In order to effectively address the increasing loss of biodiversity, governments, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions from the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia need to be aware of the multitude of natural and human-induced factors, and need to develop the technical and management capacities of their young professionals to promote national and international conservation processes. Addressing this need, a high-profile extra-occupational fellowship programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry. The project aimed at establishing the basis for the felloship programme.