The Grumeti Fund is a non-profit organization tasked with carrying out the wildlife conservation and community development work in and around 350,000 acres of the Ikorongo-Grumeti Game Reserve complex (IGGR). With a team of 170 dedicated staff managing and protecting the concessions, remarkable conservation accomplishments have been achieved since 2003, including a four-fold increase in elephants and ten-fold increase in buffalo. In 2019, Grumeti Fund launched a new research program, Research and Innovation for the Serengeti Ecosystem (RISE), whose mission is to develop and support research targeting tangible solutions to benefit the people and wildlife of the Serengeti ecosystem and beyond. A core component of this program is contributing to the development of the next generation of conservationists in Tanzania. In Tanzania, women are underrepresented in the conservation and field research community. We believe that the inclusion of women in conservation and scientific research will directly contribute to improved outcomes. At RISE, we seek to prepare Tanzanian women to pursue opportunities in the conservation and scientific communities via skill development and by creating a network of women working in the conservation sector across Tanzania. The Grumeti Fund and RISE are requesting applicants for participants in the first inaugural ‘Women in the Field’ program, a skills-based program designed for Tanzanian women interested in pursuing careers in conservation science.
The three-week program will prepare participants in how to:
1) collect various modes of social and ecological data,
2) best practices for data recording and maintenance,
3) coordinate research logistics, and
4) develop professional skills. In addition, the program will provide the opportunity to create and maintain connections with women in the conservation sector across Tanzania.
Benefits and expectations
The program will sponsor travel, accommodation on site, and a modest stipend. Contributions for child care costs are possible. Up to six participants will be selected. Participants must be available to attend the complete range of program dates (10 Nov – 1 Dec). The program will be taught in a combination of Swahili and English. Following program completion, participants will be asked to remain in contact with RISE and provide periodic updates as to their educational and career accomplishments.
How to apply
Applicants must submit the following materials via email to KristenS@grumetifund.org, referencing ‘RISE WIF Program’ in the subject line.
1. Completed application document
2. Scanned copy of A-level certificate (and tertiary diplomas, if applicable)
3. One letter of reference from a teacher, employer, or mentor. Reference writers – please clarify your relationship with the applicant in your submission. Please email your signed recommendations to KristenS@grumetifund.org and reference the name of the relevant applicant in the subject line. Applications are due by September 30, 2019. The recipients will be announced by October 7, 2019. Program dates are November 10 – December 1, 2019.
Eligibility requirements Applicants must:
1. Be a Tanzanian national, and a woman.
2. Have completed and passed A-level exams. Tertiary education is not required, but those with tertiary diplomas (BSc or MSc) are welcome to apply.
3. Be passionate about conservation.
4. Have a demonstrated interest in securing a position as a research assistant, field staff, or pursuing a tertiary degree related to conservation science. For questions or inquiries, contact Kristen Denninger Snyder at KristenS@grumetifund.org
Please find application form for your action
