Deadline: 09-Nov-2025
Applications are now open for the Shaping Futures Academy Programme to foster leadership, governance, and sustainable development among early to mid-career professionals from selected African and European countries.
The Shaping Futures Academy builds capacity through three core elements: Knowledge, where participants enhance analytical skills and engage with concepts like systems thinking and multidimensional inequalities; Action, where they apply acquired knowledge collaboratively using practical tools and methods; and Leadership, which develops dialogue, problem-solving, teamwork, and self-reflection to strengthen both personal and institutional growth.
Scheduled between April and October 2026, the Academy consists of three connected learning blocks, combining three part-time online modules and one full-time in-person phase. The in-person component will be held from May to July 2026 at IDOS in Bonn, Germany, in collaboration with the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD Ghana).
This phase includes alternating leadership and academic modules, one of which is designed and facilitated by CDD Ghana, and concludes with study trips to Berlin and Brussels. The online sessions in April, September, and October are conducted part-time, requiring around three hours of peer learning per day through diverse learning formats, including plenary calls, group work, self-paced learning, and offline discussions.
Successful participants will receive financial assistance covering travel, accommodation, a monthly living allowance for the in-person phase, health and liability insurance, and a subsidy to meet online technical requirements. However, the financial support does not extend to accompanying family members.
Participants will benefit from an innovative and practice-oriented learning environment that strengthens leadership skills, promotes cultural exchange, and builds an international network of professionals engaged in governance and sustainable development.
Sending institutions will also gain through enhanced staff expertise, strengthened international cooperation, and opportunities to contribute to global and regional development agendas, including the 2030 Agenda and the African Agenda 2063.
The programme targets early to mid-career professionals aged 25–40 from Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Tunisia, Zambia, the EU, EEA countries, and the UK, who work on issues relevant to sustainable development and governance.
Applicants must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree, possess three years of professional experience, and have employer support. A good command of English (minimum B2 level) is required, along with openness to teamwork and intercultural collaboration. Applicants must commit to full participation in both the online and in-person phases and hold a valid passport for the programme duration.
Applications must be submitted via the online portal, including both the applicant’s and employer’s statements of support and relevant academic documents.
The deadline for submission is 9 November 2025.
For more information, visit IDOS.
