Every species alive today carries millions of years of evolutionary history. Some carry it almost entirely alone. The EDGE of Existence Fellowship program backs early-career conservationists who are willing to do the difficult, unglamorous work of protecting those species before the window closes, placing funding, training, and a global expert network in the hands of people who know their landscapes intimately and are ready to lead.
About the EDGE of Existence Fellowship Program
Administered by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) through its EDGE of Existence Programme, the only global conservation initiative dedicated entirely to Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered species, the fellowship has been building conservation leadership in biodiversity-rich countries for over a decade. The 2027 cohort, currently open for applications, represents an expansion of the model: from 2027 onward, each annual cohort will include at least 14 fellows drawn from countries outside the G12, EU, New Zealand, and South Korea, making the geographic commitment more explicit than in previous cycles.
Funding Size
- Conservation project grant: £15,000 to implement a two-year field project
- Six weeks of in-person training, split across two courses in the UK, fully covered
Who Can Apply
- Early-career conservationists with fewer than ten years of paid conservation experience
- Nationals or long-term residents of the country where the proposed project will take place, with strong ties to the specific region or landscape
- Applicants whose proposed project focuses on a species listed on the current EDGE Species List
- Candidates who have confirmed in-country supervisor support from a university project supervisor, senior colleague, or established associate
Geographic Eligibility
- Open globally, with strong priority given to applicants from countries outside the G12, EU, New Zealand, and South Korea
- Projects must take place in the country where the focal EDGE species occurs
- Applicants must be nationals or established long-term residents of that country
Sector or Thematic Focus
- Conservation of Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered species
- Field-based scientific research filling critical knowledge gaps for EDGE species
- Population surveys, distribution mapping, and extinction risk assessment
- Community engagement and local ecological knowledge documentation
- Conservation planning, policy contribution, and stakeholder mobilization
- Leadership development within the global conservation sector
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Application Process
The 2027 fellowship uses a two-stage process. Stage 1 requires submission of a short Expression of Interest form, available on the EDGE of Existence website. Applicants should download and review the 2026 EDGE Species List before completing the form to confirm their focal species is eligible. Shortlisted candidates are then invited to submit a full application, including a detailed project proposal and supporting documentation. Final decisions are communicated ahead of the fellowship start date.
Required Materials
Stage 1 Expression of Interest:
- Completed online EOI form
- Confirmation of focal EDGE species from the current species list
Stage 2 Full Application (by invitation):
- Detailed conservation project proposal outlining planned activities, research approach, and expected outcomes
- Evidence of in-country supervisor commitment
Key Dates
- Expression of Interest deadline: 10 June 2026
- Full application deadline: by invitation following EOI shortlisting
- Fellowship duration: 28 months from the confirmed start date
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Selection Notes
- Projects focused on species downlisted to Near Threatened or Least Concern in the 2026.1 IUCN Red List update are not eligible
- Priority is given to projects in countries outside the G12, EU, New Zealand, and South Korea, though the call is open globally