A source book for strengthening conservation professionals, practice and organisations mentoring to support work-integrated learning

The document outlines a developmental approach to mentoring within the conservation sector, moving from a deficiency-based model to one focused on professional growth. It details various mentoring forms—including one-on-one, group, peer, and network-based models—and provides a practical guide for mentors to identify needs, design tasks, and assess progress. The guide emphasizes the importance of mutual trust, flexibility, and the integration of mentoring with formal training to strengthen organisational capacity and support the transition of new graduates into the workforce.

• Mentoring in the workplace is defined as a developmental relationship focused on increasing the professional practice and competence of the mentee through guidance, support, and opportunities for growth.
• Effective mentoring requires specific personal attributes from both parties; mentors should provide expertise, availability, and a 'safety net' that allows mentees the space to innovate, while mentees must demonstrate a commitment to learning and flexibility.
• The document distinguishes between several developmental approaches: counselling focuses on reflecting on past behaviour to improve practice, coaching is instructive and focuses on current job competence, and mentoring takes a broader, long-term view of the individual's career and life.
• To address resource constraints and multidisciplinary needs, the guide suggests alternative mentoring forms beyond one-on-one relationships, such as networks of mentors for diverse expertise, group mentoring to develop professional practice, and peer mentoring for shared learning among colleagues.
• Mentoring needs and focuses vary by career stage: school learners require career exposure; undergraduate interns need support for curriculum requirements; young graduates need induction and orientation; and mid-career or senior professionals focus on strategic management or specialised competence.
• A task-based approach is recommended to avoid giving mentees menial work; mentors should design small, measurable, and time-bound tasks that respond to the mentee's development needs while providing value to the organisation.
• The guide proposes specific tools for clarifying mentoring needs, including the development of a personal mission statement to map career aspirations and a 'NICE' analysis to assess Needs, Interests, Competences, and Expectations.
• While some organisations seek to institutionalise mentoring by including it in performance assessments, evidence suggests that informal, elective mentoring is often more effective than prescriptive, formal processes.

APA

Raven, G. (2011). A source book for strengthening conservation professionals, practice and organisations mentoring to support work-integrated learning. WWF South Africa. http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/mentoring_to_support_work_intergrated_learning.pdf

Chicago

Raven, Glenda. A source book for strengthening conservation professionals, practice and organisations mentoring to support work-integrated learning. WWF South Africa, 2011. http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/mentoring_to_support_work_intergrated_learning.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Raven |first1=Glenda |title=A source book for strengthening conservation professionals, practice and organisations mentoring to support work-integrated learning |publisher=WWF South Africa |date=2011 |url=http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/mentoring_to_support_work_intergrated_learning.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{raven2011source, author = {Raven, Glenda}, title = {{A source book for strengthening conservation professionals, practice and organisations mentoring to support work-integrated learning}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, year = {2011}, url = {http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/mentoring_to_support_work_intergrated_learning.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }