Background

Conservation can’t happen if you don’t have the people to do it. It’s critical that we invest in the people that need to manage conservation work going forward. The Postgraduate Placement Project, which is funded by the WWF Nedbank Green Trust, introduces a new cadre of strong, confident, environmental professionals who promise to nurture the environment because the quality of all our lives depends on it.

The Postgraduate Placement Project places graduates either with WWF-SA or one of several partner organisations, and they are integrated into the organisation and trained to take real leadership roles in the environmental sector. Our partner organisations range from local conservation organisations, such as the Nature’s Valley Trust on the Garden Route, to large corporates, such as Nedbank in Johannesburg.

The project was developed in line with the environmental and socioeconomic policy framework of South Africa, which has adopted a more people-centred and equitable approach towards the environment and resource management. The project will be accepting more than 60 graduates in 2017. These interns will get to participate in meaningful work for the environment, gain valuable experience and join key communities of practice as they navigate their transition from student life to the working world.