Newly founded African-German Leadership Academy fosters mutual learning on sustainability

Newly founded African-German Leadership Academy fosters mutual learning on sustainability

Press Release of 28 April 2021

Bonn, 28 April 2021. Shaping sustainable economic and social change together - that is the aim of the newly established BMZ African-German Leadership Academy. The training and dialogue programme for young professionals from Germany’s African reform partner countries contributes to the development of leadership skills, encourages dialogue and mutual learning for sustainability. It is being hosted by the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) and funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) whose minister, Dr. Gerd Müller, now officially opened the programme.

As African countries, societies and economies strive towards achieving the objectives of the Agenda 2063 and the Agenda 2030 for sustainable development, it is becoming increasingly clear that the prospects for global sustainability depend on the success of this ambition. The BMZ African-German Leadership Academy, being organised and hosted by the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), aims to provide a space for mutual learning and dialogue on leadership competencies for governance of sustainable development between seven African countries – Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, Togo and Tunisia – and Germany. As a part of this programme, 26 young professionals from the partner countries and Germany, who work in the area of sustainable development in government institutions, think tanks and research institutions, civil society and the private sector, come together and exchange their ideas, experiences and expertise working in the field of sustainable development.

Increasing importance of cooperation between African countries and Germany

Dr. Sven Grimm, Head of the Programme Inter- and Transnational Cooperation and responsible for the Training Activities at DIE, along with his international team of researchers, have conceptualised this new format. In his opinion, “Africa is a key continent for the global 2030 Agenda. For knowledge and innovation, we need cooperation and shared learning“.

“Human development faces diverse challenges. New knowledge, joint approaches and strong networks are indispensable for a viable future – for African actors as well as for German ones”, states Prof. Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge, Director of the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE).

A common forum for actors of change for a common future in one world -  this approach is central to the African-German Leadership Academy and is stressed upon by one of its organisers Modiegi Morare, a researcher from South Africa in the African-German Leadership Academy: “In the context of the 2030 Agenda, the exchange on development is not a one-way street. It is becoming imperative that we learn from each other and with each other to develop solutions for the future challenges of our societies.“

In 2021, the programme takes place as a shortened pilot, full-time digital programme between 26 April and 7 May. A longer version of the BMZ African-German Leadership Academy spanning three months is planned from 2022 onwards.

Some Highlights of the programme

• A high-quality digital programme, combining, academic insights and hands-on training, including exchanges on the practice of the respective political, economic and social systems and cooperation with Germany
• Innovative training and exchanges on leadership skills 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