Call for Applications: Innovation, Transformation & Resilience for Sustainable Development (2025/2026), Fully Funded Capacity Development Programme
Overview of the Opportunity
This initiative is a High-Level Capacity Development Programme developed under the African Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (ASTII) Framework. It is formally known as the ASTII Phase 4 Capacity Building Programme.
• Organised by: The programme is delivered in partnership with Lund University (Sweden), the African Union Development Agency – NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
• Target Audience: The programme is intended for mid- to senior-level professionals (ideally aged between 30 and 55) across Africa.
• Eligibility: Applicants should demonstrate a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience and be working in areas such as national innovation systems, STI data and indicators, innovation policy development, or ministries/agencies responsible for science, technology, innovation, or industrial strategy. Applicants from low-income countries are especially encouraged to apply.
• Objective: The goal is to equip African policymakers and innovation leaders with the strategic insight necessary to accelerate sustainable development through innovation and policy transformation. The training aims to enhance the ability of participants to design and implement innovation policy frameworks and provide an advanced understanding of STI indicators and evidence-based policymaking. The initiative seeks to advance evidence-informed strategies that build resilience and drive transformation.
• Structure: This is a two-month executive-level training programme combining online and in-person learning.
◦ The programme is accredited at 7.5 ECTS credits by the Lund University School of Economics and Management.
◦ Participants are required to produce a fully developed and ready-to-use PowerPoint presentation and executive summary on a chosen policy, industrial change, or innovation topic in their country as a final project.
• Funding: Participation is fully funded through scholarships provided by the Government of Sweden via Sida. The scholarship covers tuition fees, international travel, local accommodation in Sweden, course materials, and logistical support.
When
• Application Deadline: Interested candidates must submit a complete application by 31 October 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Programme Run: The programme will run from April to June 2026.
◦ Online Component: 9 April – 4 May 2026.
◦ In-Person Residency (Lund, Sweden): 6 – 23 May 2026. (Note: Some documentation specifies the fifth iteration residency dates as May 19th to June 5th, 2026).
◦ Final Online Examination: June 2026.
Click here for more information.