NRF and partners host the Future Earth Africa Regional Nodes Induction Workshop

The National Research Foundation (NRF), in its capacity as the secretariat of the Future Earth Africa Hub, hosted the Future Earth Africa Regional Nodes Induction Workshop from 01 to 03 October 2024 at Rhodes University in Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa, in collaboration with the Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centre (FEAHLC).

The workshop aimed to enable Regional Nodes to promote sustainability science and resilience throughout Africa by providing essential knowledge, tools, and connections to promote significant change in their regions in order to achieve the shared goal of a sustainable and resilient future for Africa. Spread across Africa’s regions, the Regional Nodes are designed to collectively coordinate sustainability research endeavours across the continent. They were launched at the Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress Africa (SRI2024) Satellite Event hosted by the NRF in Durban.

The workshop offered a thorough overview of the Future Earth mission, objectives, and strategic framework. It also expanded on the knowledge of the management, duties, and scheduled events of the Hub and the Leadership Centre. The terms of reference, operational guidelines, roles, and responsibilities of the Regional Nodes were all outlined. The workshop also enabled Regional Nodes to form connections with each other and with the FEAHLC Steering Committee to build collaborative networks within Africa through cluster activities and support Regional Nodes in creating localised strategic plans that align with Future Earth’s broader goals.

The workshop offered a comprehensive overview of Future Earth’s purpose and their responsibilities within it, and also informed participants about the Hub and the Leadership Canter’s operational methods and upcoming activities.