The grant, inspired by the Gustavo Fonseca Youth Leadership Program, is a tribute to the late Gustavo Fonseca, former GEF Director of Programs, whose dedication and vision inspired countless conservationists.
Gustavo Fonseca’s legacy lives on as we celebrate his remarkable contributions. With the backing of GEF, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of passionate conservationists who will carry forward his essential work. His spirit will forever guide us as we strive to protect the planet and empower those who will carry the torch of conservation into the future.
Last year, the Fund received an impressive 2,179 grant applications, with 28% (622 applications) of applicants meeting the minimum age criteria to qualify for a Fonseca grant. After a thorough review by the MBZ Fund independent Advisory Board, 59 young conservationists and their teams were chosen for support throughout 2024. Many of these individuals are just beginning their conservation journeys, ensuring that Gustavo’s legacy continues as they embark on their vital work.
“As we recognise that people are behind these conservation efforts, our commitment extends beyond funding alone. We focus on assisting early career or budding conservationists at the onset of their conservation journey. Over the past 15 years, we have supported 63% first-time recipients.” said MBZ Fund Managing Director, H.E. Razan Al Mubarak
The 59 supported projects span 31 developing countries, providing essential financing that empowers these nations to tackle intricate challenges and advance toward international environmental objectives.
Notably, 34% (20 projects) of these initiatives are led by women, a promising trend, as women are often regarded as the guardians of nature. Their conservation efforts are focused on critically endangered and endangered species, as well as those that require more research due to being data deficient.
Mubarak continues “In addition to our focus on indigenous communities and youth, we recognise the pivotal role of women in conservation. Women often bear the brunt of environmental challenges like climate change and habitat loss, yet they also hold immense potential to drive positive change. At the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, we prioritise empowering women as agents of change. Over the past two years, we’ve supported over 80 women as project leaders, investing approximately $800,000 in their impactful conservation efforts in developing countries.”
