Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Imara Leadership Initiative participated in the fifth edition of the Amani Africa Training Institute on the African Union (AU), held from 16–18 October 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, bringing together practitioners, researchers, civil society representatives, diplomats and policy actors committed to strengthening Africa’s continental governance and integration agenda.
Representing Imara Leadership Initiative was Ms. Petrider Paul, Founder of Imara Leadership Initiative and Representative of the African Union FemWise-Africa, a subsidiary mechanism of the Panel of the Wise under the African Union Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security.
Organised by Amani Africa Media and Research Services, a pan-African international policy research, training and consulting think-do-tank specialising in multilateral processes of concern and interest to Africa, the three-day institute provided participants with an intensive and practical understanding of how the African Union works, how decisions are shaped and how different actors can effectively engage with continental policy processes.
The fifth edition was convened at a particularly important moment for the African Union, as new leadership at the African Union Commission assumed office against a backdrop of rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics, evolving peace and security challenges, and renewed conversations around Africa’s role in global affairs.
Her participation reflected Imara Leadership Initiative’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of African leaders, young people and civil society actors to understand and effectively engage with continental and regional institutions.
Deepening Understanding of the African Union
Launched in 2019, the Amani Africa Training Institute on the AU has established itself as a sought-after platform for understanding the formal and informal processes that influence policy-making and implementation within the African Union.
Throughout the 2025 edition, participants explored the institutional architecture of the AU, its decision-making processes, regional integration agenda, peace and security architecture, democratic governance and Africa’s engagement with the international system.
Beyond theoretical knowledge, the institute placed strong emphasis on the practical realities of working with the African Union. Participants examined how different AU actors interact, including the AU Commission, Member States and other AU organs, as well as how civil society organisations and other stakeholders can strategically navigate continental policy spaces.
For Imara Leadership Initiative, this practical dimension was particularly significant given the organisation’s work at the intersection of leadership development, youth empowerment, peace and security, women’s leadership and civic engagement.
Ms.Petrider Paul sharing her reflections on 5th edition of Amani Africa Training Institute on the African Union
Connecting Leadership Development with Continental Action
The training provided an important opportunity to reflect on how African civil society and emerging leaders can move beyond participation to meaningful influence in continental policy processes.
For organisations such as Imara Leadership Initiative, understanding the AU’s structures and institutional dynamics is essential to ensuring that youth, women and community voices are effectively connected to policy discussions taking place at national, regional and continental levels.
Ms. Petrider Paul’s participation also brought an important perspective from the peace and security field. Through her engagement with FemWise-Africa, she contributes to a continental network focused on strengthening women’s leadership and participation in conflict prevention, mediation and peacebuilding.
This experience complements Imara Leadership Initiative’s broader commitment to supporting inclusive leadership and creating platforms through which African young people and women can contribute to decision-making processes affecting their communities and the continent.
Strengthening Civil Society Engagement with the AU
One of the central objectives of the Amani Africa Training Institute is to equip participants with practical strategies for engaging the African Union and its policy processes effectively.
For Africa-based civil society organisations, this knowledge is increasingly important. The AU’s agenda on peace and security, democratic governance, regional integration, climate resilience, youth development and women’s empowerment requires meaningful collaboration between governments, civil society, researchers, development partners and citizens.
The institute therefore offered an opportunity for participants to better understand not only what the African Union does, but also how stakeholders can engage the institution strategically to contribute to policy development and implementation.
This aligns closely with Imara Leadership Initiative’s vision of nurturing leaders who are informed, connected and capable of translating policy into meaningful action within their communities and across Africa.
A Commitment to Continental Leadership
Imara Leadership Initiative’s participation in the fifth Amani Africa Training Institute represents another step in the organisation’s ongoing commitment to strengthening African leadership and supporting meaningful participation in continental affairs.
Through its work in leadership development, youth empowerment, women’s political participation, peace and security and civic engagement, Imara Leadership Initiative continues to advocate for a generation of African leaders capable of shaping solutions to the continent’s most pressing challenges.
For Imara Leadership Initiative, the message is clear: understanding Africa’s continental institutions is not simply about knowing how the AU works; it is about equipping African leaders and citizens with the knowledge, networks and confidence to shape the Africa they want.
About Imara Leadership Initiative
Imara Leadership Initiative is a youth led NGO operating in the Republic of Ghana and The United Republic of Tanzanua to empower communities through ethical leadership that advances good governance, gender equality, health, economic empowerment, peacebuilding and climate action.
For partnerships and inquiries information please contact us via
Ms. Sarah Ernest Masuma | E-mail: info@imaraleadership.org
