Internships in Conservation for Tanzanian Women

Dr Amy Dickman, Kaplan Senior Research Fellow in Biology at Pembroke and founder of the Ruaha Carnivore Project (RCP) launched a number of short term internships in late 2020 to encourage women in Tanzania to take up roles in the field of big cat conservation.

As part of the newly created RCP internships, eight women were recruited for one month at various points between August and December, with two of these women being from the local area. The internships sought to develop a variety of key practical skills for those involved, including the use of camera traps, data entry and collection, and improving overall computer literacy. The local women also became ambassadors for big cat conservation and the RCP’s work within their communities.

In addition to this, six other Tanzanian women, all of whom were degree holders in Wildlife Management, Conservation and other related courses were recruited into different work areas within the RCP. Through taking part in this internship scheme, these women were able to get vital hands-on experience in the field of conservation, with all of them subsequently receiving consideration for further employment. Following the conclusion of the internships, two women were hired as permanent research assistants to help continue the RCP’s work within the area.

Reflecting on the success of the internship schemes, Amy commented: ‘It is vital for women, particularly from under-represented groups, to have relatable role models in conservation. By engaging Tanzanian women in conservation, we not only improve their skills but show that it is a realistic career for them. I am so proud of our whole team, including all the interns, for their commitment to conservation, and our new female recruits will make our team even stronger in the future.”

Find out more about the work of the Ruaha Carnivore Project on their website.