Mozambique Conservation Leadership Program (PLCM)

Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© Segelina Filipe
Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© Menaice Zunguze
Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© BIOFUND
Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© BIOFUND
Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© BIOFUND
Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© BIOFUND
Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© BIOFUND
Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© BIOFUND
Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© BIOFUND
Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© BIOFUND
Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© BIOFUND
Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© David Gilroy
Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© BIOFUND
Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© BIOFUND
Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© Equipa de Mariri – Reserva Especial do Niassa
Building a new generation of conservation leaders

© Denise Nicolau

Updated at 16/07/2024

What is the PLCM?

The Leadership Program for Conservation of Mozambique (PLCM) is a personal and institutional development program by BIOFUND. It aims to: i) contribute to the transformation of the Conservation Sector in Mozambique by strengthening capacities and skills within the National Conservation Areas System (SNAC), ii) attract and motivate young talents with diverse backgrounds, focusing particularly on leadership skills for conservation, and iii) raise public awareness about the importance of biodiversity conservation, especially among young people.

The program began in 2019, initially for a period of five years, funded by the World Bank/IDA under the Mozbio2 project. The first results and positive impacts of the program in increasing the capacity and availability of conservation professionals highlighted the importance and necessity of extending and expanding its actions, leading to the entry of new financiers and donors to support the entire program, specific components, and new actions supporting the training of young people in the conservation sector.

Thus, starting in 2022, it received new funds from the World Bank/IDA under the MozNorte and MozRural Projects, with an initial duration of five years (2022-2026). Additionally, in 2023, it secured funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) under the Biodiversity Conservation Program, also with a five-year duration.

Enhancing the capacity and skills of professionals in the National Conservation Areas System (SNAC)

Short-term professional training
Professional exchanges and refreshers

o Goal by 2024: 185 SNAC professional beneficiaries
o Already benefited about 300 professionals (since 2020) from Public and Private Conservation Areas and other conservation sector institutions.

Motivating and attracting qualified young people to the conservation system

Scholarships (Master’s Degree)
Pre-professional internships
Research grants

o Goal by 2024: 260 young graduates from higher and technical-professional education.
Already benefited 320 young people (since 2020) from all provinces of the country.

Engaging the general public, especially young people, in the conservation community network

Exhibitions
Awareness events on the importance of Biodiversity Conservation
Creation of conservation rooms

Goal by 2024: 30,000 people reached
Achieved by June 2024: 30,975 people from 8 provinces of the country.

Professional Technical Training (MozNorte and MozRural)

Scholarships for technical and professional education courses
Short courses and entrepreneurship kits

o Goal by 2026: 260 scholarship recipients for technical and professional education and general secondary education.
o Already benefited 151 young people from the landscapes of the Environmental Protection Area of the Primeiras and Segundas Islands, Mágoè National Park, and Community Conservation Areas of Tchuma Tchato and Chipange Chetu.

Implementation of the Programme

The PLCM is implemented by BIOFUND in partnership with the National Conservation Areas Administration (ANAC), which primarily supports the coordination of training activities under component 1 of the program. To ensure national coverage, partnerships have been established with educational institutions in the southern, central, and northern regions of the country, providing academic training to program beneficiaries, particularly for scholarship programs.

The Pre-professional Internship program is implemented in coordination with Conservation Areas (public and private), public institutions, the private sector, Non-Governmental Organizations, and other institutions focused on biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management. These institutions host program interns, integrating them into their action plans.

The program promotes and establishes synergies with relevant partners/opportunities in themes of environmental education and civil society awareness at various local, provincial, and national forums, compiling and sharing information and knowledge about the importance and relevance of biodiversity conservation for ecosystem balance and sustainable development, using various digital platforms (lectures, debates, films) and in-person formats (exhibitions, fairs, theaters, lectures, environmental rooms, among others).

The technical and professional education scholarship program is implemented through service providers, including WWF in APAIPS, WCS in the Niassa Special Reserve, in partnership with Mágoè National Park, and the management team of the Tchuma Tchato Community Conservation Program

Announcements

3rd Edition of the Scholarship Program for Master Courses of the Leadership for Conservation Programme of Mozambique-PLCM (2023/2024)

Tenders

Courses / Programmes

Consult here information from academic institutions with courses / programmes on the themes of leadership and conservation.

Courses / Programmes

Courses / Programmes

Steering Committee

With the goal of endowing the PLCM with a governance structure and to guarantee the legitimacy of the programme, among its beneficiaries, financing bodies, institutions and stakeholders involved in the programme and the community in general, the programme has its own Steering Committee (CD), which guarantees accompanying the programme and the taking of strategic decisions, as well as ensuring quality control of the activities, results and impacts of the programme. The CD meets twice a year

The Steering Committee consists of 12 permanent members and 4 permanent guests, involving a variety of institutions seeking to guarantee greater coverage and relevance of the programme (click here for more details on the composition of the CD).

List of Members of the Steering Committee

Alexandra Jorge

BIOFUND – Directora de Programas

Marla Josefa Mujovo

UNIZAMBEZE – Director da Faculdade de Engenharia Ambiental e Recursos Naturais

Pacheco Faria

AMOS – Membro / Suplente – Adamo Valy

Mohamed Harun

ANAC – Assessor do Director Geral

Branquinho Manhonha

Gorongosa Restoration Project – Departamento de Desenvolvimento Humano

Faruk Osman

CTA – Presidente do Conselho Fiscal da CTA

Valério Macandza

UEM – Director Adjunto para a Pós-Graduação da Faculdade de Agronomia e Engenharia Florestal

Ivandro Sitoi

FDC – Director de património e Investimento

Leo Elias Jamal

Instituto de formação profissional e estudos laborais Alberto Cassimo (IFPELAC) – Director Geral

Marcelino Caravela

UNILÚRIO – Director da Faculdade de Ciencias Naturais

Carla Rombe

IUCN – Representante / Suplente – Oliveira Mucar

Ivone Muocha

MCTESTP – Directora Adjunta no Centro de Investigação e Transferência de Tecnologia para o Desenvolvimento Comunitário

Permanent Guests

Manuel Mutimucuio

World Bank

Madyo Couto

FNDS/MozBIO II

Camila de Sousa

Agricultural Research Institute of Mozambique

Paulo Júnior

SIDA

News

Young People and Leadership in Biodiversity Conservation: Get to know the history of Baptista Bisteque

By Biofund Editors 09/02/2023

"The young leader Baptista Julião Bisquete, 27 years old, born in Morrumbala, Zambezia, has a degree in Communication Sciences with skills in Journalism. Baptista is one of the beneficiaries of the 3rd edition of pre-professional internships of the Leadership Program for the Conservation of Mozambique (PLCM), implemented by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) in coordination with the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC).

FROM CHIMANIMANI NATIONAL PARK TO LIMPOPO NATIONAL PARK: Get to know the story of Zélia da Laila

By Biofund Editors 30/11/2022

Zélia da Laila, a young Mozambican woman, aged 26, born in Maputo province, graduated in Human Resources Management at Instituto Superior de Gestão e Empreendedorismo de Marracuene, was a beneficiary of the 3rd edition of the pre-professional internships of the Leadership Program for Conservation of Mozambique (PLCM), and she started her conservation experience in Chimanimani National Park (PNC).

HOW SPORTS CAN INFLUENCE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: EXPERIENCES FROM THE 2022 BEACH FOOTBALL CAN

By Biofund Editors 09/11/2022

The African Beach Soccer Championship, held from 21st to 28th October 2022, in the Tourist Town of Vilanculo, Inhambane province, gathered around 18,000 people including players, top individuals in the Football field and others, supporters and general public, who, in addition to watching football, were part of an environmental awareness chain for the benefit of marine biodiversity, especially the Dugong.

The Conservation Community: From Rwanda’s Example to the Young People Who Are the Future of Mozambique

By bioadmin 22/09/2022

In 2020 I had the opportunity to be part of the 1st edition of the internship program of the Leadership Program for the Conservation of Mozambique (PLCM), a program coordinated by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND. PLCM is part of MozBio2 one of more than 15 projects of the Foundation, which started in 2019 with funding from the World Bank.

Meet António Simão, a young man who became a conservation leader at PLCM

By Biofund Editors 22/08/2022

António Simão is a 26-year-old young man, born in Mafambisse, Dondo district, Sofala Province, trained in Forestry and Wild Fauna by Instituto Agrário de Chimoio (IAC) (Agrarian Institute of Chimoio). Since he was young, he dreamed about working for the protection of flora and fauna, and in 2021 he had the opportunity to join the 2nd edition of the pre-professional internship of the Leadership Program for the Conservation of Mozambique (PLCM), the program that made it possible to achieve the dream of working in the area of biodiversity conservation.

Sérgio Licumba: the young professional who innovated and led activities to promote biodiversity in the Banhine National Park

By Biofund Editors 11/04/2022

A história do Sérgio no sector da conservação começou em 2021 quando foi admitido para a 2ª edição de estágios pré-profissionais do Programa de Liderança para a Conservação de Moçambique (PLCM), um programa de treino e capacitação implementado pela Fundação para a Conservação da Biodiversidade – BIOFUND em coordenação com a Administração Nacional das Áreas de Conservação (ANAC).

PLCM celebrates International Day of Forests, by making young people aware of the importance of conserving forests

By Biofund Editors 23/03/2022

On the occasion of the International Day of Forests, under the motto “Forest Restoration: a path for recovery and well-being”, the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), through the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Programme (PLCM), in collaboration with the Portuguese School of Mozambique, through the United for the Environment Association (UPA), brought together about 100 secondary school students for a lecture of reflection on the importance of the forests.

PLCM allocates 27 youths in the conservation sector through the 3rd edition of the internship programme

By bioadmin 11/02/2022

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), through the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Programme (PLCM), organised an induction event for interns selected for the 3rd edition of the pre-professional internship programme, which took place on 9 February 2022, in Maputo city, with the participation of representatives of the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), the National Forestry Directorate (DINAF) and the National Sustainable Development Fund (FNDS).

Beneficiaries of the 2nd edition of the PLCM pre-professional internships ready to begin their activities

By bioadmin 12/04/2021

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), in partnership with the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) and the National Forestry Directorate (DINAF), on 6 April held the induction of interns at central level, from the 2nd edition of internships of the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Programme (PLCM).

15 young Mozambicans benefit from scholarships for masters’ degrees through the Mozambique Programme for Conservation Leadership

By bioadmin 19/03/2021

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), through the Mozambique Programme for Conservation Leadership (PLCM), will finance 15 scholarships for the 2021/2022 academic year.

UEM and BIOFUND sign Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen activities in support of the conservation of biodiversity

By bioadmin 16/03/2021

The Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) and the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the creation of synergies in support of activities to conserve biodiversity in Mozambique.

Closing workshop of the 1st edition of the PLCM’s programme of pre-professional internships

By bioadmin 05/03/2021

Organised by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), in partnership with the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), the workshop was held in a virtual format on 2 March 2021 and counted on the participation of all the interns of the Programme for Conservation Leadership of Mozambique (PLCM).

Our Biodiversity: Sampling of Exclusive Species in the Banhine National Park

By bioadmin 10/02/2021

With the onset of the rainy season in the Banhine National Park (PNB), a team of biologists consisting of two interns from the Programme of Leadership Conservation in Mozambique (PLCM), Golden Benedito Joaquim, with a licentiate degree in Biological Sciences, and Euderico Manjama, with a licentiate degree in Marine, Aquatic and Coastal Biology, are undertaking a sampling of aquatic species and birds predominant in that Conservation Area.

Lion family welcomes PLCM interns to the Niassa Special Reserve

By bioadmin 27/01/2021

This happened last Wednesday, January 20, at the offices of Mariri, a concessionaire for Block L5S of the Special Reserve of Niassa, just after the arrival of Sofia Nhalungo and Tânia Zeferino, interns of the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) and beneficiaries of the Mozambique Program for Conservation Leadership (PLCM).

Zinave National Park restructures buffer zone community association

By bioadmin 14/12/2020

Another two youths begin their career in the conservation of biodiversity through the PLCM

By bioadmin 10/12/2020

The interns, Atairis Massonganha, trained in Economics, and Talven Samuel Jackson, trained in Public Administration and Management, in November began their activities of a pre-professional internship in the World Wide Fund For Nature – WWF.

Hagnésio Chiponde: From football player to leader in the conservation of biodiversity

By bioadmin 08/12/2020

Hagnésio Chiponde is a young Mozambican trained in veterinary medicine at the Eduardo Mondlane University, and a beneficiary of the first edition of the internship programme of the PLCM, which took place in the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) and in the Maputo Special Reserve and the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve from March to August 2020.

PLCM Interns Integrated into Community Development Activities in Zinave National Park

By bioadmin 14/10/2020

The interns Maria Madalena Rangel, with a degree in Anthropology, and Dulce da Flora Simão, with a degree in Biological Sciences, had an initial induction into activities of the community sector and the priority actions to be undertaken, notably the community food security programme. This seeks to guarantee food for the households recently resettled from the interior of the park to the buffer zone and other localities in Mabote district.

Nine Interns start Activities in Conservation Areas under the Mozambique Program for Conservation Leadership (PLCM)

By bioadmin 09/09/2020

This is the second group of young graduates selected within the scope of the 1st Edition of the PLCM Internship Program that began their activities in the Conservation Areas on September 9, 2020, for period of six months - observing the entire protocol of hygiene and safety established for the prevention of COVID-19.

3rd Meeting of the Steering Committee of the PLCM Held, Approving the Partial Resumption of Programme Activities

By bioadmin 23/07/2020

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) on 14 July 2020 held the 3rd meeting of the Steering Committee of the Mozambique Leadership for Conservation Programme – PLCM.

More than 1500 people involved in the contest “films for awarness” on the impact of marine pollution

By bioadmin 30/06/2020

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity - BIOFUND, promoted a contest called “Films for Awareness” celebrated on the 8th of June, under the motto “Innovation for Sustainability of the Oceans: Clean Sea, Protected Ecosystem”. The contest was led by the first group of interns of the Leadership Program for the Conservation of Mozambique - PLCM

Biofund holds the pre-launch of the PLCM in an online event – webinar, under the theme “Opportunities and challenges for young people in the leadership of the Conservation sector”

By bioadmin 22/06/2020

The pre-launch of the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Program (PLCM) was held from 4 to 11 June 2020 in partnership with ANAC, the Gorongosa National Park and WWF. The main objective of this initiative was to attract young people from different parts of the country to the Biodiversity Conservation Sector in Mozambique.

World Environment Day: PLCM Interns Promote Activities to Preserve the Environment

By bioadmin 05/06/2020

World Environment Day is celebrated on the 5th of June of each year with the aim of raising awareness in the general population to implement practices that help to preserve the environment.

World Oceans Day : 8 June

By bioadmin 29/05/2020

World Oceans Day is celebrated every year on June 8th. The purpose of the day is to inform the public about the impact of the human actions on the oceans, and developing a worldwide movement for managing sustainable oceans.

PLCM Intern Shares his Experience in Human-Wildlife Conflict Management

By bioadmin 13/05/2020

During the first round of the PLCM Internship Program, HagnésioChiponde, a young graduate in veterinary medicine fromUniversidade Eduardo Mondlane, was assignedto the National Administration of Conservation Areas, in the Department of Protection and Inspection, and joined the inspection team of the Maputo Special Reserve for a period of timeto participate in the management of Human - Elephant conflict.

PLCM Starts Internship Activities

By bioadmin 03/04/2020

Ten PLCM trainees have been integrated into its sites since 2nd March 2020. This is the first group, with three integrated in BIOFUND, five in the National Administration of Conservation Areas-ANAC and two in the Centro Terra Viva-CTV.

BIOFUND promotes an Environmental Management Training Program in Nampula Province

By bioadmin 26/11/2019

BIOFUND, in partnership with the Mozambican Association for Environmental Impact Assessment (AMAIA) and the Government of Mozambique, represented by the Provincial Directorate for Land, Environment and Rural Development of Nampula (DPTADER), held between 28 October and 1 November 2019 the Training in Ecological Impact Assessment, Environmental Management Plans and Monitoring, for around 32 technicians from various Government institutions at Nampula province level, civil society organizations and the private sector involved in the environmental impact assessment process.

PLCM Seeks Partnerships at Business of Conservation Conference, Kigali 2019

By bioadmin 03/09/2019

BIOFUND, through the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Program (PLCM) will participates from 8th to 9th of September in Kigali - Rwanda in a Conference on Conservation Business with the theme “Environmental Investment - from scarcity to abundance”.

BIOFUND Announces the First Contest for Research Grants Concerning Biodiversity Conservation in Mozambique

By bioadmin 08/08/2019

Until the 30th of August, the first research grant contest is underway for elaboration of researchprojects for undergraduate and master's levels conclusion, related to multidisciplinary areas that are directly linked to specific and selected needs of Conservation Areas.