IDOS African-German Shaping Futures Academy 2024 For Young Professionals: Apply Now!

Introduction to the IDOS African-German Shaping Futures Academy 2024

The IDOS African German Shaping Futures Academy 2024 is a program designed to provide young professionals from African partner countries with training and dialogue. The program provides participants with the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills, and contacts to help them succeed in their professional endeavors. It also promotes mutual understanding and collaboration between African and German professionals. Finally, it helps to create a more sustainable and prosperous Africa.

About the IDOS African-German Shaping Futures Academy 2024

The 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 programme 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 programme is conducted in English.

The format of the dialogue and training programme sees 25 participants from government institutions, think tanks and research institutions, civil society, and the private sector. They all bring together their experience and expertise in working in the area of sustainable development. Participation in the programme also facilitates networking opportunities with German and European stakeholders from various sectors and with representatives from African institutions.

Eligibility Criteria

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 to 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 is required as part of the 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.

Eligible Countries

African countries (Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Togo, and Zambia) and European countries (EU, EEA, and UK)

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 programme, delivered in block format, utilizes a range of training methods used to cultivate learning, including but not limited to facilitated sessions, workshops, open space and bar camp formats, presentations, discussions, excursions, expert interviews, and role-play. The Shaping Futures Academy works under the premise that knowledge acquisition is not passive but requires open and active engagement. Through collaborative peer learning, participants benefit from an exchange of different perspectives, hone their critical thinking skills, and develop shared values. The format of the Academy is based on the training concept developed in the frame of the MGG Academy.

Benefits of IDOS African-German Shaping Futures Academy 2024

A high-quality digital programme, combining academic insights and hands-on training, including insights into the practice of the German political, economic and social system
Innovative training and exchanges on leadership skills are crucial for sustainable development in different contexts

Strengthening digital collaboration skills by working online in highly diverse teams
Shaping a network of organisations and individuals dedicated to sustainable development from seven African countries and Germany

How to Apply

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: A Copy of diploma or certificate (in English, French or English translation) of the highest professional qualification and/or university degree

The application portal will be available shortly. Applications sent by email will not be considered. It is important to go through all the application requirements on the official webpage (see link below) before applying.

Click here to visit the official webpage for more details