Whitley Awards 2026 for Grassroots Conservation Leaders (£50,000 prize) – YOA

Deadline: October 31, 2025

Applications are open for the Whitley Awards 2026 for Grassroots Conservation Leaders. The Whitley Awards fund grassroots conservation leaders within the Global South and put a global highlight on winners’ work.

Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) is a fundraising and grant-giving nature conservation charity. Established in 1993, it has channeled £23 million to 200 conservation leaders in 80 international locations throughout the Global South, benefitting wildlife, landscapes, and folks. They supply long run, laddered assist to brave changemakers main native options to the worldwide biodiversity and local weather crises; they’re appearing on the most recent science and igniting tasks with ardour. Through these award winners they assist work rooted in communities that creates lasting advantages for wildlife, landscapes and folks.

Award

• Whitley Awards are value £50,000 GBP in challenge funding over one 12 months.

Eligibility

• Whitley Awards are for dynamic, mid-profession conservationists who’re main wildlife conservation tasks within the Global South.
• Winners are nationals of the nation during which they’re working who’re in search of to scale up confirmed work, that’s embedded in the local people and would profit from additional funding, a profile increase and worldwide assist.
• To be eligible, tasks should contain communities on the grassroots degree and ship sensible motion that’s based on science.

WFN will fund:

• Not High Income Economy international locations – Wildlife conservation tasks led by native leaders based mostly in international locations which are not outlined as a High Income Economy by the World Bank. Exceptions to this criterion embrace Equatorial Guinea and sure island nations within the Caribbean.
• Nationals with native assist – The Whitley Awards assist nationals of the nation during which they’re working (i.e. you have been born there or have lived there a very long time and achieved nationwide standing.) If you aren’t a nationwide however consider you may have an distinctive case based mostly on long run residency (15+ years) and a demonstrable dedication to that nation/area, then please contact WFN.
• They search grassroots conservationists who’re embedded in and/or from the communities the place they work. Applicants ought to work for or lead regionally included NGOs within the Global South, reasonably than be in-nation workers employed by NGOs headquartered within the Global North.
• Good communicators and passionate folks – individuals who will encourage others and importantly, who will collaborate and share outcomes. Please be aware candidates should be capable of talk in English.
• Leadership and teamwork – Whitley Awards are gained by people backed by an acceptable workforce/organisation. Individuals working in isolation and workforce/joint entries should not eligible.
• Projects which are based mostly on scientific proof and understanding – this may be within the chief, experience on the workforce, or through companions/collaboration.
• Work involving (and benefitting) the local people and stakeholders is crucial.
• Ecosystem / panorama degree tasks are most well-liked. Genuine flagships are accepted, however not if outcomes are purely species-particular.
• Projects should be capable of show previous success and an proof-based mostly method. They don’t fund pilot tasks or work that’s initially-up stage.
• Grassroots, pragmatic work that’s practical, however formidable too. They look for candidates on the cusp of ‘something big’ and work that’s replicable or scalable.
• Actions that may have clear, measurable outcomes – they appear for purposes which have given cautious thought to what indicators may be measured to proof affect.
• Sustainable tasks – they need the work to proceed into the long run, effectively previous the Whitley Award. Successful proposals will show lengthy-time period planning.
• Projects that show worth for cash and skill to handle funding on the Whitley Award degree (£40,000). Organisations with Audited Accounts are most well-liked.
• Projects for which an Award will make a massive difference. Priority will likely be given to those who can show want.
• Work that wants publicity – ones that may do effectively if ‘doors can be opened’ through the media and enhanced recognition.

Application

Applications for the 2026 Whitley Awards are presently open and shut at midnight GMT on 31 October 2025.

Click here to apply

For extra data, go to Whitley Awards.