A forum for African ideas on African policy

We are an independent think tank and policy laboratory where learned Africans, professionals and friends of Africa meet to share ideas, test them against expert critique and publish what works.

Who We Are Mission & Values Our Story Leadership & Board Experts Network Partners & Funding Careers

Who we are

A think tank, a policy lab and a network

As the century unfolds, the policy choices facing Africa have grown more complex — and more consequential. The continent needs spaces where its own scholars and practitioners can examine new policies rigorously, debate them openly and put forward workable alternatives. The Africa Policy Forum (APF) is one of those spaces.

We work in three ways:

Research

We produce in-house analysis on the political, economic and policy questions facing the continent, and publish our findings openly.

Convene

Researchers, negotiators and policymakers bring ideas to our Policy Lab and Dialogues and receive candid critique from senior scholars and practitioners.

Connect

We are building the most effective intellectual network of African scholars with ambitious visions for the continent, held to high professional standards of debate.

Mission & Values

Why we exist

Our mission

To strengthen African policymaking through independent, evidence-led analysis and open debate, produced from an African perspective.

Our vision

A continent whose development choices are designed, negotiated and owned by Africans — and whose future is what it makes of the opportunities it has today.

Independence

Our conclusions are our own. No funder or government reviews our work before publication.

African agency

We start from Africa's interests and ask what Africa should do — not what is done to it.

Rigour

Arguments rest on evidence, are open about their limits and are tested by peers.

Constructive debate

We welcome disagreement and publish a range of views; authors speak for themselves.

Our story

From online forum to policy institute

APF began as a discussion forum for Africans and friends of Africa who wanted a serious place to talk about the continent's economics and politics. Over time it has grown into a think tank with its own research, an experts programme and a flagship publication.

2010The APF Experts Programme launches, inviting academics and practitioners to bring their expertise to a wider public.

2014APF analysis tracks the first US–Africa Leaders Summit and the African Development Bank's annual meetings in Kigali.

2021Work expands into climate finance and African leadership in global institutions.

2023Analysis of the second Russia–Africa Summit and of reform of the international financial system.

2026APF relaunches with a new website, research themes and programmes.

Leadership & Board

The people accountable for our work

The Board of Trustees provides strategic oversight, safeguards APF's independence and approves the annual programme and accounts.

Executive Director

Eric Acha

Eric Acha is a policy analyst and the Executive Director of the Africa Policy Forum. His writing focuses on Africa's relationships with external powers — China, Russia, the United States and Europe — and on trade, development finance and the global financial system.

Read Eric's analysis →

Board of Trustees

Placeholder image — replace with a real photo

Amina Diallo
Chair · West African Policy Institute

Kwame Mensah
Trustee · Accra Institute for Development

Zainab Haddad
Trustee · North Africa Research Council

Thandiwe Nkosi
Treasurer · Southern Africa Finance Forum

Experts Network

Expertise from the people closest to the issues

The APF Experts Programme brings the knowledge of leading academics and practitioners on African policy to a wider public. Our experts cover governance and democratisation, economic development, trade, environment, security and more — and combine strong academic credentials with distinguished policy experience.

What experts receive

Invitations to speak at APF panels, dialogues and conferences
Full access to the APF document repository
A personal expert profile and blog on this website
Publication of their work and media referrals

Who can apply

Researchers holding a PhD in a relevant field, or
Practitioners with exceptional, demonstrable experience in African policy — negotiators, officials, diplomats, civil society leaders

Aisha Kamau
Governance & Democracy · Kenya

Ibrahim Sarr
Peace & Security · Nigeria

Naledi Mokoena
Economy, Trade & Integration · South Africa

Youssef El-Amin
Climate, Energy & Environment · Egypt

Apply to join Browse the experts directory

Partners & Funding

Transparent about who supports us

APF is funded by [individual donors, foundations, research grants and institutional partners]. We accept funding only where it leaves our research agenda and conclusions in our hands.

Our independence policy

No funder sets our conclusions, reviews our work before publication or receives special access to findings. Sponsored work is labelled as such.

Annual disclosure

We publish our accounts each year with every funder contributing, listed by band.

Become a partner →

Careers

Work with us

We are a small team with a large ambition. When roles open, we look for people who combine analytical rigour with a commitment to Africa's development.

No suitable vacancy? Send a short CV and cover note to [careers@africanpolicyforum.org].