Future Africa, the University of Pretoria’s collaborative research platform, is at the forefront of fostering scientific leadership across the continent. A recent article in University World News highlights how Future Africa is addressing Africa’s research capacity challenges through the Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship (FAR-LeaF).

Funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, FAR-LeaF is a two-year fellowship designed to equip early-career researchers in Africa with the skills and networks needed to advance transdisciplinary research and sustainable development. The programme places a strong emphasis on leadership, mentorship, and collaboration, empowering fellows to conduct impactful research while strengthening institutional capacity across Africa.

FAR-LeaF supports fellows within their home institutions while fostering global collaborations. Professor Stephanie Burton, the programme director, highlights that while the fellowship is internationally funded, it is an initiative by Africans for Africans, enabling researchers to stay within their institutions and develop their research at home.

The programme has already made a tangible impact: the first cohort of fellows, drawn from nine African countries, collectively produced nearly 300 research outputs, including academic articles, policy documents, and community engagement projects. The second cohort, with an added focus on the politics of sustainability, is set to be announced in 2025.

By investing in the development of the next generation of global research leaders, Future Africa is actively shaping a more sustainable, knowledge-driven future for the continent.

Read the full article published in University World News here: Cultivating research leaders for a sustainable Future Africa