The Programme

Unlocking conservation potential for people and nature

The African Marine Conservation Leadership Programme is an online initiative designed to strengthen the impact of African marine conservation organisations by building the skills of their leaders to transform organisational capabilities. The first year of the fellowship brought together 17 outstanding conservation leaders from eight of the Western Indian Ocean’s leading national and local organisations, delivering conservation on and below the water.

The programme assesses the needs of local organisations across regional seascapes, and provides bespoke training, knowledge exchanges and information sharing platforms. Over a twelve month period leaders are supported with a blend of virtual and self paced learning that encourages peer-to-peer learning. One to one and peer coaching sessions are tailored to meet participants’ needs, along with tools to efficiently transmit specific skills back to their organisations.  The programme focuses on three levels of leadership:

  • Individual leadership: Understanding and strengthening personal leadership skills, managing relationships and wellbeing
  • Organisational leadership: Building and managing teams that deliver impact; strategic planning; effective communication and fundraising
  • Systems leadership: Developing skills to lead collaboration with multiple organisations and influence large-scale, systemic change

Maliasili specialises in building stronger conservation organisations. For nearly a decade the organisation has been enabling dynamic African conservation groups to develop strategies to overcome barriers and increase their effectiveness in conservation. Maliasili has a breadth of experience in supporting conservation leaders in marine and terrestrial conservation, including through the African Conservation Leadership Network.

Blue Ventures provides technical and development support to local marine conservation organisations across the region − from data analytics and unrestricted funding to strategy and fundraising support − while also sharing learning and best practice.