About the FAR-Leaf I

Launched in 2022 with funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship (FAR-LeaF I) marked the beginning of Future Africa’s effort to strengthen Africa’s research leadership capacity through transdisciplinary and transformative science. The inaugural cohort of 24 early-career fellows from nine African countries represented a wide range of disciplines aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Through mentorship, leadership training, and collaborative research, the fellows explored critical issues at the intersection of human well-being and environmental sustainability, including biodiversity, climate change, agriculture, education, and digital innovation. FAR-LeaF I established a pan-African network of emerging science leaders equipped to apply systems thinking, community engagement, and co-designed solutions to address Africa’s complex development challenges.