The BMZ African-German Leadership Training Academy: Apply Now (Fully-funded)

The BMZ African-German Leadership Academy is an innovative training and dialogue programme that brings together early to mid-career professionals from Germany and its African partner countries namely, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Zambia, Senegal, Tunisia and Togo. The programme aims to develop leadership skills and enable joint knowledge creation and peer learning needed for sustainable development, in accordance with the objectives of Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The programme is organised and hosted by the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

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 brought together to share their experience of 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.

Applications for the 2023 Academy are now open. Apply until 24 October 2022!

FORMAT AND CONTENT

The BMZ African-German Leadership Academy is grounded on three essential elements that contribute to capacity development: knowledge, leadership and action.

• Knowledge element offers participants the space to exchange knowledge and jointly learn about the themes of governance and sustainability, on both a global and local level. In our 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. A study trip to Brussels provides first-hand practical insights into policy-making.
• Leadership modules focus 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. Individual coaching for participants further complements the leadership modules.
• Action components are an open, creative and innovative learning space in which participants put their knowledge and skills into practice. Working independently in small groups, participants develop a hands-on solution and prototype for a self-selected challenge by following the design thinking method.

The programme utilizes a range of training methods used to cultivate learning, such as facilitated sessions, workshops, open space and bar camp formats, presentations, discussions, excursions, expert interviews and role-play. The African Academy works under the premise that knowledge acquisition is not passive, but requires open and active engagement by the learners. Through collaborative peer learning, participants benefit from an exchange of perspectives, hone their critical thinking skills and develop shared values. Participants and their home institutions will form part of a network and jointly engage in knowledge cooperation. Network activities are driven by the network members themselves, and can include collaborative organisation and hosting of high-level policy dialogues, joint publications, or other formats.

The format of the Academy is based on the training concept developed in the frame of the MGG Academy.

Eligibility Criteria

The BMZ African-German Leadership Academy is aimed at early to mid-career professionals from Germany and its African partner countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Togo, and Zambia.

Potential participants of the BMZ African-German Leadership Academy should:

• be a national or permanent resident of one of the participating countries
• be 25 – 40 years old*
• work on issues relevant for 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

*older applicants, who have taken longer periods of parental leave, may be considered.

How to apply

For full information about the upcoming BMZ African-German Leadership Academy 2023 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:

Click here to apply: Apply

 

Join the Mastercard Foundation Scholars                        Program  Opening Ceremony
September 15, 2pm - 5pm EAT

Watch the Opening Ceremony, which includes the unique tradition of the Flag Ceremony, where Scholars and universities represent their countries of origin. Learn about the future of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and the needs of the global marketplace through discussions with Scholars and guest panelists. Welcome remarks by Zein Abdalla, Chairman of the Mastercard Foundation Board of Directors, will be followed by a conversation with inaugural Scholars Program partners.

Join the conversation on social media: #scholars10

With nearly 40,000 Scholars across the globe, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program demonstrates how we find strength in diversity. The Baobab Summit brings together Mastercard Foundation Scholars every year to equip them with the skills they need to drive change. Tune in to the Summit to celebrate the efforts of our diverse and dynamic partner network, hear directly from our bright and resilient Scholars, and learn more about what has contributed to the evolution of this one-of-a-kind program in Africa. Join us for these live-streamed
and recorded events:

Day 1: Opening Ceremony, Thursday, September 15, 2 pm-5 pm EAT
Day 2: For Us, By Us: Scholar and Alumni Conversations on Leadership & Impact,

Friday, September 16, 9 am-12 am EAT 

Watch here: Baobab Summit 2022 - Mastercard Foundation (mastercardfdn.org)

                     (62) Mastercard Foundation - YouTube

                      (20+) Mastercard Foundation | Facebook

 The Mastercard Foundation Scholar partners and links to Apply

1.       CAMFED - Campaign for Female Education

Camfed works to break the cycle of poverty in Africa by educating and empowering girls and young women to become leaders of change.

2.       EGF (equitygroupfoundation.com)

Equity Group Foundation (EGF) is a not-for-profit implementing foundation based in Nairobi, Kenya that champions the social and economic transformation of the people of Africa.

3.       African Development Universalis (edu.ne)

African Development University aims to build a new generation of skilled, ethical leaders, motivated by its commitment to advance Niger’s development and improve living standards for all.

4.       Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program - African Leadership Academy

African Development University aims to build a new generation of skilled, ethical leaders, motivated by its commitment to advance Niger’s development and improve living standards for all.

5.       Undergraduate Scholarship (aub.edu.lb)

The vision of the Faculty of Health Sciences is to promote the health and well-being of populations through quality higher education.

6.       The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program - Ashesi University

Ashesi University College is a private, non-profit institution with a mission to educate a new generation of ethical, entrepreneurial leaders in Africa.

7.       Home | Mastercard Foundation, KNUST

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) advances knowledge in science and technology for sustainable development in Africa.

8.       Mastercard Foundation Scholarships | Sciences Po Students

Based in Paris, France, Sciences Po is an international research university ranking among the finest institutions in the fields of humanities and social sciences.

9.       The Mastercard Foundation Scholar Program de l’Université d’Abomey-Calavi (mcfsp-uac.bj)

Créée en 1970, l’Université d’Abomey-Calavi est la plus ancienne et la plus grande université publique du Bénin. Avec une population estudiantine estimée à 85.000 inscrits pour l’année universitaire 2016–2017, l’Université est un véritable lieu du savoir ayant formé la majorité des élites de la nation béninoise.

10.   The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program | The University of Edinburgh

The mission of the University of Edinburgh is the creation, dissemination, and curation of knowledge.

11.   University of Gondar | Queen's University | Mastercard Scholars Program (uogqueensmcf.com)

Established in 1954 as the Public Health Training Institute, and known as the Gondar College of Medical Sciences until 2003, the University of Gondar is the oldest medical school in Ethiopia and was established with the philosophy of a team approach and community-based teaching of health professionals. With 25,000 students, the University of Gondar offers 70 undergraduate and 90 post-graduate programs.

12.   Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program « EARTH University

EARTH University is partnered with the Mastercard Foundation to provide scholarships to young leaders from disadvantaged communities around the globe. Approximately one-third of the scholars will come from Sub-Saharan Africa and the rest from Latin America and the Caribbean.

13.   The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program (mcfsp.mak.ac.ug) | Makerere University

Our Makerere University partnership will offer scholarships to 1,000 academically bright but economically disadvantaged youth from Africa to study at Makerere University from 2013 to 2023.

14.   Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program - USIU-Africa

The United States International University Africa’s mission is to promote the discovery and application of knowledge, the acquisition of skills, and the development of intellect and character in a manner that prepares students to contribute effectively and ethically as citizens of a changing and increasingly technological world.

15.   Programme de Bourses de la Fondation Mastercard, FILE-IN AFRICA (Formation Inclusive de Leaders et d’Entrepreneurs en Ingénierie en Afrique) en partenariat avec l’institut 2iE - Le site officiel | 2iE (2ie-edu.org)

2iE’s vision is to reinforce its status as a socially responsible African center of excellence in education, research, and innovation while significantly contributing to Africa’s economic and social development.

 

The Mastercard Foundation

 '' Everyone deserves the opportunity to learn and prosper. But how? ''

The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work.

The work of the Mastercard Foundation is driven by a belief that all people should have an equal chance to succeed, no matter where they started in life. To date, the MasterCard Foundation programming has improved the lives of more than 50 million people and millions more in their households.

Their work is unified around the single most complex challenge young people in Africa's face — unemployment. Their goal is to enable 30 million young people to secure dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program envisions a transformative network of young people and institutions driving inclusive and equitable socio-economic change in Africa. Since launching in 2012, the Program has supported nearly 40,000 young people in Africa to pursue secondary or tertiary education.   

The Scholars Program is implemented through partner universities and non-governmental organizations. The application process and decision-making are managed individually by each partner. If you are interested in becoming a Scholar, you must apply through the university of your choice. 

You can research the application guidelines or contact the institution of your choice for more information. For schools that require application fees as part of the admissions process, the fees will be reimbursed if the student is selected for the Scholars Program.

Below are some of the universities/ institutes that share the value and impact of the MasterCard foundation:

Secondary Education

Camfed International: Camfed works to break the cycle of poverty in Africa by educating and empowering girls and young women to become leaders of change.

Equity Group Foundation: Equity Group Foundation (EGF) is a not-for-profit implementing foundation based in Nairobi, Kenya that champions the social and economic transformation of the people of Africa.

Undergraduate Studies

African Development University

African Leadership Academy

American University of Beirut

Ashesi University College

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

Sciences Po

University of Abomey-Calavi

University of Edinburgh

University of Gondar

EARTH University

Makerere University

United States International University Africa

African Leadership University

International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE)

Master's Studies

African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)

American University of Beirut

Arizona State University

Carnegie Mellon University Africa

McGill University

Sciences Po

University of British Columbia

University of Cape Town

University of Edinburgh

University of Gondar

University of Pretoria

The University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

University of Toronto (U of T)