The Shaping Futures: African-European Network on Development and Sustainability Academy (Shaping Futures Academy), formerly known as the BMZ African-German Leadership Academy (African Academy), is a dialogue and training program targeted at early to mid-career professionals from participating African (Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Togo, and Zambia) and European (EU, EEA, and UK) countries. The Shaping Futures Academy aims to empower future leaders on both continents by bringing together like-minded peers to reflect on their roles in their respective communities and institutions and develop strategies on how they can induce or support change processes for a transformation to sustainability in the present and future contexts.
With diversity at its core, the Shaping Futures Academy welcomes participants from various sectors (civil society, academia, think tanks, public administration, business, and media) to encourage transdisciplinarity and promote networking and knowledge exchange.
The Shaping Futures Academy is hosted by the German Institute for Development and Sustainability (IDOS) and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The program is conducted in English.
The Shaping Futures Academy is grounded in three essential elements that contribute to capacity development: knowledge, action, and leadership.
- The knowledge element offers participants the space to exchange and jointly learn about the themes of governance and sustainability on both a global and local level. In the academic modules, participants strengthen their analytical capabilities through engagement with different concepts and direct interaction with diverse scientific and practice-oriented stakeholders. This includes encounters in discussions, workshops, and site visits to selected institutions.
- The action elements offer participants the opportunity to combine and expand their knowledge and skills, as well as to put them into practice. Working independently in small and changing group constellations, participants collectively develop mini-projects and assignments that allow them to connect their various expertises in diverse learning formats.
- The leadership element focuses on developing individual and collective competencies, including strengthening dialogue skills, problem solving, exchanging perspectives, teamwork, reflecting on one’s values, and building strong and trustful relationships, which will also benefit the participants’ home institutions.
The Shaping Futures Academy targets early- to mid-career professionals from participating African (Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Togo, and Zambia) and European (EU, EEA, and UK) countries.
- be a national or permanent resident of one of the participating countries
- be 25 – 40 years old.
- work on issues relevant for sustainable development and governance
- have at least three years’ work experience (non-remunerated experience is also recognised)
- have the support of their employer (written support required as part of application)
- have a very good command of the English language (equivalent to B2 level of the CEFR)
- be respectful of other cultures
- be open to teamwork, reflection and a broad variety of working methods
- have a valid passport (at the time of travel)
Older applicants who have taken longer periods of parental leave may be considered.
Application:
For full information about Shaping Futures Academy 2024, please refer to the Academy Brochure.
To apply to become a participant, you will need to submit the following documents in pdf format via the application portal:
- Application Form Part I: Applicant’s Statement—to be completed and signed by the applicant.
- Application Form Part II: Employer Statement of Support—to be completed, signed, and stamped by the employer.
- Diploma: Copy of diploma or certificate (in English, French or English translation) of the highest professional qualification and/or university degree
Please make sure to read the Conditions for Participation before you apply. Only complete applications will be considered.Please submit your application documents via the application portal.
Applications sent by email will not be considered.
For any questions concerning the application process, please contact: shapingfutures@idos-research.de
Click here to apply
