Yamat Lengai knows first-hand what it takes to develop win-win solutions for people and nature.
As our Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Adaptation Officer, she measures the impact of African People & Wildlife (APW) programs and tracks critical data on human-wildlife conflicts and sustainable livelihoods. Her role has continued to grow since joining us in 2016, and Yamat’s conservation career has boundless potential.
In recognition of her skills and dedication, Yamat has been named a Conservation Nation Fellow and awarded a grant that advances her professional goals and personal development.
I’m grateful to be selected as a Conservation Nation Fellow and to have the opportunity to be a role model to other conservationists and young girls who are working on their dreams. Being selected…is a great honor that will help big cats in Tanzania and the people in my community.
Yamat Lengai, Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Adaptation Officer
According to the Conservation Nation, the fellow program “provides talented conservationists with valuable connections and professional development opportunities… to give them an equitable leg-up to help them grow in their careers.”
Yamat’s fellowship was made possible with funding from Catmosphere.org, a foundation dedicated to raising awareness for crucial work in Big Cat conservation, with a special focus on the Arabian Leopard.
We must empower more African women like Yamat to drive conservation forward. By building skills and opening doors, Conservation Nation and Catmosphere are creating a better world for big cats, their habitat, and Indigenous communities.
Dr. Laly Lichtenfeld, APW Co-Founder and CEO
In the year ahead, the grant will support Yamat’s work to conserve lions, cheetahs, and leopards through the Living Walls program and serve as a mentor to our growing big cat conservation team. She’ll also develop her professional skills through language and media training and wildlife/program management coursework. We look forward to sharing her updates from the field and Conservation Nation activities.