Not just a Fellowship 

By Eric Gaitho Macharia, LGT Impact Fellow at Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA), Kenya

When I began working with Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA) under the LGT
Fellowship program, I imagined financial management tasks, excel spreadsheets, financial
audits and project reports would define most of my experience. What I did not fully anticipate
was how the work would come to life beyond the office walls and across conservancies,
communities, wildlife habitats and breathtaking regional landscapes that tell the story of
conservation in Kenya.

Working as a Project Accountant fellow, my role mostly revolves the traditional 8am-5pm job
ensuring accountability, strengthening systems, supporting compliance, and enabling smooth
project implementation. But through this fellowship I have had the privilege of seeing the direct
impact this work supports. I have walked through Mangar Conservancy in the expansive Baringo
Landscape. I have witnessed the Big Maasai Mara Landscape including being at Mara Ripoi,
Mbokishi and Orpua conservancies through Naboisho Conservancy and watched wildlife thrive
across the expansive Mara landscape. This visit simply reminded me that conservation goes
beyond wildlife, it is about people, livelihoods and preserving our heritage. December took me to
the Amboseli Landscape where for the first time I saw the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro rise above
the clouds at close proximity. From Kimana town, the mountain feels close enough and peaceful
at the same time. A game drive through Amboseli National Park gave me first hand appreciation
of the biodiversity we work so hard to protect. It was bigger than just sightseeing. It was
witnessing the result of community led conservation and collaboration between communities,
government, and conservation partners.

While in Kimana, I also crossed the border and dined in Tarakea, Tanzania. That simple
experience reinforced just how connected our region is and how Kenya in its diversity remains an
incredibly subtle place to call home.

People often underwrite the power of strong finance and accountability systems in the impact
space. Yet, it is this foundation that allows teams to plan, implement and scale impact. Being
part of the KWCA team has shown me that every budget tracked, every report completed and
every financial process strengthened contributes to empowered communities, protected
diversity and sustainable livelihoods. The field visits reminded me that I am part of something
larger and more impactful. My work supports teams who spend their days engaging
communities, managing conservancies, resolving challenges and ensuring conservation
continues to thrive.

This fellowship has taken me to places I never imagined visiting. It has literally and figuratively
expanded my world in ways I cannot fathom to explain. It has introduced me to communities
whose resilience inspires me. It deepened my appreciation for Kenya’s natural heritage. It has
stretched me professionally and personally. I had to leave the LGT Fellowship kick-off workshop
because I unexpectedly became ill. Although it was a challenging experience, it served as a
potent reminder of the fellowship community’s strength. My Fellowship Manager even paid me a
visit in the hospital and my fellow fellows were always checking in on me and encouraging me.
That small gesture of kindness demonstrated true humanity and unity and went beyond
professional etiquette. It gave me confidence that this fellowship is about more than just career
advancement. It’s about being a part of a caring community that supports one another.

I look to the future with optimism. I hope to continue growing in my career, strengthening
accountability systems and contributing in the impact space where meaningful change lives. I
am optimistic about the future of the communities, the remarkable landscapes I have had the
privilege to visit and the wildlife whose continued existence is closely linked to the sustained
conservation efforts of players like KWCA.

The LGT Fellowship has been more than a professional placement. It has been a life changing
experience filled with knowledge and fresh sense of purpose. I have seen firsthand how effective
processes, accountability and collaboration result in significant benefits for communities and
biodiversity preservation. It served as a reminder that every effort, whether in the field or at a
desk, counts. This fellowship has strengthened my commitment to service, expanded my
perspective, and strengthened my resolve to continue supporting initiatives that protect
biodiversity, empower people, and build a sustainable future