Best Practices for Youth Engagement in Conservation

The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a global partnership dedicated to safeguarding the world’s most biologically significant and threatened areas. By working with civil society organizations, local communities, and governments, CEPF promotes sustainable development while protecting ecosystems and biodiversity. Its efforts focus on strengthening conservation actions that align with social development goals and ensure equitable participation, especially from underrepresented groups. The organization emphasizes community-driven initiatives that promote long-term environmental stewardship and resilience. Through grant-making, capacity building, and collaborative knowledge-sharing, CEPF empowers local actors to implement effective conservation solutions. It also plays a pivotal role in supporting research, generating actionable insights, and fostering innovation to address environmental challenges. By connecting stakeholders across sectors, the organization helps create pathways for informed conservation efforts that are culturally sensitive and inclusive. CEPF’s commitment to gender-responsive and youth-centered approaches reflects its dedication to empowering diverse voices in conservation work. With a global reach and local engagement, the organization strengthens partnerships that facilitate sustainable biodiversity management and ensure that conservation efforts benefit both people and nature. CEPF is recognized for supporting conservation practices that integrate ecological health with community well-being.

This grant opportunity focuses on documenting best practices for engaging youth in conservation efforts, particularly within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. The goal is to create a knowledge product that highlights gender-responsive conservation methods and sustainable use of biodiversity while prioritizing youth involvement. By identifying successful approaches and strategies, the project aims to develop a guide that can be replicated in other regions to enhance conservation efforts. The final knowledge product will be disseminated through CEPF’s website and other innovative platforms to ensure a broad reach. The grant seeks consultants or organizations with expertise in conservation-focused knowledge products, especially those involving youth engagement. Projects should document effective methods, highlight lessons learned, and provide practical recommendations that can be adapted to various contexts. This initiative supports the creation of tools that aid practitioners and decision-makers in involving young people meaningfully in conservation. The grant aligns with CEPF’s mission to integrate ecological protection with social inclusion and sustainable development, contributing to long-term biodiversity conservation and ecosystem health.