The Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centre

The Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centre articulates a strong vision for Africa’s sustainability science leadership. This vision aims to strengthen Africa’s visibility and voice within the Future Earth Global Secretariat, while accelerating and amplifying Africa’s contribution to Future Earth’s global mission. The Centre’s success depends on the establishment and effective functioning of :

• Regional Nodes, Consortium Partners and Sustainability Science Clusters,
• Sustained support for early and mid-career researchers, and the
• Development of a strong, well-coordinated African Sustainability Science Association.

These will be united in the common purpose of advancing Sustainability Science in and for Africa, advocating its priorities at a global level.

The Leadership Centre coordinates and drives strategic activities in support of the Future Earth Africa Hub’s mandate on the continent. Working in close coordination with the Hub, the Centre engages with African partners, the global Future Earth community, international stakeholders, and networks of early- and mid-career researchers to ensure that Future Earth’s mission and vision are realised in Africa.

The Leadership Centre is co-hosted by Future Africa at the University of Pretoria and the Institute of Social and Economic Research at Rhodes University. The Leadership Centre works with the National Research Foundation (NRF), Consortium Partners and Regional Nodes to provide leadership in implementing the Africa Hub’s mandate in support of Future Earth’s global activities. Its key roles include:

Strategic planning and coordination
Develop and implement the Africa Hub’s strategic plan in alignment with Future Earth’s global objectives; coordinate scientific activities across Regional Nodes; and facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing across the continent.

Scientific leadership
Provide scientific leadership and foster excellence in sustainability science across Africa; conduct scoping studies to identify priority research themes; facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration; and advance solution-oriented research through the establishment and coordination of Sustainability Science Clusters.

Capacity building
Strengthen the capacity of early- and mid-career researchers across Africa; promote skills development and cultivate a vibrant community of sustainability scientists; and work to bridge the research–policy interface to support evidence-informed decision-making.

Partnerships and networking
Engage international partners to promote global collaboration and exchange, and work closely with African governments, civil society organisations and the private sector to ensure broad stakeholder participation in the Africa Hub’s activities.

For more information about the Future Earth Africa Leadership Centre, click here to visit the website