In line with her mission of promoting excellence in research and biodiversity conservation in Cameroon and beyond, the ERuDeF Institute has launched eight scholarship opportunities tenable at the Institute for the 2015/2016 academic year. The deadline for the reception of applications is November 27, 2015.

By Ndimuh Bertrand Shancho

This information was made known recently by the President of ERuDeF Institute, Louis Nkembi, who is also the President/CEO of Cameroon’s emerging conservation non-profit organization, the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF).

According to Nkembi, this scholarship scheme ranges from the Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree and Advanced Diploma.

“We are offering three Bachelor Degree scholarships; two in the field of Agroforestry and one in Environmental Journalism. There are four Masters Degree scholarships; one in Business & Biodiversity, one in Mountains Management, one in Project Economics, one in Agro-forestry and another Environmental Journalism. Meanwhile, there is one Advanced Diploma scholarship in Fundraising Leadership Development,” Nkembi said.

He added that the scholarship ranges from a 100 percent tuition scholarship to partial fellowships with 75% to 90% subsidy, depending on the individual cases presented with annual renewal exclusively depending on students’ performance.

Aimed at students with excellent academic results but very poor backgrounds from ERuDeF’s geographical areas of interest; Southwest, West, Northwest, Littoral and East Cameroon, interested candidates must have passion for the environment and commitment to ERuDeF’s mission.

The ERuDeF Institute boss called on interested candidates to deposit files at the ERuDeF Institute campus at Mile 18, consisting of a motivation letter, copies of relevant certificates, referee statements from parents and previous university lecturers. Applications could also be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and/or <span style=”font-size: 12.0pt;”>hq@erudef.org</span>.

Quizzed on the choices of course, Nkembi said the ERuDeF Institute is a professional institute for training in biodiversity conservation management and related fields and ERuDeF as a mother organization is focusing on conservation biodiversity throughout Cameroon through various projects, including agroforestry, environmental journalism, and the development of fundraising capacity across its staff.

He said there is also a new area, Mountain Studies that ERuDeF Institute is developing, given thatERuDeF is a leader in terms of mountain studies in Cameroon and of the Pan African Programme on African Mountains Research Initiative. “So we think developing national capacities will assist in taking the lead in these areas of endeavours,” said Nkembi.

This scholarship scheme is offered with the support ofERuDeF in partnership with the African Conservation Foundation, Tusk Trust and the Waterloo Foundation.

ERuDeF Institute on the other hand, is Cameroon’s pioneer biodiversity studies Institute with registration No.020/MINEFOP/SG/DFOP/SDGSF/CSACD created in 2012 to provide leading edge and holistic professional training in conservation development management to the future cream of conservation development leaders.

The institute in collaboration with the St. Monica University offers undergraduate and postgraduate training research mentorship to traditional students and adult learners in Agroforestry, Environmental Journalism, Biodiversity Conservation, Environmental Education, Mountain Studies, GIS for Development and NGO & Fundraising Studies, leading to the award of a National Diploma, Higher National Diploma, Professional Bachelor degree, and Professional Masters degree.