The West Africa Mammal Partnership (WAMP) and Fellowship (WAMF) programs were set up to bridge these gaps through multiple pathways that together bend the curve for biodiversity loss in the regions, thereby safeguarding a future for small mammals in West Africa. The program is firmly committed to the principle of generating and relying on conservation evidence to drive effective intervention efforts. The Mammal Partnership is a multi-regional and international collaboration between institutions and universities.
In addition, regional in-country partners recruit and collaboratively supervise fellows under existing projects. Support for fellows is through a collaboration between local and international partners (WAMP). Thus, fellows receive support from both in-country and international mentors. In addition to mentorship, the program provides training on hands-on field techniques, refresher on specialized topics in ecology, and skills such as GIS, statistics, and molecular techniques. Furthermore, fellows receive a mini-grant and access to equipment.
This program aims to strengthen the capacity of small mammal research and conservation skills of West African postgraduate students achievable through the two stages: (1) A classroom & field course (2) Mentorship program