About Us

A CONTINENTAL COMMITMENT

About MINDS

It is my hope that the Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS) will make a real difference in the resolution of the challenges that confront Africa, through a vibrant and robust debate, interrogating current paradigms, and offering new approaches.

– Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

PHOTOGRAPH BY POOL-THEANA CALITZ-BILT, AP

OUR FOUNDATION

Mandela’s Values
and Leadership

Mandela’s Values and Leadership

President Mandela’s legacy is rooted in a profound commitment to human dignity, justice, and collective progress. His leadership was not centred on individual achievement but on collective transformation, grounded in the belief that sustainable change emerges through shared effort and mutual responsibility.

Collaboration was central to Mandela’s leadership philosophy. He consistently demonstrated that meaningful progress cannot be achieved in isolation. Mandela valued participation and partnership, ensuring that diverse stakeholders contributed to decision-making processes.

Driving African Leadership

For 15 years, MINDS Africa has been at the forefront of Pan-African dialogue bringing together thinkers, policymakers, and emerging leaders to shape the continent’s future.From its beginnings as a bold idea to its role today as a respected think tank, MINDS has championed governance, economic development, and institution-building across Africa.

Our Vision

To have African societies attain democracy, economic prosperity, social inclusiveness as well as their rightful place in the global community on a basis of a keen self-awareness.

Our Mission

To provide a forum for dialogue, information dissemination and networking, underpinned by rigorous research on the different elements of African Heritage.

OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT

758 Young African Leaders Supported

Over the years, MINDS has directly supported and engaged 758 young leaders across the continent through its core development program. Electoral governance training, pan-African youth mobilisation, and postgraduate leadership development form part of this growing network, reflecting our long-term commitment to strengthening African leadership from within.

Elections and Governance Program
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Scholarship Program for Leadership Development
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African Youth Network Movement
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partner universities
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THE IMPERATIVE

Policy and Leadership

Across Africa, strengthening policy formulation and implementation remains a key priority for sustainable development. Established in 2010, the Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS) is a pan-African think tank committed to addressing this gap. By combining research on African heritage and institutional development with dialogue and networking, MINDS efforts help shape policies grounded in local knowledge, and values, supporting socio-economic progress across the continent.

THE NEXT DECADE

2021–2031 Strategy

In its second decade MINDS’ is committed to a 2021–2031 Strategy. This strategy sets out clear areas of action to strengthen Africa’s development. It prioritises intra-African trade through support for economic integration and reciprocal value chains, elevates African systems of knowledge to inform policy and practice, and invests in youth as central actors in shaping the continent’s future. The strategy also connects Africans on the continent and in the diaspora, celebrating Africa’s contributions to global knowledge, while building the institutional capacity of MINDS to deliver this work at scale.

The MINDS Journey

2010MINDS Established

The Mandela Institute for Development Studies is founded as a pan-African think tank.

2012First Continental Dialogue

Inaugural high-level dialogue held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

2013African Heritage Program Launched

The program is established to ground development in African knowledge systems.

2013Youth Governance Program Launched

The Youth Program in Elections and Governance is introduced.

2014Youth Dialogue – Kigali

First Youth Dialogue on Elections and Governance held in Rwanda.

2014High Level Dialogue – Tanzania

Continental dialogue convened in Dar es Salaam.

2015Civic Education Expansion

Youth civic education workshops delivered across multiple African regions.

2015Youth Dialogue – Zimbabwe

Second Youth Dialogue hosted in Victoria Falls.

2016High-Level Dialogue – Mozambique

Dialogue on governance and industrial development held in Maputo.

2017Scholarship Program Introduced

MINDS launches its flagship Scholarship Program in Leadership Development.

2017Scholarship Dialogue – Morocco

High-level dialogue convened in Rabat to support program rollout.

2018Youth Leadership Expansion

Youth leadership initiatives expand across the continent.

2018First Scholarship Cohort

Seven scholars awarded in the inaugural intake.

2018Economic Integration Dialogue – Botswana

High-level dialogue on African economic integration held in Gaborone.

2018Civic Education Workshop – South Africa

Youth civic education workshop delivered in Johannesburg.

2018African Heritage Dialogue – South Africa

Workshop on Afrocentric development convened in Johannesburg.

2018African Youth Network Summit

Inaugural summit launched in partnership with continental stakeholders.

2020Leadership Development Program – South Africa

Leadership Development Program delivered.

2022Leadership Development Program – Ghana

Program expanded to West Africa.

202515 Years of Excellence

MINDS marks fifteen years of impact across Africa.

2025Intergenerational Dialogue – Kenya

Dialogue convened in Mombasa to strengthen cross-generational leadership.

2025Leadership Development Program – Egypt

Program delivered in Cairo.

MINDS Values

Collaboration

MINDS partners with reputable institutions to strengthen knowledge networks

Dialogue

MINDS’ engagement approach brings together diverse stakeholders create trusted spaces for continental networking.

Openness

MINDS prioritises transparency, ensuring accessibility to research and insights.

Inclusiveness

MINDS embraces diversity, to promote critical thinking and dynamic exchange.

Rigour

Upholding the high values expected of a “privileged child” of the Mandela legacy.

meet the team

Board of trustees

Nkosana Moyo
FOUNDER AND TRUSTEE

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Graça Machel
TRUSTEE & CHAIRPERSON

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Rachel Nyaradzo Adams
TRUSTEE

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Advisory board

Donald Kaberuka
Board

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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Board

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Francis Daniels
Board

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Monica Geingos
Board

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Adebayo Olukoshi
Board

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Zeinab Badawi
Board

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Trevor Manuel
Board

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Alice Mogwe
Board

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Noureddine Ayed
Board

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Aomar Boum
Board

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Donald Kaberuka
Board

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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Board

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Francis Daniels
Board

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Monica Geingos
Board

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Adebayo Olukoshi
Board

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Zeinab Badawi
Board

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Trevor Manuel
Board

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Alice Mogwe
Board

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Noureddine Ayed
Board

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Aomar Boum
Board

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Patrons

Hon Festus Mogae
PATRON

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Hon Olusegun Obasanjo
PATRON

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Hon Pedro Pires
PATRON

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MINDS STAFF

Didi Aruna
Executive Assistant to Founder & CEO
Ludovic Babas
Alumni Engagement Officer
Sophia Chitemere
Senior Communications Officer
Nathan Kambale
Intern
Sarah Kombasa
Scholarship Officer
Kudzai Makoni
MEARL Manager
Mary Muchemwa
Finance & Admin Manager
Tatenda Ngwerume
Finance Officer
Zimaseka Njomi
YPEG Officer
Bukiwe Ntiwane
MEARL Officer
Carine Seke
Program Manager
Amanda Sitjeo
Program Director
Didi Aruna
Executive Assistant to Founder & CEO
Ludovic Babas
Alumni Engagement Officer
Sophia Chitemere
Senior Communications Officer
Nathan Kambale
Intern
Sarah Kombasa
Scholarship Officer
Kudzai Makoni
MEARL Manager
Mary Muchemwa
Finance & Admin Manager
Tatenda Ngwerume
Finance Officer
Zimaseka Njomi
YPEG Officer
Bukiwe Ntiwane
MEARL Officer
Carine Seke
Program Manager
Amanda Sitjeo
Program Director