GreenMatter ZA

19/12/2025

Grateful for the partnerships and collaboration that shaped 2025. Wishing you a restful festive season and an impactful year ahead. 🌿✨

28/11/2025

🌱 GreenMatter Fellowship 2026: Applications Now Open

We invite emerging leaders committed to advancing biodiversity, climate resilience, and South Africa’s green-economy transition to apply for the 2026 GreenMatter Fellowship.

Two Fellowship Tiers Available:
• Tier 1: Full bursary + leadership & professional development
• Tier 2: Leadership development only (for students with existing funding or early-career professionals)

Eligibility:
✓ Master’s/PhD students in environmental or sustainability fields
✓ Early-career professionals (up to 35 years)
✓ South African citizens or valid residents

Apply by: 9 January 2026
📎 Application link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2MRJFVL
Full Application description link: https://www.greenmatterza.com/get-involved

Join a network of passionate environmental changemakers shaping SA’s sustainable future.

04/11/2025

The African Center for Economic Transformation is accepting applications for its Young Leaders in Research Grant Program to support early-career African researchers in economics and related fields to lead policy-relevant, context-driven research that advances Africa’s transformation agenda.
For more information, visit

Empowering the next generation of African researchers to lead economic transformation.

24/10/2025

SANParks is hiring a biodiversity science liaison in Cape Town:

A vacancy currently exists for Officer: Science Liaison to be based in the Cape Research Centre. This role in Scientific Services provides support to external scientists and researchers to conduct biodiversity research within the national parks.

15/10/2025

What an amazing moment celebrating our KZN school leaders, teachers and Learners that are within the KIC 2.0 programme. We are excited to be part of this programme and to see it's continual growth🌱

13/10/2025

GreenMatter, in collaboration with Kruger to Canyons (K2C) NPC and the Environmental Learning Research Centre (ELRC)–Rhodes University, hosted a stakeholder workshop from 9–10 October 2025 at the University of the Witwatersrand Rural Campus in Acornhoek, Limpopo.

The workshop convened representatives from government, academia, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations, the private sector, and conservation agencies to engage with the interim findings of the Greater Limpopo Region Skills Audit.

Participants explored strategies and proposed concrete actions to strengthen the skills development ecosystem within the K2C Biosphere Region, with a focus on supporting rangeland restoration, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable livelihoods.

Discussions highlighted key capacity-building priorities for government institutions, conservation organisations, communities, and private sector partners working in the Biosphere. The K2C Biosphere plays a pivotal role in connecting ecological systems, promoting biodiversity conservation, and sustaining local livelihoods through integrated landscape-level interventions. Strengthening human capital within this biosphere reserve is therefore essential to advancing inclusive, sustainable development and ensuring resilient ecological management.

This initiative was funded by Conservation South Africa through the Restoring African Rangelands Project, which supports the achievement of global and local biodiversity targets across Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The project contributes to improving protected area management, promoting ecological financing, and enhancing the livelihoods of over 182,000 people in vulnerable communities.

11/09/2025

📢 Opportunity Alert for Emerging Researchers!

The University of Johannesburg’s Emerging Researcher Acceleration Programme (ERAP) is now open for Doctoral Support Applications. 🎓

This programme is designed to support and accelerate the research journey of doctoral candidates, helping to strengthen South Africa’s next generation of researchers.

If you’re pursuing a PhD and looking for academic support, this is your chance!

👉 Learn more and apply here:https://www.uj.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/emerging-researcher-acceleration-programme-doctoral-support-call.pdf

05/09/2025

Bursaries for Biodiversity! (And more). Apply by October 3.

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀?

Apply for DFFE’s 2026 Bursary Programme!

The bursaries support studies in key environmental fields empowering the next generation of leaders to build a sustainable future for South Africa.

Find more info ➡️ https://bit.ly/46iYJfM

29/08/2025

From 12-14 August 2025, GreenMatter joined partners from across the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) in Maputo National Park, Mozambique for a three-day Human-Wildlife Coexistence Learning Exchange.

Hosted by Conservation South Africa (CSA) with support from Global Affairs Canada, the exchange created a collaborative space for communities, rangers, local leaders and conservation practitioners to share practical strategies for living alongside wildlife.

Over the three days, participants:
1. Explored innovative approaches such as elephant-deterrent fencing, exclusion plots, and community-led monitoring.
2. Reflected on the importance of gender-responsive and inclusive solutions that recognise how coexistence challenges affect women, men and young people differently.
3. Learned from the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area context, gaining fresh perspectives that can be adapted across the GLTFCA.

For GreenMatter, this exchange reinforced the importance of community leadership in conservation and the need to integrate skills development into long-term coexistence strategies.

We are proud to stand alongside our regional partners in shaping a future where people and wildlife can thrive side by side.

A warm thank you to Peace Parks Foundation, ANAC, CSA and Global Affairs Canada, and all the partners and communities who made this exchange possible.

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10/08/2025

Opportunity for entrepreneurial Youth residing in or near Gqeberha!

We are looking for young people from the ages of 18-35, based in Kwanobuhle and New Brighton.
To join our uplifting Youth Focused Entrepreneur Programme.
Please make sure you meet the requirements before applying.
Don't forget to share with your friends.
Please click on the link to apply https://forms.zohopublic.com/saica1/form/2025SEDFlagship1/formperma/MvCMMKsvn_H_LBZSirtOk8NmtiVTE3Xd_v5cOy8LK-c

07/08/2025

On Thursday, 31 July 2025, we had the honour of joining the launch of the Sustainability and Environmental Leaders Development Initiative (SELDI) hosted by the OWSD South Africa National Chapter in collaboration with Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Academy of Science South Africa and KayAnn Consulting.

This bold new initiative seeks to answer a powerful question:
“Where are the sustainability and environmental leaders who reflect the demographics of this country?”

GreenMatter was proud to be part of the programme, sharing insights from our Fellowship — an initiative rooted in empowering emerging environmental leaders and changemakers. It was encouraging to be in a room filled with inspiring individuals equally committed to shaping a just, sustainable future.

A heartfelt congratulations to the entire SELDI team for bringing together such a meaningful and action-driven event under the theme:
Developing and Empowering Future Leaders for a Sustainable Tomorrow

Special recognition to keynote speaker Dr. Pheladi Junior Mohlala (Pr.Sci.Nat.) (MBA) for her moving address and to the panel of dynamic speakers — Bakang Moeng and Qhakazile Mathebula, with facilitation by Thobekile Gambu — for the rich and insightful dialogue on “Essential Skills for Leading Sustainability.”

We echo the call to action:
-Endorse the movement
-Support its growth — financially, intellectually, or in-kind
-Collaborate to co-create a new generation of sustainability leaders

👏 To SELDI — may it inspire, may it thrive.

23/07/2025

We are absolutely thrilled to announce the launch of our 2025 Fellows! 🎉

This week marked the beginning of an exciting journey, as we kicked off the fellowship with an inspiring induction week. Our Fellows gathered at a youth skills summit that shed light on the vital role of green skills in paving the way for a just transition in South Africa.

Throughout the week, the Fellows engaged in thought-provoking sessions. They were introduced to systems thinking by the brilliant Vickers, empowering them to see challenges as interconnected opportunities. Buyani Zwane illuminated the path of internal leadership with a session on "Leading from Within," encouraging each Fellow to ignite their unique potential. Additionally, shared invaluable strategies and insights into the art of presenting and public speaking, equipping the Fellows with essential skills to tell their stories and inspire others.

This week was the launchpad for their transformative journeys in both professional and personal development. We can’t wait to witness the incredible impact these remarkable individuals will have over the next five months and beyond.

Here’s to new beginnings, growth, and the bright future that awaits our 2025 Fellows! Let’s embrace the adventure ahead!