How to accelerate a fully-resilient African society with natural infrastructure that supports sustainable development long-term? The African Ecological Futures initiative aims to unite influential African actors (e.g. African Development Bank, the African Union Commission, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, and country governments) and support them in implementing a new, research-based action agenda.
Who we are working with
Related SDGs
Explore the impacts
Ideation
The Luc Hoffmann Institute funded, co-designed, and actively participated in a meeting in Abidjan between WWF, the United Nations Environment Programme and the African Development Bank to secure renewed support for the African Ecological Futures initiative, thus securing a core mass of institutional support.
The Luc Hoffmann Institute funded and co-designed a meeting with WWF, YMCA Africa, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development, the Africa Wildlife Foundation, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Africa Conservation Centre, and others in Nairobi to design a strategy including a theory of change strategy and workplan for the African Ecological Futures initiative.
“From the inception, the Luc Hoffmann Institute triggered action on an initiative that we were struggling to find the time and space to take up…time and again, [the Institute has] taken small but strategic and catalytic steps that have helped put AEF II on the map.”
Frederick Kumah, Director, WWF Africa.
Incubation
The Luc Hoffmann Institute organises a meeting in Gland, Switzerland and brings in Laura Pereira, an independent researcher on futures thinking, to help design future-thinking capacity in Africa. The IUCN, the United Nations Environment Programme, and African researchers on futures thinking take part.
Thanks to networks formed out of the June 2018 meeting, WWF was able to secure endorsements across Africa from, for example, YMCA Africa, United Nations Habitat, the African Development Bank, the African Union Commission, and the United Nations Environment Programme.
The WWF African Ecological Futures team holds events, workshops and presentations in high-level fora, such as the Africa Ministers of Environment Conference, the Africa Union, the United Nations Environment Programme Assembly, and the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of Parties.
The Africa YMCA starts a Master Class on Africa Ecological Futures, helping to engage the African youth in this initiative.
The Luc Hoffmann Institute launches a new African Ecological Futures report. Authored by South African researcher, Laura Pereira, it explores the different methods for imagining the many possible futures for Africa, and for identifying the actions required to reach those futures.
Strengthening Futures Capacity in Africa: a new African Ecological Futures report
Acceleration
The African Ecological Futures project takes off!
The WWF African Ecological Futures team launches a new and bespoke website for the initiative.
Aspiration
Critical ecological infrastructure that minimises the impact of physical infrastructure is maintained and helps ensure the prosperity and well being of Africa’s people.
Related resources
Preferences and Pathways: Strengthening Futures Capacity in Africa Report
A September 2020 report from the Luc Hoffmann Institute explores the different methods for imagining the many possible futures for Africa, and for identifying the actions required to reach those futures.
Brochure of the African Ecological Futures Programme
An October 2018 brochure from the African Ecological Futures partners on the framework for the initiative.
2015 African Ecological Futures Report
A May 2015 report on African Ecological Futures by WWF and the Africa Development Bank.