On 10 November, the first application deadline for the Shaping Futures Academy 2025 passed. By this stage, we had received a high number of applications from Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia. This resulted in extending the application deadline only for the other participating countries to ensure regional diversity in the participant selection.
We have extended the application deadline for all remaining participating countries (Togo, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia and European countries) to ensure regional diversity in next year’s cohort. The new deadline for applications from the remaining countries was 24 November. We have now began with the selection process for participants who will join the Shaping Futures Academy in 2025!
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As the application phase for the forthcoming Academy year was underway, the Shaping Futures Academy 2024 cohort was concluding the final stage of the programme. The final module of the Academy, scheduled from 18 to 22 November, was conducted in a digital format. The concluding week of the programme required participants to engage in reflection and to consider their learning outcomes, as well as their personal development throughout the Academy. Additionally, participants were encouraged to consider their future prospects, as they and their respective institutions now have the opportunity to become members of the expanding Shaping Futures Alumni Network (SFAN).
Following the introduction of the Network to participants by alumni of former Academy cohorts, a formal farewell ceremony was held on Friday, 22 November, marking the conclusion of the Shaping Futures Academy 2024. The event was also attended by Christoph Rauh, Deputy Director General Africa from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Karen Pfundt, Head of Division 200 – Policy issues of cooperation with Africa, also from BMZ. Dr Sven Grimm, Head of Department Knowledge Cooperation and Training, and Dr Kojo Pumpuni Asante, Director of Policy Engagement and Partnerships at Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) also took part in it.
