The Earth Skills Network: Funded training and mentoring in business planning and organisational management, for Protected Area staff. Please share this training opportunity within your Africa Protected Area network - terrestrial or marine protected areas. The Earth Skills Network (ESN) is a collaboration between Earthwatch Institute, UNESCO, IUCN and the business community, which connects business leaders and conservation managers through mentoring and skill-sharing opportunities. Protected areas are the cornerstone of international efforts to meet ambitious global conservation targets, yet they face numerous challenges. Most protected area site managers are trained biologists with several years of field experience, however effectively managing protected areas requires additional skill sets, which that are not always part of traditional staff training. Management challenges go beyond ecosystem health and include those related to running a site's organisational systems and processes. If a protected area lacks organisational effectiveness then it will be compromised in its ability to deliver on management objectives. By joining the Earth Skills Network Protected Area staff can: * Access a fully-funded, in-depth training programme in business planning and effective management. * Receive mentoring from an expert with significant business experience in an international organisation. * Support the professional development of staff, helping them to develop the leadership competencies required to put the skills they have developed into practise. * Network, connect with and support staff from other African protected areas. Training is available to Protected Areas, World Heritage Sites, protected area agencies or management authorities in Africa. The programme is structured around a 10 day residential training course, which (in 2014) takes place in Mpala, Kenya. The application period is open until the 28th March (extensions considered on request) and application materials are on the Earthwatch website: www.earthwatch.org/earth-skills-network<http://www.earthwatch.org/earth-skills-network>. Please pass on to anyone who can benefit from this opportunity; or get in touch if you have any questions: jcousins@earthwatch.org.uk<mailto:jcousins@earthwatch.org.uk> Jenny Cousins PhD Research Manager for Biodiversity Conservation Earthwatch Institute Mayfield House, 256 Banbury Road, Oxford. OX2 7DE. UK T: +44 (0)1865 318 288 | earthwatch.org/europe<http://www.earthwatch.org/europe> Connect with Earthwatch on Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/earthwatch>, Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/earthwatch_org>, and YouTube<http://www.youtube.com/user/EarthwatchInstitute#p/a>. [Email signature.jpg] This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views, which are not the views of Earthwatch Institute Europe unless specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system, do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it and notify the sender immediately. Please note that Earthwatch Institute (Europe) monitors e-mails sent or received. Further communication will signify your consent to this. Conservation Education & Research Trust also known as Earthwatch Institute (Europe) is a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales under company number 4373313 and charity number 1094467. The registered address is, Mayfield House, 256 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7DE England.