From Vision to Impact: Africa’s Next Generation of Changemakers
By Passy Amayo
NGFP Africa Network Weaver & Programmes Manager at SID Africa
The Next Generation Foresight Practitioners (NGFP) Africa Network was launched in 2021. Since then, it continues to be a vibrant and growing community of futurists, changemakers, emerging leaders, innovators and visionaries who are in their own ways and spaces, reimagining and reshaping the continent’s future. With a bold mission to democratize foresight and make futures thinking accessible to all, the NGFP Africa programme of work seeks to empower young leaders to imagine and build better tomorrows. Through dynamic initiatives such as the monthly NGFP Africa Forums, the thematic African Futures Dialogues Series, country and thematic hubs weaving, the annual NGFP Fellowship and the soon to be launched Fairer African Futures Academy (originally named the African Futures Leadership Series (AFLS), the network fosters collaboration across generations, sectors and countries, creating a powerful platform for collective intelligence, action and innovations, intergenerational fairness, rethinking participatory & anticipatory governance, as well as resilience and preparedness in a complex uncertain world. 2025 has witnessed the launch of the network’s monthly forum series.
Forum 1: Futures Thinking Gaining Ground
The NGFP Africa Network kicked off its 2025 forum series with a powerful start in May, spotlighting the growing momentum for futures thinking across the continent. From Kenya’s Senate forming a futures caucus to the rising demand for foresight tools in climate and development planning, the energy was palpable. A spirited debate on nuclear energy revealed both enthusiasm and caution, with calls for evidence based foresight to guide Africa’s energy future. Governance and political will emerged as key enablers, while corruption and resource mismanagement were flagged as barriers. The forum concluded with a commitment to design, fundraise and launch an African nextgen foresight project on nuclear energy and rural futures, and to deepen collaboration among members through future forums.
Forum 2: Community, Innovation & Capability Building
June’s forum emphasised the power of informal connection and grassroots innovation. Members shared country-specific updates, weaving a rich tapestry of lived realities, from Kenya’s GenZ labelled protests to the 4th Annual African Union Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises Forum 2025. NGFP Uganda member, Mackline Kobusigye’s work on maternal health showcased how personal experience can drive systemic change, while Mekitmfon AwakEssien, NGFP Nigeria member, raised critical concerns about data sovereignty in African policymaking. The forum also tackled the challenge of navigating diverse professional interests , offering guidance on transferable skills and life priorities. A highlight was the unveiling of a proposal for an African foresight capability academy, met with enthusiastic support. Next steps included refining the academy proposal, commencing resource development for it, as well as, nurturing peer-to-peer mentorship across the network, especially for younger members.
Forum 3: Regional Collaboration & Policy Engagement
July’s forum reignited the network’s spirit, emphasising regional collaboration and foresight-driven policy engagement. Nisreen Rafik, NGFP Egypt member, introduced the Futures Studies Forum for Africa and Middle East, bridging foresight across agri-food systems. Duncan Koome, NGFP Kenya member, spotlighted efforts to embed strategic foresight and anticipatory governance in Kenya’s Senate and subsequently, the Parliament; while Markus Becker, NGFP South Africa member, called for African-led aviation futures planning. Youth readiness for AI took center stage, with concerns about curriculum reform and digital equity. Dennis Mutuma (Dorphanage) and Venessa Ominde, both NGFP Kenya members, raising critical questions about inclusivity in tech, urging for ICT access and mindset transformation. The forum closed with proposals to launch nextgen foresight projects focused on food and education futures in Africa.
Conclusion & Next Forum…
Across all the three forums, a clear narrative emerged: Africa’s future must be co-created by its youth, guided by foresight, and rooted in inclusivity. The NGFP Africa Network is not just a space to commune, dialogue and reimagine desirable futures, it’s a launchpad for action. The next NGFP Africa Forum is scheduled on Friday 19th September 2025 at 16:00 EAT. For more information contact passy@soif.org.uk.
Stay tuned, stay engaged, and let’s shape the future – together.