Futures Thinking Programmes for A Changing World

Africa’s Security, Democratic Governance, and Development Programme

A Three-Weekend Programme for Emerging Leaders and Professionals

This intensive three-weekend programme is designed to empower young and emerging leaders and professionals by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to explore the connections between security challenges, democratic governance, and socio-economic development in Africa.

While the programme is designed to benefit everyone, who is interested in gaining theoretical and practical insights on Africa’s security challenges, democratic governance, and development, emerging leaders and professionals in the fields of politics, international relations, security, governance, democracy, leadership, media, development, diplomacy, policy studies, and NGOs among other related fields, will particularly find this programme extremely valuable.

Programme Outline

WEEK 1

Africa’s Security Landscape

COURSE DETAILS

Learning Objectives:

- Enhance the understanding of Africa’s security landscape and challenges.
- Understand how governance and democratic institutions can be strengthened to address Africa’s security issues.

Learning Outcomes:

- Participants will gain knowledge and understanding of Africa’s changing security landscape.
- Participants will be equipped with necessary skills and tools to propose innovative policy ideas on how to promote security and democracy in African states.

WEEK 2

Africa’s Democratic Governance Structures

COURSE DETAILS

Learning Objectives:

- Understand Africa’s democratic governance structures.
- Assess the relationship between political instability and democratic backsliding in Africa.

Learning Outcomes:

- Participants will gain knowledge and understanding of Africa’s democratic governance structures and challenges.
- Participants will be equipped with the knowledge, skills and tools to critically assess the trends of governance decay in Africa and propose innovative policy ideas on how to promote democratic governance in African states.

WEEK 3

Overview of Africa’s Development Trends

COURSE DETAILS

Learning Objectives:

- Understand Africa’s complex socio-development landscape.
- Understand the interplay between socio-political institutions and development outcomes in African countries.

Learning Outcomes:

- Participants will gain knowledge and understanding of how socio-political institutions influence Africa’s development outcomes as well as the benefits and challenges of foreign aid in Africa’s sustainable development agenda.
- Participants will be equipped with the skills and tools to propose innovative policy ideas within the Agenda 2063 framework of the African Union on Africa’s development.

Programme Duration and Format

Three weekends (Saturdays and Sundays), 1.5 hours per session.
Starting Date: 7th of February.2026
Saturdays: 11AM GMT, 1PM EAT, 12PM SAT
Sundays: 4PM GMT, 7PM EAT, 6PM SAT
Delivery: Virtual participation.
Methodology: Interactive workshops, expert panels, real-world case studies, leadership simulations, and peer learning.

Alumni and Networking Strategy

Mentorship Programme: Each participant is paired with an alumna or senior African female leader for guidance, support, and career advice.
Peer Networking:Quarterly virtual leadership forums facilitate ongoing dialogue and collaboration among cohorts.
Alumni Platform:Alumni Platform: An online portal enables resource sharing, event announcements, and professional opportunities.

Practical Execution and Impact Tools

Capstone Action Projects – Participants create a practical deliverable (policy brief, advocacy plan, or business model) applying programme learning to real challenges.
Implementation Labs – Hands-on weekend sessions on concrete skills like launching DEI policies or community enterprises under AfCFTA.
Templates and Toolkits – Provide ready-made guides for leadership strategies and GBV workplace protocols for easy adaptation and use.
Real-World Mentorships – Match participants with experienced African leaders for ongoing guidance and practical support post-training.
Monitoring & Impact Framework – Train participants to track and report progress on their projects and leadership goals, fostering accountability.