concern. The program also supports Internships that provide future conservation leaders with on-the-job training and exposure to the day-to-day workings of a conservation NGO, while simultaneously providing CLP partners (such as WCS) with talented and committed interns. Please visit the CLP website for detailed Team Awards eligibility criteria and guidelines. For other information on the CLP Conservation Team Awards and the CLP Internship Program, please contact Christina Imrich.