Volunteer Conservation Advocacy and Policy Advisor

Bats without Borders | Remote (worldwide) | Volunteer | Flexible commitment

About us

Bats without Borders is a not-for-profit organisation working to conserve bats and biodiversity across southern Africa through research, conservation action, advocacy and community engagement. We work with researchers, conservationists, communities and other partners to protect bat populations and promote understanding of the vital role bats play in healthy ecosystems.

We believe that stronger recognition of bats in environmental policy, legislation and decision-making is essential to their long-term conservation.

Role description

Are you experienced in conservation advocacy, environmental policy or influencing, and interested in helping shape the future of bat conservation in southern Africa?

Bats without Borders is looking for volunteer who is an experienced conservation advocacy and policy professional to help us develop a strategic framework to guide this area of our work.

We want governments, local authorities, businesses, land managers and other decision-makers across southern Africa to recognise the importance of bats and their habitats and take them into account in environmental policy, planning, development and decision-making.

We are at an early stage of developing this area of our work and would particularly value someone who can bring knowledge, experience and fresh thinking to help us identify where we can make a difference. You will work with our team to explore opportunities to influence policy and practice, establish priorities and develop a realistic framework for our future work.

Key responsibilities

Working with our team, your role will include:

• Reviewing the environmental policy, legislative and conservation advocacy landscape across southern Africa to identify opportunities, challenges and entry points for strengthening bat conservation, and providing strategic advice on how these can be used to engage decision-makers and enhance recognition and protection of bats.
• Identifying and advising on engagement with key decision-makers, institutions and stakeholders across government, business, land management and conservation sectors, and recommending effective advocacy and influencing approaches to strengthen bat conservation in policy, planning and decision-making.
• Helping us identify strategic priorities and realistic opportunities where Bats without Borders could have influence and make a meaningful contribution.
• Advising on how to use scientific evidence and conservation knowledge to develop clear, compelling policy recommendations and advocacy messages.
• Working with our team to shape a practical conservation advocacy and policy framework, setting out priority areas, audiences, approaches and recommended next steps.

The project will focus on helping us establish our direction and priorities, rather than managing or delivering advocacy campaigns or ongoing activities.

By the end of the project, we hope to have a clear, practical framework to guide the development of our future conservation advocacy work.

Time commitment and working arrangements

This is a remote, time-limited volunteering project, with an anticipated commitment of approximately 8–10 hours per month over an agreed period.

The time will be used flexibly and may include online meetings, discussions with our team, reviewing relevant information and independent work to help develop the advocacy framework. We would agree the scope, timescale and expected commitment together, taking account of your availability and ensuring the project is manageable and achievable.

We are keen to make good use of your expertise while keeping the arrangements flexible. Following completion of the initial project, there may be an opportunity to continue contributing in a longer-term advisory capacity as a member of our Advisory Board.

Qualifications and Experience

We are looking for someone with experience in conservation advocacy, environmental policy or influencing, ideally with knowledge of southern Africa and its conservation context.

Ideally, you will have experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Developing or delivering environmental or conservation advocacy strategies, or influencing policy and decision-making.
• Understanding environmental policy, legislation and decision-making processes in one or more southern African countries.
• Engaging with governments, local authorities, businesses, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders.
• Working with conservation organisations, environmental networks, partnerships or coalitions to influence policy and practice.
• Identifying opportunities to influence decision-makers and developing effective approaches to advocacy and campaigning.
• Translating scientific evidence and conservation priorities into clear policy recommendations and advocacy messages.
• Understanding regional or international environmental agreements and policy frameworks relevant to biodiversity and wildlife conservation.

Above all, we are looking for someone who can think strategically, understand policy and decision-making processes, identify opportunities for influence and turn ideas into realistic, achievable priorities. Experience of bat conservation would be welcome but is not essential. An understanding of biodiversity conservation, and the ability to interpret relevant regional and international environmental policies and agreements in the context of southern Africa, is important.

You should enjoy working collaboratively, sharing your knowledge and helping a small organisation develop its approach in a new area of work. We value fresh thinking and a practical, solutions-focused perspective.

The difference you will make

Your expertise will help Bats without Borders lay the foundations for more effective conservation advocacy across southern Africa.

By helping us understand the policy landscape, identify key decision-makers and establish strategic priorities, you'll help us focus our efforts where they could have the greatest impact. The framework you develop with us will guide how we seek to influence decisions affecting bats and their habitats, helping ensure that bats are better recognised and considered in environmental policy, planning and development.

Your contribution will help turn our ambition for stronger recognition and protection of bats into a practical direction for future action.

What you will gain

You'll have the opportunity to shape an emerging area of work within a small conservation organisation and contribute your expertise to a meaningful cause. You'll work alongside a committed team of researchers, conservationists and other volunteers, bringing your experience to support a shared ambition for bat conservation across southern Africa.

We hope you'll find the project intellectually stimulating and rewarding, with the opportunity to apply your knowledge in a new context, help shape an organisation's future direction and see the foundations laid for longer-term conservation impact.

You'll be welcomed as part of the Bats without Borders team, with opportunities to share ideas, learn about our work and build connections with people working to protect bats and biodiversity.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility

Bats without Borders is committed to reducing inequality, valuing diversity and enabling inclusion. We are an equal opportunity organisation, and ensure positions are accessible to all, regardless of race, nationality, ethnicity, age, disability, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation or identity, religion, marital or parental status.