WWF’s Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN) aims to strengthen conservation efforts globally by supporting current and aspiring university faculty in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Through educational funding, EFN enhances local and regional expertise in conservation, promoting equitable and accessible leadership and scientific capacities.
The grant focuses on enhancing the Higher Education sector's capacity by supporting doctoral studies in natural and social science and other conservation-related fields for university faculty who are either currently employed or affiliated with universities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. It ambitions to bolster the recruitment, retention, scaling, and sustainability of academic and research expertise. By fostering strong faculty members, the grant aims to improve knowledge exchange, mentorship, curriculum design, and scientific research and dissemination. Grant recipients, known as WWF Train Fellows, are expected to contribute to developing scientific expertise within their home country or region, principally to train upcoming conservation leaders. Funding support is up to $30,000 annually for a maximum of two years, with the total amount awarded varying by application.