During the ongoing Global Conservation Tech & Drone Forum 2026, Cynthia Nekesa was on March 4, 2026, announced as the winner of the inaugural Youth Conservation Tech Award, recognizing her outstanding contribution to advancing technology-driven solutions for wildlife conservation.
The award, which is sponsored by the Mara Elephant Project (MEP), recognises young leaders who are applying technology to create tangible, field-tested conservation impact.
The award ceremony, held during a high-visibility plenary session at GCTDF 2026, celebrated Ms Nekesa and four other exceptional finalists for their practical, ethical, and leadership-driven approach to conservation technology.
A panel of expert judges, including representatives from the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Smart Earth Ranger Conservation Alliance, and Lion Guardians, conducted in-depth interviews with the five finalists before selecting the winner.
Speaking during the award ceremony, Jonty Slater, co-founder, Global Conservation Tech and Drone Forum, said that they received 48 high-quality submissions from across Africa, and the calibre of the work is a strong testament to the energy, ingenuity and commitment of young people bringing technology to life.
“We were looking for technology that is practical and operational, demonstrating measurable conservation outcomes rather than just ideas. Cynthia and all our finalists exemplify this new generation of operationally grounded conservationists,” he said
Nekesa was honoured for developing and deploying a conservation-focused digital platform that integrates technology to support environmental sustainability and knowledge preservation. Her work demonstrates applied innovation and strong leadership in bridging community knowledge with digital tools for conservation outcomes.
As the winner, Nekesa received several incentives: the prestigious Elephant Bronze Award, donated by Safari Bronzes, a tailored, hands-on internship with the Mara Elephant Project (MEP), focused on developing her skills in a drone-focused operational role, an annual membership to the Society for Conservation Biology and a coffee barista experience, donated by Amka Café.
All five finalists, Catherine Naserian Kiseperi, Brian Omwoyo, Andrew Anyona Mogambi, and Barg’etuny Job Cheruiyot, received complimentary access to the forum, a one-year membership to the Society for Conservation Biology, and a book from the Nature Drones stand.
Additionally, the four runners-up will participate in the fully funded “MEP Experience,” a four-day immersive programme at the Mara Elephant Project’s headquarters to gain direct exposure to field operations.
Marc Goss, CEO, THE Mara Elephant Project said that joining GCTDF 2026 is important to them because conservation today depends on sharing knowledge, building skills, and working together.
“Emerging technologies drive innovation and are most effective when grounded in field experience and accessible to the people shaping the future of conservation in Africa,” he said, adding that they are proud to support Cynthia and all the finalists through the award, and he looks forward to welcoming her to the MEP team.”
The Youth Conservation Tech Award was established to spotlight young innovators aged 25 and under who are moving beyond conceptual ideas to deploy responsible technologies such as drones, artificial intelligence, geographic information systems (GIS), and sensor-based tools in real-world conservation operations.
The recognition underscores a growing shift in conservation, where emerging technologies are increasingly being developed and applied by a new generation of African innovators.
As a centrepiece initiative of the Global Conservation Tech & Drone Forum 2026, the award reinforces the forum’s commitment to inclusive innovation and to building career pathways for the next generation of conservation leaders.
By spotlighting youth-led solutions, organisers say the initiative aims to encourage more young people to harness technology in protecting wildlife and ecosystems while shaping the future of conservation across the continent.