Indian Ocean Planning and Managing Effective Conservation Projects Jun22

Learn how to plan and manage effective conservation projects using Conservation Standards. This interactive and engaging course will develop your skills in adaptive management using real-life case studies from Durrell, and provide you with tools and skills that can be applied to all types of conservation action. 

Who is it for?

This course is open to all persons and organisations from the South-West Indian Ocean region (eligible countries: Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros). Participants must have a strong grasp of the English language, as the course delivery will be in English.

It is relevant to those interested in improving the practice of conservation, both internally within their organisations and externally across the global conservation community. This includes practitioners, researchers, students, consultants, policy makers, funders, and government officials. We especially encourage conservation practitioners based in areas of high biodiversity value to participate in this course. The skills and tools we will cover are applicable to all conservation interventions at all scales.  

What is the course content?

Using examples from Durrell’s project portfolio, the course provides an introduction to the practical implementation of conservation actions; an overview of the project planning cycle and project management; general principles that can be applied to planning all forms of conservation action (e.g. projects, species action plans and protected area management plans); and the importance of monitoring and evaluation and exploring the factors that can lead to the success or failure of projects.

The Conservation Standards are a set of tools, guidance, and associated software, developed to help practitioners design and run effective conservation projects. The framework uses a five-step cycle to help adaptively manage any type of conservation project.

How will you benefit?

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to apply the Conservation Standards to plan and adaptively manage your own projects. This includes being able to:

• Define the scope and vision of your project, and identify and assess the conservation targets (species and ecosystems of interest)
• Assess the current situation, including identifying direct threats to targets and the primary drivers, and human wellbeing benefits provided through ecosystem services
• Identify and prioritise conservation strategies
• Develop and test theories of change for chosen conservation strategies and develop a monitoring plan that enables you to test your assumptions and measure your impact
• Develop a strategy-oriented work plan and budget
• Use your project results to reflect, learn, and adapt your conservation plan to ensure you are being effective

How will the course be run?

The virtual course will run for five consecutive days, which will include 4 hours per day of online training sessions. The course will offer a mix of theory, practice, reflection, and peer review. Sessions will be live and fully facilitated by trained coaches. Using platforms such as Zoom (video conferencing) and Miro (online visual collaboration), this course is interactive and engaging, allowing participants to put what they have learnt into practice though online breakout group exercises.

Please note: a strong internet connection is needed as participants will need to use multiple software applications (Zoom, Miro) and, ideally, be able to turn videos on.

How much will it cost?

The course fee is £175 per person, which includes:

• all course materials and access to virtual training sessions and exercises
• certificate of attendance
• updates on upcoming, related training opportunities 
  

Applications are accepted on a first come, first served basis. 

Download the leaflet to find out more.

To book a place, please complete the application form and email it to academy@durrell.org . 

For further information please email academy@durrell.org .