Mid-career policy professionals from Africa will get an opportunity to fine-tune their global leadership skills during a new three-month fully-funded training programme in Florence, Italy. At the European University Institute’s School of Transnational Governance (EUI/STG), African experts will build their skills on policy issues of global importance. The pilot programme is financed by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships.

The Young African Leaders Programme is aimed at mid-career African civil servants, journalists, entrepreneurs and NGO practitioners. Applicants should have a keen interest in transnational policy issues relevant to sub-Saharan African countries, including regional governance, gender, digital technology and sustainability.

The EUI offers a dynamic academic environment in Florence, Italy. The African fellows will participate in applied policy and academic workshops, training and skills development sessions, conferences, study visits and field trips in Europe.

The first batch of 20 practitioners will start the three months of training in September 2021. Applications are open until 31 March 2021.

European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen said: “Human development and education is at the heart of the shared partnership between Africa and Europe. The Young African Leaders Programme is a welcome addition and shows our commitment to a shared future. This collaboration will further enable Africa to deliver on its enormous potential.”

African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson Thomas Kwesi Quartey welcomed the initiative: “With a young population and strong economic growth, Africa is a continent of opportunities. The Young African Leaders Programme connects Africa and Europe, training a rising generation of leaders who will need to navigate complex global problems and find local, pan-African and global solutions that benefit not just one nation or people, but many.”

EUI President Renaud Dehousse added: “The EUI’s School of Transnational Governance looks at today’s and tomorrow’s challenges that cannot be tackled by individual countries alone. Relationships between continents are of crucial importance, and Africa and Europe have special ties. Through our Young African Leaders Programme we build bridges between Africa and Europe, bringing African policy professionals in contact with a dynamic academic and policy-making environment, in Florence and across Europe.”