The Aspire Grant Program, established by CARN in 2014, aims to foster and empower a new generation of African environmental and conservation experts. It focuses on addressing the urgent challenges of wildlife, biodiversity, and ecosystem health in the Congo Basin. The program supports young African scientists in conducting conservation research and management activities, encouraging them to remain in their countries and contribute to local scientific communities and conservation efforts.
The Aspire Grant Program offers competitive research grants of up to $5,000 USD targeting African graduate students and early career professionals working on biodiversity, conservation, and environmental sustainability in the Congo Basin region. It emphasizes the importance of the Congo Basin as a critical center of biodiversity, facing threats from habitat conversion, deforestation, and climate change. The program seeks to build a foundation for young researchers to become independent, aiding in the development of sustainable conservation solutions by providing essential "bridge funding."