LONDON, UK – The 14th annual Tusk Conservation Awards, the leading forum for recognising, honouring, and supporting Africa’s most innovative, inspirational, and committed conservation leaders, opened nominations today, Friday, February 6, 2026.
The Awards, which are held in collaboration with Ninety One, give winners’ organisations substantial grant funds in addition to international recognition, providing them with the tools, legitimacy, and impetus to expand successful conservation strategies for both people and the environment.
Ninety One’s goal is to provide long-term investment returns for Tusk’s clients while making a positive difference to people and the planet. On the other hand, Tusk’s mission is to accelerate the impact of African-driven conservation.
Three categories will receive a total of Sh 40 million (£225,000) in prize money this year: Sh 18 million (£100,000) for the Prince William Award, Sh 13 million (£75,000) for the Tusk Award, and Sh 8.8 million (£50,000) for the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award.
news9.africa understands that three winners will be selected from hundreds of nominations across Africa and honoured at a prestigious ceremony expected to be held in London later this year.
Tusk Royal Patron HRH The Prince of Wales speaks at the 2005 awards
Speaking at last year’s awards, Tusk Royal Patron HRH The Prince of Wales said it is often communities and local conservation leaders who provide the practical solutions to how we can best sustain our precious natural landscapes and vital biodiversity.
“The award winners are always wonderful examples of what can be achieved locally, regionally and at the national level. 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,” he said.
Since the Awards began in 2013, 61 finalists and winners from 23 African nations have used the recognition and grant funds to support a variety of conservation initiatives, such as securing wildlife corridors and important habitats, building out ranger patrols and intelligence networks, providing essential infrastructure and training to community conservancies, and establishing sustainable, conservation-related livelihoods for rural communities.
From rehabilitating forests in Madagascar and breaking up poaching syndicates in Zimbabwe to safeguarding gorillas in eastern Congo and turtles in Sierra Leone, the Awards have contributed to transforming audacious African ideas into long-lasting conservation effects. In order to help award recipients expand their work and open up new collaborations and long-term investment, the grant financing is purposefully made to be catalytic.
Reactions from past Tusk Conservation Award winners
Rahima Njaidi, the founder of Tanzanian women-led forest conservation organisation MJUMITA, won the Tusk Award in 2025.
“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. 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 not for me; it’s for the whole team and the communities we work with; it recognises their effort and their sacrifices, and it really motivates them,” explained Rahima.
Africa’s ecosystems are under unprecedented pressure. Wildlife populations have declined by more than 75% since 1970. Forests the size of Switzerland or Guinea-Bissau are lost each year.
Rangelands supporting millions of pastoralist families are rapidly degrading. Tusk believes the most effective solutions to these challenges will be led by Africans, working hand-in-hand with local communities, and backed with the long-term funding and partnerships needed to succeed.
According to Nick Bubb, the CEO of Tusk, 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.
“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,” explained Nick.
news9.africa has established that nominations for the Awards are invited across three categories.
Nominees may only be entered in one category:
- Prince William Award – A lifetime achievement award recognising outstanding dedication and exceptional long-term contribution to conservation in Africa.
- The Tusk Award – Recognising an inspiring and emerging leader in conservation demonstrating leadership, innovation, and measurable impact.
- Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award – Recognising either an exceptional ranger or ranger team demonstrating outstanding commitment and bravery in protecting Africa’s wildlife and wild places.
In a significant evolution of the Awards, the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award will, from this year, recognise ranger teams as well as individual rangers. The change reflects the reality of modern conservation: wildlife protection is a team effort, built on trust, coordination, courage, and collective sacrifice.
Across Africa, ranger teams are the backbone of protected areas, operating in some of the world’s most challenging and dangerous environments.
Tusk’s extended wider ranger programmes
news9.africa knows that the expanded category also aligns with Tusk’s wider ranger programmes, including the Wildlife Ranger Challenge and the Ranger Welfare and Standards Initiative, which supports over 6,200 rangers with training, equipment, and insurance.
The Tusk Conservation Awards are open to conservation leaders across Africa. Nominees do not need to be current Tusk partners. Nominees cannot apply themselves; they must be nominated in confidence by someone who knows their work well, such as a colleague, mentor, partner, lecturer, supervisor, or collaborator.
Nominations are open until April 26th, 2026, and must be submitted online at:
www.tuskawards.com/nominations. The Tusk Conservation Awards are held in partnership with Ninety One and made possible through the generous support of the Nick Maughan Family Foundation and Defender, among others.
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