Background
The African Futures Institute(AFI) was established in early 2004 to sustain prospective thinking in Africa. The Institute grew out of the African Futures project at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). In 1992, African governments, together with the UNDP, decided to conduct National Long Term Perspective Studies (NLTPS) that would provide visionary leadership to guide the development process.
Between 1992 and 2003, the AFI provided technical support for the development and implementation of 25 studies which contributed to the mobilization of many organizations and individuals in African countries, and have them ponder over alternative visions and strategies within the time frame of a generation.
Vision
The AFI is a pan-African, non governmental organization registered in South Africa. With its headquarters in Tshwane (Pretoria), the AFI supports and develops prospective thinking in Africa, and facilitates the formulation by African countries of African development models in order to achieve social justice, safeguard the dignity of the people, and ensure that the 21st century will be the African century.
Mission
The mission of the Institute is to contribute to the development of prospective studies and thinking in Africa, to foster individual and institutional capacity building, and to assist Africans and their partners in implementing development programs based on mutual sharing and learning.
Activities
The activities are divided into four focus areas:
- Advisory and Support Services national Long Term Perspective Studies
- Training and Capacity Building
- Strategic Environmental Scanning
- Research and Publication