Leaders of Africa

On Tuesday, the Grant Writing and Funding Program, along with Director Prof. Peter Penar, welcomed Dr. Anthony Mveyange, Director of Programs and Synergy at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), to share his perspective on the changing funding landscape. As is well known throughout our Institute community, APHRC is a premier Africa-based research and policy institution, advancing cutting-edge research, capacity building, and social innovation across a range of fields, including public health and climate action.

Drawing on many years of award-winning institutional-building and resource mobilization experience, Dr. Anthony emphasized that the days of pursuing publications for their own sake are largely behind us. Research must pose important and relevant questions for investigation while also demonstrating broader impacts. Beyond developing fundable ideas, researchers must cultivate the relationships, partnerships, and consortia needed to pursue impactful research and social initiatives at scale.

The Leaders of Africa Institute is grateful to Dr. Anthony for his masterful presentation and enlightening engagement. The session embodied the values that underpin APHRC's collaborative approach to advancing innovation and investing in Africa-based researchers. Check out the cutting-edge platforms and resources developed by APHRC here ➡️ https://aphrc.org/project-websites-and-platforms/

To learn more about the Leaders of Africa Institute and upcoming opportunities, join our WhatsApp Group ➡️ https://bit.ly/LoAWhatsApp7

Congratulations to our accepted Research Scholars 2026! 🎉 In 2026, we face many global challenges that can be addressed through research and social innovation. Each of our accepted Research Scholars is passionate about how their research can help confront these challenges.

With backgrounds in important areas of international development, research, and social innovation, we are excited to welcome a highly talented cohort of researchers, faculty, international development professionals, and social innovators representing 40 countries. This year's cohort includes Scholars from some of the leading organizations around the world, including the United Nations Development Programme - UNDP, Education Sub Saharan Africa, Africa CDC, Save the Children International, and several leading universities in Africa, such as the University of Cape Town and African Leadership University (ALU), and around the world.

Over the next few weeks, we will share more about this year's Scholars and how they hope to use their research to achieve social impact. Through the Research Methods Program 2026, Scholars will advance research that leverages cutting-edge methods while working to ensure that research is conducted and communicated in ways that shape decision-making. We will also share insights into how the Leaders of Africa Institute will enable our Research Scholars, like our distinguished alumni, to become leading voices and innovators in research and international development. We also look forward to celebrating our outgoing 2025 Research Scholars this month.

To learn more about the Leaders of Africa Institute and upcoming opportunities, join our WhatsApp Group ➡️ https://bit.ly/LoAWhatsApp7

Join us today (Friday, May 29th) at 1 PM UTC for an important conversation on advancing literacy in challenging contexts through innovative approaches to teaching and learning. The event, entitled "Play-Based Learning: A Tool to Support Literacy in ECE in Crisis Situations," is a roundtable discussion hosted and moderated by CODE NGO and Sun Books.

This timely conversation will explore how play-based learning strategies can support literacy development among young learners affected by conflict, displacement, and disrupted education. Through approaches such as songs, stories, games, and other interactive learning activities, educators can help children rebuild foundational literacy skills while creating engaging and supportive learning environments.

The conversation features Professor Etta Mercy Aki, one of the Co-Leads of the flagship programs at the Leaders of Africa Institute, including the Research Methods Program. Supported through funding from CODE, Professor Aki's work focuses on conflict-affected learners in Cameroon and demonstrates the powerful role that play-based learning can play in addressing learning loss and educational disruption caused by conflict.

This event offers an opportunity to learn from research, practice, and lived experiences at the intersection of education, literacy, and humanitarian response.

📅 Date: Friday, May 29th
🕐 Time: 1 PM UTC
✅ Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/play-based-learning-a-tool-to-support-literacy-in-ece-in-crisis-situations-tickets-1989020807779

We look forward to seeing you there and engaging in a meaningful discussion about strengthening literacy outcomes for children in crisis-affected settings.

World Literacy Foundation, Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada

Happening today at 4 PM UTC, join us for the second open event in the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Regional Learning Series, titled "Advancing Participation in Southern Africa."

As we explore the Participation pillar of UNSCR 1325, this session centers the lived experiences, practical realities, and regional perspectives of women engaged in peace and security work across Africa. Through dialogue and peer learning, participants will reflect on how women are shaping responses to conflict, political instability, electoral processes, climate-related insecurity, and post-conflict recovery, while also examining the policies, networks, and institutions that enable or constrain meaningful participation.

Our featured speakers include Commissioner Netsai Mushonga, Hannah Forster, and Ruth Kay Kangwa-Ndhlovu, with hosts Petrider Paul and Pezu Mukwakwa, who together bring extensive expertise in mediation, human rights, governance, youth leadership, and regional peace and security engagement across Africa.

📅 Thursday, May 28th
🕓 4 PM UTC
📍 Location: Zoom Meeting

To join the session, the conversation, and receive the series resources, register here ➡️ https://bit.ly/WPS-2026

Leaders of Africa

Join us for the second open event in the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Regional Learning Series, titled "Advancing Participation in Southern Africa," at 4 PM UTC this Thursday, May 28th.

As we explore the Participation pillar of UNSCR 1325, this session centers the lived experiences, practical realities, and regional perspectives of women engaged in peace and security work across Africa. Through dialogue and peer learning, participants will reflect on how women are shaping responses to conflict, political instability, electoral processes, climate-related insecurity, and post-conflict recovery, while also examining the policies, networks, and institutions that enable or constrain meaningful participation.

Our featured speakers include Commissioner Netsai Mushonga, who brings extensive experience in advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda and promoting human rights and democracy in Zimbabwe. Hannah Forster, Executive Director of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, has spent decades working at the intersection of human rights, governance, and democratic participation across Africa, contributing significantly to regional dialogue and advocacy on justice and inclusion. Ruth Kay Kangwa-Ndhlovu serves as the African Union Youth Ambassador for Peace (AYAP) for Southern Africa, where she champions youth engagement, peace advocacy, and women's participation in regional peace and security processes. Together, the speakers bring diverse expertise spanning mediation, human rights, youth leadership, and regional policy engagement, creating a meaningful platform for dialogue and shared learning on strengthening women's participation in peace and security across Africa.

📅 Thursday, May 28th
🕓 4 PM UTC
📍 Location: Zoom Meeting

To join the session, the conversation, and receive the series resources, register here ➡️ https://bit.ly/WPS-2026

Leaders of Africa

Our Leaders of Africa Institute community, no matter how near or far you are, is like a family. We celebrate each other's accomplishments and also support each other in challenging times. Many of you know Roland Mady as a featured alumnus of the Research Methods Program (2021), Data + Design for Development (2021), and the Grant Writing and Funding Program (2024). Some of you were Scholars and alumni in his cohort and knew him personally or worked along side him.

Roland began his journey at the Institute while working in the Prime Minister's Taskforce for Food and Nutrition in his home country of Côte d'Ivoire. After Roland's experience at the Institute, he took his skills to the United States and became a Research Associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). At JHU, he did many things, including leading important aspects of the Countdown to 2030 Project and traveling across the African continent to advance data-driven public health policy. As the Director of the Institute, I had the pleasure of meeting Roland upon his arrival in the United States and attending special events in both his work and personal life. Like many of you, he was a friend and colleague.

It is with sadness that I share that Roland left us late last week after a battle with an aggressive form of late-stage stomach cancer. Many alumni have already reached out to the Institute within the past few days to share their remembrances of Roland. As we all share the things that we love about Roland, we remember how Roland combined his keen intellect with joy for people and for his work. Research and social impact are challenging, and we can all learn from Roland's legacy about how to approach these challenges with joy and a big heart.

In the coming days, the Institute will announce ways that our community will honor his work and legacy. We miss him. We will always remember him.

- From Prof Peter Penar, Director of the Leaders of Africa Institute

Over the weekend, we welcomed our 2026 Grant Writing Scholars for the official Program Opening and Orientation at the Leaders of Africa Institute. 🎉 Our Scholars represent over 40 countries around the world and important research and development fields, including public health, education, gender justice, food systems, economics, human rights, program development, social innovation, and international development.

With our diversity, we are united in the belief that compelling proposal writing involves clearly communicating our impactful ideas and the societal value of our work. When we know how to articulate the value of our work, we can garner significant resources and engage broader audiences. As the program co-leads shared during the session, crafting persuasive funding proposals is a powerful way to mobilize resources for impact, particularly in the midst of an evolving funding landscape.

Next week, we will meet to conduct a professional audit because funders invest in ideas and people, so the journey begins with crafting a professional profile that demonstrates expertise and unique skills. We will also explore databases of funding opportunities and assess calls for proposals as the first step to accelerating proposal development throughout the program. We look forward to sharing more about the 2026 Grant Writing Scholars in the weeks and months ahead, along with insights into their Capstone Projects.

To learn more about the Leaders of Africa Institute and upcoming opportunities, join our WhatsApp Group ➡️ https://bit.ly/LoAWhatsApp7

In just a week, we welcome our Grant Writing Scholars for the Program Opening and Orientation of the Grant Writing and Funding (GWF) Program 2026 at the Leaders of Africa Institute. 🎉 We are excited to announce the 2026 Cohort and the extraordinary work they are doing in research and social innovation.

Over the next few months, our Grant Writing Scholars will strengthen their capacity in proposal development, resource mobilization, and strategic funding acquisition to advance pathbreaking research and social impact initiatives. Through activities, personalized mentorship, and global collaboration, Scholars will develop fundable proposals, refine their personal and organizational positioning, and build the tools needed to secure sustainable funding for research, innovation, and community-based interventions in a changing funding landscape.

To give you a preview, incoming Grant Writing Scholar Ms. Catherine Banoub is the Executive Director of MedFest Egypt, a pioneering platform at the intersection of public health, culture, and social impact. Through initiatives such as "Not-Okay" with the Sudan - United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), "From Script to Screen" with the European Union National Institutes for Culture, and projects supported by the British Embassy, she has advanced community dialogue on critical health and social issues across Egypt. Catherine brings a strong commitment to using creative media and the arts as tools for wellbeing advocacy and public engagement. Through the program, she aims to strengthen her expertise in grant writing and funding strategy to scale impact in resource-constrained environments. Like many in this cohort, she recognizes that rigorous research and strong evidence are essential for informing public policy, driving behavioral change, and sustaining meaningful social innovation.

This commitment to evidence and impact is shared across the cohort, with Scholars working in critical fields such as public health, education, agriculture, climate, development economics, sustainability, and business and entrepreneurial development, among others. We look forward to introducing more of the 2026 Cohort in the weeks ahead.

To learn more about the Leaders of Africa Institute and upcoming opportunities, join our WhatsApp Group ➡️ https://bit.ly/LoAWhatsApp7

Join us for the first open event in the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Regional Learning Series, titled "Unpacking WPS in the SADC Region," at 4 PM UTC this Thursday, April 30th.

The Leaders of Africa Institute and its Scholars work across many fields in international development. Underlying sustainable development, improvements to public service delivery (e.g., health), and innovation is the foundation of peace and security. Every country faces its own challenges in advancing peace and gender justice, and international actors are devoting increasing attention to these efforts. In support of the African Union's and the United Nations' peacebuilding efforts, the Leaders of Africa Institute is supporting the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Regional Learning Series hosted by the South Africa WPS Practitioners Coalition, a member of the FemWise-Africa Network accredited by the African Union.

The event features experts in regional peace and security, including Catherine Kapilima (Women Peace Security Coalition Tanzania ), Yolokazi Mfuto (Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria), Boitumelo Lehutso, Dr. Dudziro Nhengu, Pezu Mukwakwa, Petrider Paul, and Grant Writing Scholar alum Gloria Hingoma (GWF 2025).

In this session, we will examine key challenges and potential solutions in the SADC region, with broader implications for peace and security across the continent and globally.

📅 Thursday, April 30th
🕓 4 PM UTC
📍 Location: Zoom Meeting

To join the session, the conversation, and receive the series resources, register here ➡️ https://bit.ly/WPS-2026