Training:
workshop portfolio
Since 2004, TBA have carried out a series of specialist training workshops in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Kenya, 10-12th May 2004
Writing funding proposals and communicating results
This workshop was run in partnership with the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi in 2004. Twenty participants attended the workshop representing 7 Kenyan institutions including government departments, NGOs, and conservation and research institutions. The target group was researchers and conservation practitioners who were in a position to put into practise their new skills learned after the workshop. Resource people at the workshop came from institutions in Kenya and UK .
Combining lectures with practicals, the workshop taught skills in writing papers for publication, preparing funding proposals, and communicating results to a wider audience. A year later, a follow-up questionnaire was sent out to the participants who told us that 4 out of 6 scientific papers submitted had been accepted, and 2 trainees had been successful with their grant applications while 2 others were still waiting to hear results.
One told us:
"The proposals and scientific papers which I have successfully prepared have raised the scientific profile of the institution I have been working for since the training". (Kenyan participant)
Overall, the feedback gives a strong indication that the workshop was extremely useful in equipping the trainees with skills they need to write up scientific papers and competitive funding proposals, as well as building confidence and initiating a useful network of Kenyan biolog ists who may otherwise not have interacted at this level.
Tanzania, 23-26th August 2005
Proposal writing and communicating results
The second workshop was organized in partnership with the Sokoine University of Agriculture, in Tanzania . The workshop targeted conservation scientists and park ecologists working for government, NGOs, academic, conservation and research institutions in Tanzania . Over 100 people applied for the 18 places on the workshop, and trainees 
recommended that the workshop be held more regularly because of the large number of upcoming conservation scientists in need of this kind of training.
One participant wrote "it is the best training I have ever participated [in]."
"My particular interest was in helping with ideas and techniques to improve writing and organization skills for the preparation of scientific papers, and in the skills required for oral presentation. Our four days together was intensive but thoroughly enjoyable, and I believe that both the attendees and the facilitators benefited from the workshop."
Workshop teacher, Martin Fisher 2005
"The STP workshop assisted me to get a very good job as through that workshop I gained confidence to high extent particularly from my presentation. My colleagues did their presentation on natural resources issues, its problems and conservation of. In questions targeted at my talk, I was able to give good and sufficient answers. What I can request to you is that you can conduct more seminars to others for their future."
Jasmin Mushi, 2005 participant
To ensure that the workshop participants continue to apply their new skills and benefit from the training, the TBA has enrolled them in its Follow-up Support Programme. Through this programme, the participants will receive regular information on funding, research and training opportunities that will be matched according to individual professional interest.
Darwin workshop in Tanzania, 12-16th June 2006
Invasive plants in tropical forest ecosystems
The workshop formed part of a Defra Darwin Initiative Project called Combating Invasive Alien Plants threatening the East Usambara Mountains. This is a collaborative project investigating the ecology and distribution of alien invasive plants in the Amani Nature Reserve, Tanzania, June 2006.
The workshop: The target group was plant ecologists and conservation scientists whose work is relevant to the study and management of alien plant species. Participants increased their understanding of the ecology and management of invasive plant species and learn up to date field methods in surveying and monitoring alien plants. Much of the teaching was be field-based, and 
lectures provided information on current concepts in this field.
Trainers came from established research and academic institutions in Tanzania and the UK.
Aims :
- taught practical skills in surveys and monitoring, including use of GPS and mapping techniques,
- provided instruction in the use of software for the analysis and display of species distribution data,
- boosted attendees' understanding of the invasive plant species ecology and control
- built institutional capacity as new skills are transferred after the workshop
- catalyse links between forest biologists nationally and internationally
The training workshop was so important in building my capacity in research and added significantly on knowledge and skills pertaining to the subject. Moreover, it gave me a valuable opportunity to develop rigorous scientific thinking by exposing me to different personal interactions, sharing experiences, and exchanging scientific ideas with different scientists from various research and academic institutions within and outside Tanzania . Tanzanian workshop participant.
Download the full Darwin workshop report here (pdf)
View the Usambara invasive website for more information.
Uganda, 8 - 11th August 2006
Writing for publication, fundraising and communicating results
TBA held a workshop on writing for publication, fundraising and communicating results in 
collaboration with Makerere University, Uganda . 50 individuals, from 23 institutions competed for the 19 places available on the workshop. The workshop aimed to enhance the capacity of institutions to fundraise and publish their work, and communicate their results to a diverse audience. It is expected that the participants will disseminate their new skills to staff at their home institutions afterwards.
The workshop aims were achieved through intensive teaching integrated with practical exercises, group discussions, presentations, and feedback sessions. Two visiting sp eakers complemented the teaching through talks on fundraising and case studies of research and conservation initiatives in Uganda. Eight participants gave talks on their own work as part of the module on communication skills.
The trainer-participant interaction was particularly good and the traine es contributed freely in discussions and remained engaged throughout the workshop. It is hoped that they would carry the same attitude, and go on to share their new skills with colleagues at their ho
me institution or work station. All participants received the TBA skills series Writing for publication and Fundraising guidelines together with materials from the workshop teachers.
Several participants on the workshop were alumni from the TBA field courses. Robinah K Nanyunja (pictured) is one such alumnus who now works for Save our Planet Earth-Uganda. Skills learned on the workshop will be useful in her fund-raising activities for her new organisation
Download the full TBA 2006 workshop report here (pdf)
Such workshops should continuously be run in Uganda to enlighten more of STP. I am going to start helping friends and my institution to review their reports, proposals and publish my work too. Ugandan workshop participant.
Workshop in India
9-13th Feb 2007 Orang National Park
22-28th Feb 2006 Manas National Park
In February 2006 and 2007, TBA's director was invited by Aaranyak, a society for biodiversity conservation in Northeastern Ind
ia to help carry out workshops. These week long training programmes entitled Conservation Beyond Boundaries for young conservation workers was organized at Manas National Park. TBA are proud of this collaboration and hopes to be in invited to more workshops of this kind throughout Asia and Africa. Click here on the Aaranyak website to view more.
Darwin Invasive Plant Workshop 14-18th May 2007
Invasion risk assessment in tropical ecosystems
This was the second workshop of Defra Darwin Initiative Project 
called Combating Invasive Alien Plants threatening the East Usambara Mountains, a collaborative project investigating the ecology and distribution of alien invasive plants in the Amani Nature Reserve.
Aim: The workshop was to teach Tanzanian conservation biologists up to date techniques in the risk assessment of invasive alien plant species. Specifically, the workshop was to illustrate the concept of risk assessment, provide instruction in the use of software to analyse the different types of risk posed by invasive plants, assist in developing priority lists and management goals boost attendees' understanding of the invasive plant species ecology, build institutional capacity as new skills are transferred after the workshop, catalyse links between ecologists nationally and internationally.
Download the full Darwin workshop report here (pdf)
View the Usambara invasive website for more information.
Uganda 1-4th May 2007
Fundraising and communication skills
The Specialist Training Workshop for 2007 was held on the 1-4th May in Uganda. This workshop was funded by WCS - Uganda and the Tropical Biology Association. It was designed to enhance the capacity of conservation managers working for the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to raise funds, write scientific papers and communicate their work effectively to the general public, policy makers and the conservation community.
A total of 15 participants were trained during the workshop. Out of the total, 11 were Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Staff, 2 were drawn from Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS - Uganda ), and 1 from Makerere University and the Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation (ITFC - Uganda). As pictured here all participants received the TBA skills series Writing for publication and Fundraising guidelines .
Teachers and resource people for the workshop were drawn from the Tropical Biolo gy Association (TBA), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS - Uganda ), Makerere University , Wildlife Clubs of Uganda, and the New Vision Newspaper.
Download the full TBA-WCS 2007 workshop report here (pdf)
"This is a very good kind of in-service training course needed by staff at various levels including the executive director"
The UWA director of research and monitoring
receiving the TBA skills guide scientific writing
Follow up quotes from STP alumni
"I have been able to learn a lot within the short time… it has changed my ways of looking and being analytical about write ups, especially publications."
Unknown, STP Uganda 2007
"The training helped to improved my report writing and be confident in presenting results. Since then I was successful in obtaining two scholarships."
Hildelitha B. Msita, STP 2005
"My participation in the STP prepared me for greater responsibilities in NCRC, which included proposal writing. I must say NCRC has been very successful in getting 4 proposals through in 2006 and have already received positive responses to 4 other concept papers."
Victor Mwiningbang Mombu, STP 2005
"The STP training helped me to build my capacity of writing good proposals. I was able to write my MSc. proposal which was accepted by the University and I was allowed to continue with my second year of research."
Ezekiel Edward, STP 2005
"The training added to my skill in writing my scholarship application to under take an M.Sc. in Applied Ecology and Conservation."
Mike Anthony Kiragu Mwangi, STP 2004
"The training on proposal writing and scientific communication by the TBA improved my proposal writing skills and scientific communication. Through this, I managed to get a PhD graduate research assistantship at the University of New Brunswick , Canada."
Thomas O. Ochuodho, STP 2004
"The short training in proposal development and communicating scientific results helped me to sharpen my skills in proposal writing and presentation of my findings especially in workshops and conferences. Some proposals I have developed have been funded."
Cornelius Matingi, STP 2004