2012 Call for Applications
Objective:
The Pacific Exchange Emerging Professionals Program (PEEP) seeks to provide professional development opportunities for the next generation of conservation leaders. HCA recognizes that the global conservation effort has much to gain by enhancing dialogue between similar social, cultural, and/or political systems. Through peer learning and the exchange of information and experiences, PEEP participants will become part of a larger network of conservation professionals who share resource stewardship concerns, across a large, complex biocultural area between Hawai‘i, and the Micronesian, Melanesian, or Polynesian archipelagos. HCA will provide support for up to two successful PEEP applicants with up to $2500 in support towards an exchange experience, funding permitting.
Background:
Isolated in time and space for millions of years, the Pacific islands have evolved unique flora and fauna. The region is presently subject to powerful vectors of ecosystem change such as alien species, disease, and habitat loss. The result is that these rare ecosystems are facing high rates of species extinction. Presently in the face of climatic change, the natural environments of Hawai‘i and the Pacific Islands have even more in common and greater opportunities to exchange management knowledge. The potential gains from interaction between these otherwise remote islands are enhanced by the astounding richness of culture and tradition, where community involvement is often not only a principle for successful management practice, but essential to reaching collective biodiversity conservation goals.
Dedicated researchers, managers and communities throughout the Pacific basin are working to address a shared conservation management ethic and challenges using unique approaches and philosophies. The collective progress of their efforts include advances and solutions that may also be applicable in the other island jurisdictions. Interactions between conservation professionals throughout the Pacific region have resulted in many progressive initiatives from one island migrating, transferring, and yielding outstanding results to other regions.
PEEP seeks to expand this knowledge exchange by highlighting topics surrounding the integration of social, cultural, and political approaches, techniques, and philosophies relevant to critical conservation issues.
Applicant Requirements:
To be eligible, applicants must be:
- A resident of one of the islands in Hawai‘i Micronesia, Melanesia, or Polynesia
- An emerging professional, within first 5 years of your professional career
- Currently working in a paid conservation position
The exchange must:
- Be relevant to cutting edge biocultural, critical conservation issues,
- Provide for a meaningful exchange that gives each participant an opportunity to learn but also teach;
- Encourage collaboration, dialogue and learning objectives and goals that further an integration of culture, science and management
Following the exchange experience, successful applicants are required to:
- Give an oral presentation at the subsequent annual Hawai‘i Conservation Conference to communicate knowledge gained from the exchange to conservation professionals from across the region.
- Provide a comparable presentation at the home country during a workshop, conference or training to exchange information about the experience with conservation professionals from across the region.
- Draft and submit a news release for media distribution in both participating countries.
- Draft and submit a written report of 2-3 pages for distribution to the HCA, posting on the HCA website, and wider distribution across the conservation community.
Application Guidelines:
The Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance will circulate a call for applications simultaneous with the Hawai‘i Conservation Conference call for proposals each year between October and December. Applications and Letter of Reference forms should be completed and received electronically or postmarked by 5:00 pm on February 24. HCA will notify applicants of final decisions by March 23, 2012.
Application Checklist:
(click here for a printable Application Checklist)
1. Send your resume to HCA
2. Have your current supervisor complete and send the letter of
reference form to HCA
3. Have your Exchange Site Mentor complete the mentor endorsement
form and send to HCA
4. Complete your online application
All forms and application documents can be sent to:
email: coordinator@hawaiiconservation.org
fax: 808-664-8510
hand deliver or courier to:
Pacific Exchange Emerging Professionals
c/o Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance
677 Ala Moana Blvd, Ste 320
Honolulu, HI 96813
Click HERE to complete your online application.
The online application includes:
- Contact details
- Purpose of visit and tentative PEEP itinerary
- List of people, organizations, and projects to be visited during exchange
- Brief summary about the importance of the topic for conservation in Hawai‘i and relationship to the following year’s Hawai‘i Conservation Conference theme.
- Description of your plan to share the information gained through your exchange (i.e. HCC activities, newspaper, report, etc.)
- Budget (including matching cash or in-kind support from other sources)
- Letters of endorsement from organization or contacts you plan to visit, and a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor indicating their support for salary during exchange period and that they understand PEEP program conditions.
Selection Criteria:
Applicants will be evaluated on:
- The importance of the topic for conservation in Hawai‘i
- Correlation of their exchange topic to the HCC theme
- Relevance to the HCA Mission - topics that integrate across management, education, science, culture, etc.
- Strength of matching support (e.g. financial, in-kind, travel, housing or other support)
- Strength of endorsement letters
- Relevance of knowledge gained to Hawai‘i and broader Pacific conservation professionals
- Two-way vs. one-way exchange (Proposals involving a two-way exchange will be rated more favorably.)
Exchange Documentation:
- Once an applicant has been selected, a complete itinerary must be submitted at least one month prior to travel.
- A presentation abstract must be submitted and approved prior to the initiation of the exchange.
- At least 3 weeks prior to the Hawai‘i Conservation Conference, the participant must submit a draft news release to HCA inclusive of information about HCA, HCC and PEEP.
- Finally, within one month from completion of the exchange, a 3-5 page report must be submitted for Web site posting and wider Pacific conservation community distribution
