“Strongbow”‐ a project specifically designed for capacity building within HEIs in the fields of natural resource management, tourism and (eco) tourism – constitutes a powerful programme to address an important set of interwoven, problematic issues. The project has been constructed around the principle of sustainability: staff training (including 10 PhDs); gender balancing; continuous professional development; ownership in terms of management and organisation; establishing demand‐driven research and linkages with stakeholders; investments in the key area of (eco) tourism, based on sound natural resource management; catering to labourmarket needs and the involvement of the private sector.