The Leadership Program for the Conservation of Mozambique (PLCM) launched its 4th edition of pre-professional internships across the country on Monday, February 13, 2023! This year, 61 interns, trained in various multidisciplinary fields, will be placed in 22 internship centers, including 18 public and private Conservation Areas, as well as 4 central-level conservation institutions.

The PLCM is a program implemented by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), in coordination with the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) and the National Employment Institute (INEP). Its main goal is to develop the skills and knowledge of conservation professionals in Mozambique.

The opening ceremony of this new edition was attended by representatives from ANAC and INEP, as well as the World Bank and the Government of Sweden, the program’s funders. During the event, the new interns benefited from virtual training on the iNaturalist platform for recording the occurrence of flora and fauna species, conducted by SAMBI – the South African Institute for Biodiversity.

“The integration of PLCM interns is a response to the challenges that the conservation sector faces in Mozambique, such as the limited human capacity to operate in the different projects designed to advance the sector,” said Luís Bernardo Honwana, Executive Director of BIOFUND, during his remarks at the opening ceremony.

The interns are eager to begin their placements and acquire valuable skills that will help influence and attract other young people to conservation, while contributing to the development of the sector. “This will be my first experience in the field of conservation. I hope to gain new skills to help protect the environment and inspire others to embrace the cause of biodiversity conservation,” said Jeremias Matavele, a Finance graduate assigned to the Marromeu National Reserve.

Since the beginning of its internship program in 2020, PLCM has benefited 168 young people, with 107 already gaining diverse leadership experiences in biodiversity conservation in Mozambique through the previous three editions.

The PLCM represents a unique opportunity for young people who wish to contribute to biodiversity conservation in Mozambique and help build a more sustainable and prosperous future for the country. Don’t miss the chance to lead biodiversity conservation in Mozambique and inspire other young people to do the same – stay tuned for the next edition of PLCM. Learn more here!