AVA Academy South Africa is an intensive three-day professional development program for leaders and advocates working to strengthen the animal advocacy movement in Africa. It combines deep training in one core track with shared cross-cutting electives.

Your primary afternoon learning cohort for all three days.

Participants choose one Core Track to follow throughout the Academy, allowing for deep, continuous skill development in a single domain. Tracks for South Africa include:

• Organizational Development & Leadership

• Fundraising & Financial Sustainability

• Advocacy Strategy & Influence

Rotating sessions that build shared, cross-cutting skills.

Electives are designed to create a shared foundation across disciplines. More information about AVA Academy South Africa’s Morning Electives will be available soon.

Summits are large convenings for strategy alignment and movement-wide collaboration. Academies are small, intensive, and workshop-driven — built for deep learning and applied practice rather than broader knowledge sharing and networking.

Advocates of any seniority pursuing professional skill-building — including NGO staff, campaigners, fundraisers, researchers, policy practitioners, communications staff, and emerging leaders working at national or regional levels.

Each Core Track is taught by a Lead Facilitator with relevant movement experience, supported by a Co-Facilitator or Coach, and selected for applied, workshop-style teaching.

Yes. All accepted applicants are automatically provided with a Travel Award to attend the event.

Lunch will be provided for all three days of the Academy.

Attendance is capped at approximately 75-100 participants to preserve a small-cohort, workshop-based learning experience.

By application only. Selection prioritizes diversity across roles, regions, and experience levels, and requires commitment to attend all three days.

March 2027 — Johannesburg, venue to be confirmed.

Applicants will receive a decision via email after the review period closes. Accepted participants will be given instructions to complete registration, select their Core Track, and confirm any support needs such as visa letters or Travel Award applications.

If your Academy application is accepted and you indicate that you need financial assistance, the AVA Program Team will email you a Travel Award application link. Travel support is not automatic — you must complete this separate form after acceptance for your request to be considered.

Registration costs are based on the applicant’s organizational budget:

• Over €500,000/year — Standard ticket: $450 USD

• €250,000–€499,999/year — Reduced ticket: $150 USD

• €100,000–€249,999/year — No ticket cost + 50% travel support eligibility (up to $250)

• Under €100,000/year — No ticket cost + 100% travel support eligibility (up to $500)

Financial support for travel is not automatic. If you are accepted and indicated need, you will receive a separate Travel Award application by email from the AVA Program Team.

Yes. Because the Academy is cohort-based and workshops build on prior sessions, accepted participants must be able to attend all three full days.

No. You must choose one. Facilitators and participants experience the Academy differently, and roles cannot be combined in the same year.

No. The Academy is designed as a live, workshop-based environment with confidential discussion. Recordings are not provided.

Yes, international applicants are welcome, but content is designed primarily for African-based advocacy contexts and funding ecosystems.

Yes. If you are accepted and require a formal invitation letter for visa purposes, AVA can provide one upon request.

No. Spots are limited and cannot be held for future cohorts. If you cannot attend, you may reapply for a future cycle.

Yes. You will select your Core Track during registration after acceptance, and it will be confirmed in your pre-event materials.