Nominations open for Tusk Conservation Awards (Africa)

The Tusk Conservation Awards celebrate individuals and teams driving on-the-ground biodiversity conservation across Africa. The 2026 awards include the Prince William Award, Tusk Conservation Award, and Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award, with a total of £225,000 in grants recognizing leadership, innovation, community engagement, and measurable long-term impact. Winners are honored at a high-profile ceremony in London, with grants paid to their registered organisations over three years.

Overview

The Tusk Conservation Awards recognise exceptional contributions to African conservation, focusing on:

• Leadership and strategic vision

• Collaborative approaches with local communities

• Innovation and problem-solving

• Mentorship and capacity-building

• Long-term measurable conservation outcomes

The programme honours conservationists working on local, impactful initiatives and encourages scalable and replicable solutions across the continent.

Award Categories and Criteria

1. Prince William Award

Target Group: Senior conservationists with a minimum of 25 years’ experience, or equivalent career commitment for African nationals.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Proven leadership and strong conservation legacy

• Measurable long-term impact and behaviour change

• Succession planning and mentorship of emerging conservationists

• Organisational capacity-building and local community collaboration

• Exclusions: self-nominations, posthumous nominations, purely academic research, animal welfare work, or solo practitioners

Award Benefits:

• Prince William Award trophy

• £100,000 grant to the recipient’s registered organisation, payable over three years

2. Tusk Conservation Award

Target Group: Mid-career conservationists with at least 10 years of experience in African conservation.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Demonstrated conservation outcomes in the past 5–10 years

• Strong leadership, dedication, and innovation

• Collaboration with local communities and potential for scaling initiatives

• Exclusions: self-nominations, posthumous nominations, academic-only roles, solo practitioners, and animal rehabilitation-focused work

Award Benefits:

• Tusk Conservation Award trophy

• £75,000 organisational grant payable over three years

3. Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award (New for 2026)

Target Group: Individual rangers or formal ranger teams active on Africa’s conservation frontlines.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Individuals: African citizens with at least 10 years cumulative ranger experience, operationally active within the past 12 months

• Teams: Recognised units with shared leadership, accountability, and operational responsibilities

• Marine/coastal rangers in protected areas are eligible

• Exclusions: ad hoc groups, entire organisations without shared operational focus

Assessment Criteria:

• Leadership, integrity, and courage under challenging conditions

• Commitment beyond duty and community relationship-building

• Team nominations evaluated for cohesion, adaptability, and sustained impact

• Each nomination must include at least three references, with two local referees

Award Benefits:

• £://www2.fundsforngos.org/category/biodiversity/” title=”biodiversity” data-wpil-keyword-link=”linked” data-wpil-monitor-id=”153803″>biodiversity protection

• Supports scaling of successful conservation solutions and strengthens community engagement

• Encourages recognition of frontline rangers and teams safeguarding wildlife in challenging environments

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Nominating individuals who do not meet the minimum experience criteria

• Submitting self-nominations or posthumous entries

• Including nominees focused solely on academic research, animal welfare, or solo work

• Failing to provide sufficient references, especially local endorsements for ranger teams

• Ignoring the requirement for formal organisational or team structure in nominations

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who can be nominated for the Prince William Award? Senior conservationists with at least 25 years’ experience or African nationals with equivalent commitment, showing leadership, mentorship, and long-term impact.
2. What is the grant amount for mid-career conservationists? £75,000 paid over three years.
3. Can a team of rangers apply? Yes, formal ranger teams with shared responsibilities and operational cohesion are eligible.
4. Are marine and coastal rangers eligible? Yes, if actively engaged in conservation or enforcement within protected areas.
5. Are self-nominations accepted? No, self-nominations are excluded across all award categories.
6. What are the judging criteria for the Wildlife Ranger Award? Leadership, integrity, courage, resilience, community engagement, and sustained teamwork.
7. When and where are winners honoured? Award recipients are formally recognised at a ceremony in London, with grants awarded to their registered organisations.

Conclusion

The Tusk Conservation Awards provide global recognition and funding to exceptional African conservationists, mid-career leaders, and frontline ranger teams. By highlighting innovation, leadership, and measurable impact, the awards strengthen biodiversity conservation efforts, foster mentorship, and support sustainable solutions that benefit both wildlife and communities across Africa.