The

MBA for

Conservation

the Business of Conservation

The African Leadership University School of Business (ALUSB) MBA offers a unique 20-month part-time program, blending world-class education with real-world application in the African context.

The Conservation Specialization, delivered by the School of Wildlife Conservation in partnership with ALUSB, contextualizes the MBA learning journey with practical insights from carefully curated conservation and sustainability topics, including mentorship from leading conservation and sustainability experts. This joint initiative aims to provide rising leaders in the conservation industry and the corporate world with the world-class management skills needed to innovate sustainable business models and manage projects and protected areas while gaining access to a high- caliber, pan-African network from all walks of life.

We have successfully graduated 57 Conservation MBA students over the past three years. These students are the next generation leaders that we will need to successfully and sustainably manage Africa’s unique natural assets for the social and economic growth of the continent. The original Conservation MBA combined the ALU School of Business MBA programme with complementary learning in conservation and leadership for full time working professionals.

Who is it for?

The MBA with a conservation specialization is designed for ambitious Africans from all sectors who are passionate about Africa’s natural heritage and interested in the rapidly emerging field of biodiversity investment and sustainability. We seek people with over 3 years of experience who are interested in conservation, and how global economies and the corporate sector will undertake their rapid transformation to long term sustainability. 

Meet Some of our MBA for Conservation Leaders

Lara Dendy Young is a Co-Founder of Conservation Club, aimed to promote sustainable travel in Eastern and Southern Africa, based in Cape Town South Africa.

Charles Karangwa is the IUCN Regional Head of Land Systems and Rwanda Country Representative and co-founded FinScape a direct output of his MBA capstone project. 

Alina Peter is at the frontline of the Grumeti Fund | NPO’s anti-poaching battle in Tanzania. Working with a dedicated team of 100 highly trained anti-poaching scouts.

Hugues Akpona is a General Manager at W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) African Parks Network.  He is currently a facilitator in our Pathway Leadership Training Programme

Rosebell Abwonji is the Chief Administrative Officer of the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association. She leads effective and streamlined administrative systems, IT, HR, and physical infrastructure of the organization’s operations.

Delvis Fortes is a passionate Marine Biologist from Cape Verde with 13 years of work experience in the fisheries sector. Delvis holds an MSc in Fisheries Policy and ManagementHe is also currently consulting FAO’s CFI project.

Catherine Chumo is the Senior Information Officer at Africa Network for Animal Welfare. She generates information based on the work the organization carries out and then disburses it in different channels for the stakeholders.
Daniella Sachs is the founder of Know Your Tourist, an innovative startup helping businesses and conservation areas understand how to tailor their products to attract African tourists – and to get more Africans to fall in love with Africa.

An overview of our programme

Click to watch

Why choose the MBA in Conservation?

Program Structure and Curriculum

The MBA in Conservation is structured as a series of e-learning modules supplemented by periodic in-person sessions in selected locations. Our curriculum covers a range of topics, including biodiversity conservation, conservation finance, policy and strategy, and practical applications in the field.

Course Outline:

Where did our leaders come from?

The Conservation Leaders Programme was designed for emerging leaders in sectors that impacted wildlife and natural landscapes and those who protect and support Africa’s natural capital. Our leaders came from sectors;

Energy

Extractive
Industries

Farming
& Ranching

Fisheries
& Aquaculture

Food
& Beverages

Forestry

Harbour
& Airports

Railways
& Roads

Protected
Areas

Tourism
& Recreation

Marine
& Fresh Water

Student Testimonials

Alumni Stories

Delvis Fortes

Delvis Fortes The Marine Conservation Leader Over the past year, we have been committed to supporting conservation professionals from West Africa through the generous contribution of the MAVA Foundation. Delvis Fortes joined the MBA for Conservation Leaders Programme in 2020 via this scheme.

Lara Dendy Young

Lara Dendy Young I am Lara Dendy Young, Co-Founder of Conservation Club, based in Cape Town South Africa. As a sustainability enthusiast, my foremost career intention has always been to work in an environment where I am encouraged to engage with people and places that drive growth and long-term sustainability.

Daniella Sachs

A Leading Woman in Conservation. International Women’s History Month serves as both a time for celebration, as well as a crucial reminder of how far we have to go. In this month of March when we honour woman all over the world for their contribution to global development, we caught up with Daniella Sachs for a chat.

MBA in Numbers

38

Males

19

Females

57

Alumni

4

Cohorts

100%

Still in
Conservation Space

MBA Alumni Job Events

Some organisations where our students work