The Pathways Programme
Careers to Help Animals in Africa
Join our 6 weeks, online self-guided programme - open to everyone, free of charge. Study at your own pace - anywhere, anytime, with as much or as little time as you can commit.
Launching December 8, 2025
Across Africa, thousands of talented and motivated people want to help farmed animals, but few know where to begin. Many are unsure how their skills, experience, or career goals can translate into meaningful impact.
To bridge this gap, we are launching ‘Pathways’ - self-guided programme on careers to help animals in Africa - designed to help you explore impactful career paths, understand your strengths, and take your first concrete steps toward helping animals effectively.
This free, open-access course builds on insights from our research and programmes, which have supported dozens of advocates across the continent to launch new organisations, lead new projects, and influence the trajectory of factory farming.
By the end of the course, you’ll know where you can do the most good for farmed animals, and how to get started. You’ll clarify your strengths, explore high-impact career paths, and leave with a practical action plan (plus resources and connections) to take your next step. Along the way, we will identify standout participants for tailored follow-up support and future opportunities.
To get the most out of the course, we recommend setting aside around 5 hours per week, but feel free to engage at your own pace, with as much or as little time as you can.
Week 0
Orientation
Join the platform, get familiar with the course, and share your background.
Week 1
Values and Motivation
Learn what effective animal advocacy means and why farmed animals in Africa need your voice.
Week 2
Self-Reflection
Learn why your career decisions matter - explore how the work you choose can create real impact for animals and what makes some paths more effective than others.
Week 3
Personal Leverage
Discover the many ways individuals create change - through their skills, networks, and financial resources.
Week 4–5
Career Exploration
Learn to evaluate and compare different career paths and identify the ones that fit you best.
Week 6
Action Planning
Turn reflection into results by designing a personal roadmap for your next steps.
The Programme
This is a 6-week self-paced online course. All materials are hosted on our learning platform and can be completed from anywhere in the world at your own pace.
You’ll explore a mix of readings, videos, and reflective exercises, each designed to help you connect your personal values, strengths, and professional goals with real opportunities in animal advocacy.
After completing the course, you’ll receive a certificate of completion and gain access to further opportunities - eligibility for mentorship, 1:1 career advising and AAA’s incubation and fellowship programmes.
What to expect
Grow a purpose-driven career for farmed animals.
Explore key concepts of effective animal advocacy, impact, and prioritisation.
Reflect on your skills, values, and strengths to find where you fit best.
Gain insight into high-impact career paths.
Access curated resources from leading organisations such as Animal Advocacy Careers, 80,000 Hours, and Probably Good.
Receive a certificate of completion and a potential for follow-up support.
Study at your own pace - anywhere, anytime, with as much or as little time as you can commit.
Learn alongside a cohort of motivated advocates, sharing insights and experiences as you explore your next steps.
Who should join?
This course is designed for anyone who wants to build a meaningful career helping farmed animals in Africa.
You don’t need to tick every box - if a few of these describe you, this course is for you:
You feel motivated to make a positive impact for animals.
You’re exploring a career transition.
You already work in an adjacent field such as conservation, public health, or food systems and want to refocus on animal welfare.
You’re curious about effective altruism and how to apply its principles in the African context.
You want greater clarity, direction, and confidence in your next career steps.
FAQ
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You don't need prior experience in animal advocacy—just a strong interest in creating a large, positive change in improving the lives of farmed animals.
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While we'd love to help all participants, only the most promising ones will receive direct support from us after completing the programme.
The exact selection process and criteria will be outlined during the programme.
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Our goal is to reduce the suffering of farmed animals as much as possible, and we are open to a variety of ways of doing that. We envision a world where animals are no longer exploited. However, we recognise that this is a long-term goal that requires a multifaceted approach. In the interim, we believe that taking steps to ensure farmed animals have better lives is crucial and impactful.
We believe that more conscious consumer practices, such as vegetarianism and veganism, can be effective ways for consumers to reduce the suffering that their consumption causes. While we believe that dietary change is part of the solution, we also believe that it is just one part of it: those of us who care about farmed animals must engage a variety of strategies, and work with both consumers and those who abstain from animal products, if we are to bring about a more compassionate world.
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No, you do not have to be vegan to join. We welcome individuals from various dietary backgrounds who share our core values. While veganism isn't a requirement, we expect individuals to care about ending the suffering of farmed animals. You should be open to learning about and understanding the arguments for veganism, even if you haven't fully adopted the lifestyle. We encourage everyone to be open to discussions about animal rights, environmental impact, and ethical consumption.