More opportunities for young Mozambicans to build skills in nature conservation and a stronger focus on Environmental Education mark the new phase of the Leadership Program for Conservation in Mozambique (PLCM), presented at the 9th Steering Committee session held on November 27 in Maputo.

Promoted by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), the meeting brought together about 21 participants, including representatives from the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), Maputo Environmental Protection Area (APA-Maputo), UNIZAMBEZE, Gorongosa National Park, the World Bank, the Swedish Embassy, and other strategic partners. The main objective was to discuss the results achieved over the past 11 months and align the new PLCM approach for the 2026–2030 period.

Presenting the program’s progress, Luís Bernardo Honwana highlighted the positive evaluation of PLCM, particularly in the pre-professional internship component, and stressed the importance of treating the program as one of BIOFUND’s structural initiatives to ensure its long-term sustainability.

Since the last Steering Committee meeting in September 2024, the program has made substantial progress. Under Component I, professional exchanges were carried out between different Conservation Areas, promoting experience sharing among field teams. Under Component II, about 56 new interns were placed in various internship centers, focusing on Conservation Areas, and 19 young people who completed internships in previous years were hired by teams in various conservation institutions and beyond.

One of the issues discussed was the need to improve information dissemination and sharing mechanisms, as nearly 50% of applications to the program continue to come from Maputo Province and City, while Niassa Province shows a very low number of candidates. On the other hand, in the Niassa Special Reserve (REN), about 45 young people from local communities participated in short courses and received entrepreneurship kits, opening new income-generating opportunities linked to conservation.

The new PLCM approach will maintain the three existing components, but Component I will now be implemented directly by ANAC. Among the improvements already underway is the 100% in-person immersive induction model, held at Maputo National Park in April 2025, which offered interns their first practical experience in Conservation Areas. A specific induction for supervisors was also created, strengthening technical, pedagogical, and logistical support in the field.

This new phase will be more focused on Environmental Education and Environmental Citizenship, with goals such as creating a National Conservation Academy, energizing the Alumni network of young conservationists, reinforcing post-internship support, and consolidating education initiatives for environmental citizenship among different audiences. One of the major challenges discussed is the need for greater government commitment to ensure the employability of professionals trained through this and other conservation programs, so that this investment is fully leveraged.

According to Alexandra Jorge, BIOFUND’s Program Director,

“This committee was a fundamental space to bring together contributions from different stakeholders to improve the structuring of this new concept, capitalizing on strengths and addressing weaknesses.”

The Steering Committee’s recommendations will now guide the next steps for implementing the new PLCM phase, with the ambition of reaching more young people and more Conservation Areas across the country.