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

This 2011 guide, published by WWF South Africa, provides a framework for implementing mentoring to support work-integrated learning within the conservation sector. Drawing on the Cape Action for People and the Environment (C.A.P.E.) Capacity Development Programme, it outlines various mentoring models, the attributes of effective mentors and mentees, and practical strategies for task-based learning to strengthen professional capacity and organisational practice.

• 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.
• The document distinguishes between several developmental approaches: counselling focuses on reflecting on past jobs to improve practice; coaching is instructive and focuses on current job competence; and training teaches specific skills, often off-site.
• Effective mentoring is supported by specific attributes in both parties, including the mentor's expertise, availability, and willingness to provide a 'safety net' while allowing the mentee space to innovate, as well as the mentee's commitment to learning and flexibility.
• To address resource constraints and multidisciplinary needs, the guide suggests moving beyond one-on-one mentoring to alternative forms: networks of mentors for diverse expertise, group mentoring to develop professional practice, and peer mentoring for collegial learning.
• Mentoring purposes and focuses vary by the mentee's career stage: school learners require career exposure; undergraduate interns need support for curriculum requirements; young graduates need induction and orientation; and junior to senior professionals require competence strengthening for career progression or strategic management.
• The guide recommends a task-based approach to workplace learning, where mentors design small, measurable, and time-bound tasks that respond to the mentee's development needs while providing value to the organisation.
• Practical tools for clarifying mentoring needs include the development of a personal mission statement to map career visions and a 'NICE' analysis to identify Needs, Interests, Competences, and Expectations.
• The document notes a tension between the roles of manager and mentor, suggesting that in resource-constrained environments, these roles often overlap, which can cause tension unless managed creatively, such as through cross-mentoring between different management areas.
• Institutionalising mentoring through formal performance assessments is debated; the document suggests that informal mentoring is often more effective as prescriptive requirements can lead to negative reactions.

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} }