Nominations Open for 2026 Tusk Conservation Awards, Offering £225,000 to Africa’s Leading Nature Protectors
Nominations have officially opened for the 14th annual Tusk Conservation Awards, a premier platform recognising and funding Africa’s most visionary and dedicated conservation leaders.
Held in partnership with global investment manager Ninety One, the awards will distribute a total of £225,000 in grant funding across three categories, providing winners with both significant financial backing and international recognition to scale their conservation impact.
This year’s prize fund includes £100,000 for the Prince William Award, £75,000 for the Tusk Award, and £50,000 for the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award. Three winners will be selected from hundreds of nominations across the continent and honoured at a prestigious ceremony in London later this year.
The awards celebrate African-led initiatives that protect wildlife, safeguard landscapes, and support local livelihoods. Since launching in 2013, the Tusk Conservation Awards have recognised 61 winners and finalists from 23 African countries.
Past recipients have used the funding and recognition to expand ranger patrols and intelligence networks, secure critical habitats and wildlife corridors, strengthen community conservancies, and create sustainable livelihoods linked to conservation. Projects have ranged from protecting gorillas in eastern Congo and sea turtles in Sierra Leone to restoring forests in Madagascar and dismantling poaching syndicates in Zimbabwe.
Speaking at last year’s ceremony, HRH The Prince of Wales, Tusk’s Royal Patron, emphasised the importance of grassroots leadership in conservation.
“It is so often communities and local conservation leaders who provide the practical solutions to how we can best sustain our precious natural landscapes and vital biodiversity,” said HRH The Prince of Wales. “Identifying and supporting locally-led conservation has always been at the heart of Tusk’s ethos. The insight and expertise of the Tusk award winners should inspire us to drive change. We must continue to amplify their voices and support their vital work.”
In a significant evolution of the programme, the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award will now recognise ranger teams as well as individual rangers. The move reflects the collaborative nature of modern wildlife protection, particularly in high-risk environments across Africa.
Ranger teams form the backbone of protected areas, operating in some of the world’s most challenging and dangerous conditions. The expansion aligns with Tusk’s broader ranger initiatives, including the Wildlife Ranger Challenge and the Ranger Welfare and Standards Initiative, which collectively support more than 6,200 rangers with training, equipment, and insurance.
Rahima Njaidi, Founder of the Tanzanian women-led forest conservation organisation MJUMITA and winner of the 2025 Tusk Award, described the award as transformative.
“I’ve been contacted by people from as far away as Jamaica, by people offering opportunities to work together, by organisations inviting me to join their board,” said Rahima Njaidi, Founder of MJUMITA and 2025 Tusk Award Winner. “The money means we can do many things we otherwise couldn’t with existing project funding, and you speak with more authority because people see you’ve won this award. I feel the award is not really for the winner — it’s for the whole team and the communities we work with. It recognises their effort and their sacrifices, and it really motivates them.”
The grant funding is designed to be catalytic, enabling recipients to unlock new partnerships and long-term investment while scaling proven conservation models.
Africa’s ecosystems face mounting pressures. Wildlife populations have declined by more than 75 percent since 1970. Forests the size of Switzerland or Guinea-Bissau are lost annually, while rangelands that sustain millions of pastoralist families continue to degrade.
Nick Bubb, Chief Executive Officer of Tusk, underscored the urgency of supporting those on the frontlines.
“The Awards shine a light on the remarkable courage and commitment of individuals working tirelessly to safeguard Africa’s natural heritage, often in challenging and dangerous conditions,” said Nick Bubb, CEO of Tusk. “We’re committed to ensuring the Awards continue to provide invaluable international exposure for these conservation leaders, alongside vital funding for their projects. We encourage anyone who knows an individual or ranger team who has made a significant impact on wildlife conservation to nominate them for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have their achievements recognised on a global stage.”
Nominations are invited in three categories, with candidates eligible for entry in only one:
Prince William Award – A lifetime achievement honour recognising outstanding dedication and long-term contribution to conservation in Africa.
The Tusk Award – Celebrating an emerging and inspiring conservation leader demonstrating innovation, leadership, and measurable impact.
Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award – Recognising an exceptional ranger or ranger team showing bravery and commitment in protecting wildlife and wild spaces.
The awards are open to conservation leaders across Africa, including those not currently partnered with Tusk. Nominees cannot self-apply and must be nominated confidentially by someone familiar with their work, such as a colleague, mentor, supervisor, or collaborator.
Nominations close on 26 April 2026 and must be submitted online.