The 2025 edition of the Shaping Futures Academy began with a dynamic two-week online module, where participants explored sustainable development and pitched their own sustainability statements. They examined Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030, guided by expert speakers. In June, the cohort will meet in Bonn for an engaging in-person phase.
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It was precisely on 5 May that the Academy kicked off: Participants got to know each other, defined shared values for collaboration in the Academy and, informed by different readings and personal experiences, discussed what sustainable development means to them.
In five peer learning groups, they defined their own sustainability statements, which they pitched to the other groups. The statements include key normative elements (what’s desirable?), preconditions (what needs to be in place to achieve sustainable development?) and challenges or contested elements in the road towards sustainability.
During the module’s second week, participants explored and discussed the content, implementation and challenges of and linkages between Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030. Nicholas Ouma from the African Union joined us as an external speaker in one session on Agenda 2063, and Dr Enock Nyorekwa Twinoburyo in another session on Agenda 2030. The module ended with presentations by participants on case studies related to the agendas. It was an intensive first module, especially because the participants continued working in their home countries. However, it meant a great way of getting to know each other before the next phase starts in Bonn.
In early June, the 2025 cohort will travel to and meet in Bonn for the in-person phase, which will last until 9 July. They will be introduced to IDOS and BMZ, follow a leadership and an academic module, and engage in study trips to Berlin and Brussels. As part of the introduction into IDOS, we will have a session called ‘Connecting Sustainable Futures – IDOS meets Shaping Futures’ in the afternoon of Thursday, 5 June starting at 2:45pm with coffee, cake and snacks. We look forward to an interactive session that will thematically link the 2025 participants with IDOS staff who attend the networking event.
