A jury representing five FSS partner organisations selected the three KfW Stiftung Fellows who will receive funding to bring their projects to life. This year’s grants go to Zambia, Guyana and Madagascar!
👏 One of the 2025 grant winners is Jacob Mphasi 🇿🇲 from Zambia. His project focuses on enhancing fence management in North Luangwa National Park to protect the critically endangered black rhino by:
✅ Improving the monitoring of existing fences to detect and repair damage efficiently
✅ Piloting innovative fencing solutions that allow natural wildlife movement
✅ Strengthening overall protection for black rhino populations
This project demonstrates how smart, adaptive infrastructure can support both species recovery and broader ecosystem integrity — helping conservation efforts thrive in complex landscapes.
🎥 Watch Jacob present his project and learn how innovation and commitment are helping protect one of Africa’s most iconic species.
https://frankfurtspringschool.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FCC-FSS-Logo_Farbe-Grau_rgb_padding-300x195.png00Spring Schoolhttps://frankfurtspringschool.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FCC-FSS-Logo_Farbe-Grau_rgb_padding-300x195.pngSpring School2025-04-14 08:37:342025-04-14 08:37:34And the grant goes to … (3/3)
A jury representing five FSS partner organisations selected the three KfW Stiftung Fellows who will receive funding to bring their projects to life. This year’s grants go to Zambia, Guyana and Madagascar!
One of the 2025 grant winners is Christelle Razafindrakoto 🇲🇬 from Madagascar. Her project supports the conservation of sharks and rays in Antongil Bay by:
✅ Conducting scientific monitoring of local shark and ray populations
✅ Collaborating with local communities to raise awareness of conservation and sustainable fishing
✅ Contributing to the development of an updated fisheries management plan.
Her project combines research and community engagement to protect marine biodiversity while promoting long-term, sustainable practices — a powerful example of conservation in action.
🎥 Watch Christelle present her project and share her passion for protecting Madagascar’s unique marine life
https://frankfurtspringschool.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FCC-FSS-Logo_Farbe-Grau_rgb_padding-300x195.png00Spring Schoolhttps://frankfurtspringschool.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FCC-FSS-Logo_Farbe-Grau_rgb_padding-300x195.pngSpring School2025-04-10 17:15:302025-04-10 17:15:30And the grant goes to … (2/3)
A jury representing five FSS partner organisations selected the three KfW Stiftung Fellows who will receive funding to bring their projects to life. This year’s grants go to Zambia, Guyana and Madagascar!
👏 One of the grant winners in 2025 is Alex Stewart 🇬🇾 from FZS Guyana. His project aims to protect the giant river otter in the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area by:
✅ Establishing aquaculture farms in three local communities
✅ Monitoring fishing activity and otter populations
✅ Developing science-based recommendations for sustainable fishing.
His approach strengthens both biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods — a key example of how managing human-wildlife interactions leads to long-term impact.
🎥 Watch Alex present his project and hear what drives his conservation work. More Fellows and project videos coming soon!
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That’s a wrap! After four intense and insightful weeks another wonderful FSS came to an end with the handover of certificates and an amazing closing event on Friday evening.
Most of the students have already returned to their (19 in total) home countries and regions, taking with them new skills, a network of conservationists from around the world, great memories and friends for life. Throughout the course, they gained insight into different areas of conservation project management, ranging from project planning and management, to sessions on finance, communications and HR, to workshops on leadership or personal impressions. The next step is to use all these valuable resources for the benefit of nature and people in their future endeavours.
The 6 KfW Stiftung Fellows we introduced in our last post will be staying a little longer in Frankfurt to finalise their project proposals before the announcement of the winning projects in early April. Good luck in the final days!
Finally, the FSS team would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the FSS 2025. A big thank you especially to our partners, donors, all the trainers and the 32 participants who made the last four weeks an amazing time.
We’re thrilled to announce that 31 passionate conservationists from 18 countries will be coming to Frankfurt this February to take part in the Frankfurt Spring School 2025! United by their dedication to wildlife and biodiversity, they will form the next generation of conservation project managers.
A special highlight: Through the KfW Stiftung Fellowship, six outstanding participants from the Global South will develop their own conservation projects in their home regions. This year, we proudly welcome:
Alex Stewart – Guyana, and his project on fishing pressures on Giant River Otters within the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area.
“It gives me great pleasure to know that my efforts are contributing to the conservation of this species by providing critical data that will fill knowledge gaps and inform future management decisions.”
Godbless Monyo – Tanzania, aiming to strengthen air support for African Rhinos in the battle Against Poachers in Serengeti National Park.
“I am enthusiastic about strengthening my managerial skills to enhance conservation impact and create a well organized and efficient working environment for my team.”
Isnaini Marliana – Indonesia, and her project on Sustainable Snapper and Grouper Fisheries Management in Aceh Province.
“The program aligns perfectly with my goal of improving conservation management strategies to build both biological and economic sustainability.”
Christelle Razafindrakoto – Madagascar, aiming to improve the status of Chondrichthyans in Antongil Bay – Makira Masoala Baie d’Antongil landscape.
“Thanks to this training, I will be able to make a significant contribution to the conservation of marine ecosystems.”
Jacob Mphasi – Zambia, with the goal to enhance fence integrity and wildlife monitoring through Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tools (SMART).
“I look forward to connecting with conservationists worldwide, learning more about the organization’s commitment to conservation.”
Asri Lestari – Indonesia, and her project on private managed conservation areas as the Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECM).
“I am deeply honored to receive this scholarship, as it holds great significance for my career and personal development.”
https://frankfurtspringschool.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FCC-FSS-Logo_Farbe-Grau_rgb_padding-300x195.png00Spring Schoolhttps://frankfurtspringschool.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FCC-FSS-Logo_Farbe-Grau_rgb_padding-300x195.pngSpring School2025-02-04 16:54:172025-02-04 17:01:40FSS 2025 is around the corner
The eighth Frankfurt Spring School on Conservation Project Management will take place at Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, from 24th February to 21st March 2025.
Don’t miss this unique crash course for conservationists! Over four intense weeks, international experts will teach you essential skills in conservation project management, human resources, financial management, leadership, and tackling emerging conservation challenges.
The programme includes much more than just workshops. You’ll get hands-on wilderness conservation experience during an exciting excursion to Kellerwald-Edersee National Park. Plus, connect with industry veterans and fellow participants at our interactive “Speed-Dating” networking event.
Since its start, the Frankfurt Spring School has helped over 200 early-career conservationists from around the world sharpen their skills to take on today’s conservation challenges. Are you passionate about conservation and ready to make an impact? Then the Frankfurt Spring School is the perfect fit for you.
Click here to get more information on how to apply! The application deadline is 10th November 2024.
Download the announcement for Frankfurt Spring School 2025 here.
https://frankfurtspringschool.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FCC-FSS-Logo_Farbe-Grau_rgb_padding-300x195.png00Spring Schoolhttps://frankfurtspringschool.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FCC-FSS-Logo_Farbe-Grau_rgb_padding-300x195.pngSpring School2024-09-27 16:42:482024-10-01 15:17:34Level Up Your Conservation Career: Join the 2025 Frankfurt Spring School!
We’re super excited to share that Andhani Hartanti a Frankfurt Spring School alumni has just been recognized with a major award: the KfW-Bernhard-Grzimek-Price 2024.
So who is Andhani? She participated in 2019 in the Frankfurt Spring School as a KfW fellow, developing a project on orangutans in Sumatra. For the past eight year she has been fighting to protect the last large lowland rainforest area on the island, working tirelessly to establish a new, self-sustaining orangutan population in the Bukit Tiga Puluh region. As a dedicated vet and head of the FZS’s jungle school, she’s been caring for orphaned orangutans and getting them ready to thrive in the wild again.
As Andhani came to Frankfurt for the award ceremony we were able to squeeze in an interview to look back at her time in the FSS.
She really liked the course, the mentors and the friends that she made from all over the world. As a KfW fellow her favorite part was working on her project with the group. The four weeks impacted her quite a lot, because they gave her lots of skills and tools to work in conservation. And also a huge motivation boost to continuously develop further skills and connect with other conservationists all over the world.
Her advice for the young generation is: if you love to work in the field and in conservation, join FSS, it’ll give you a head start for your career!
Her dedication is truly inspiring, and we’re so proud to celebrate her success.
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Participants of the Frankfurt Spring School on Conservation Management have a full schedule. At the same time, it is also an enriching experience.
The four-week workshop consists of various formats and topics to give a full-circle overview of nature conservation project management.
Participants get exclusive access to conservation experts. The experts will give lectures and participants will have the opportunity to discuss and exchange with them.
They will also form strong bonds, broadening their knowledge further by learning from each other, as their network will comprise people from over 30 countries.
To apply what they have learned in theory, participants will have the chance to work on real-life projects from various areas of the world brought to them by fellow participants.
And to round up the experience, they will also enjoy different out-of-classroom events, enabling them to get to know each other better and venture into the city of Frankfurt and German nature. To give a sneak-peak: there will be a visit to a national park and an evening where all the participants will come together and cook their favorite food for each other.
If you are interested, then set a reminder: the application phase for the 2025 edition will start in autumn 2024.
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Another successful Frankfurt Spring School has come to an end. The course took place from 19th of February to 15th of March and was an immersive experience with courses covering topics from project idea to the development and management of a project.
The international group of 32 participants from over 20 different countries had the chance to engage with experts forming them in various topics and sharing their rich knowledge in classes but also evening events like Speed Dating (where they could meet & talk to practitioners in a nice setting) and Conservation Cafés (discussion evenings). Due to their diverse backgrounds participants were further inspiring each other and created a great atmosphere throughout the four weeks.
As for every Spring School 3 projects received grants from the KfW Stiftung, this year they went to Madagascar, Peru & Zambia.
For more impressions you can check out our Instagram and LinkedIn profiles.
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Already for the seventh time, the Frankfurt Spring School on Conservation Project Management will take place at the Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main in spring 2024. Don’t miss your opportunity to participate in Germany’s unique crash course for conservationists from 19th February to 15th March 2024! In four intensive weeks, experienced international experts will train you in conservation project management, human resources and personnel management, financial management, performance skills and new challenges in conservation. Besides the interactive workshops at the Goethe University, the programme includes also an excursion to the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park for a first-hand experience of wilderness conservation and a “Speed-Dating” event where you can network with conservation veterans and your Spring School fellows.
Over the last years, over 180 motivated early career conservationists from across the globe came together to improve their knowledge and skills to successfully manage the world’s conservation challenges. Do you have a passion for conservation, a strong work ethic and the drive to improve? Then, the Frankfurt Spring School is just the place for you.
Click here to learn how to apply! Application deadline is 15th November 2023.
Download the announcement for Frankfurt Spring School 2024 here.
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Godbless Monyo – Tanzania, aiming to strengthen air support for African Rhinos in the battle Against Poachers in Serengeti National Park.
