Convenings · 2025–2026

The APA year, session by session.

Each year the APA cohort meets monthly for member-led sessions on the policy questions shaping U.S.–Africa engagement. Here's how the 2025–2026 program year unfolded.

APA final session with Ambassador Mukantabana
Program finale
May 2026

U.S.–Africa diplomatic relations, featuring Rwandan Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana.

For the final session of the program year, the APA was honored to host Her Excellency Mathilde Mukantabana, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the United States, for a wide-ranging conversation on U.S.–Rwanda relations and development across the continent.

Featured
Amb. Mathilde Mukantabana — Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the U.S.
May 2026 APA session on private sector engagement
May 2026

Private sector engagement in Africa.

A conversation with two senior global-policy leaders on private-sector engagement in Africa, the business case for sustained corporate presence on the continent, and lessons from their career journeys for emerging policy professionals.

Featured
Nicole Issac — Vice President, Global Public Policy, Cisco
Jeff Krilla — Vice President, Global Public Policy and Government Affairs, Kosmos Energy
April 2026 APA op-ed pitch session
First pitch competition
April 2026

Writing about Africa: the op-ed pitch.

A skill-building workshop on writing and publishing compelling op-eds on Africa — plus the program's first-ever pitch competition. Three seasoned editors offered practical guidance on framing, sourcing, and submitting to major outlets.

Led by
Gabrielle Posner · Adia Armstrong
Featured
Adva Saldinger — Devex
Nick Danforth — Foreign Policy
Yinka Adegoke — Semafor
2026 APA Alumni Networking Event
Annual alumni event
March 11, 2026

The 2nd annual APA Alumni Networking Event.

An evening bringing together the current cohort and alumni from every year since 2019 — a celebration of the community that has grown around the program and a chance to renew the connections that anchor a career in Africa policy.

Format
Reception & networking — Washington, DC
March 2026 APA session on energy financing
March 2026

Financing energy infrastructure in Africa.

An interactive group discussion and panel on the challenges and opportunities of financing energy projects across the continent — covering blended finance, project risk, and the role of multilateral and private capital.

Led by
Piper O'Keefe · Meron Tesfaye
Featured
Jeffrey Haeni — Senior Energy & Infrastructure Evaluation Officer, World Bank
Natalie Tsukano — Senior Analyst, K&M Advisors (APA cohort member)
February 2026 APA session on urban planning
February 2026

Urban planning and development in African cities.

Introductory remarks on urban expansion in Africa, followed by a hands-on workshop using urban-planning scenarios drawn from several African cities. Members worked in small groups to apply planning frameworks to real-world tradeoffs.

Led by
Victoria Avis · Jeffrey Mason
Featured
Chandan Deuskar — Urban Specialist, World Bank
January 2026 APA session on intelligence and military policy
January 2026

U.S. intelligence and military policy in Africa.

An off-the-record discussion on the U.S. intelligence community's analytic and policy work on Africa, followed by an interactive group simulation that asked members to navigate a fast-moving policy crisis in real time.

Led by
Ashliyn Burgos · Caleb Diamond
December 2025 APA session on democratic elections
December 2025

Democratic elections in sub-Saharan Africa.

A conversation on the future of democratic elections across sub-Saharan Africa — opening with the view from civil society, then a wider discussion on the U.S. role in supporting credible elections on the continent.

Led by
Max Bone · Miriam Frost · Emily Hardman Rodgers
Featured
Marr Nyan — Gambia Participates
Dr. Joseph Sany — United States Institute of Peace
November 2025 APA session on U.S. global health policy
First member-led session
November 2025

The future of U.S. global health policy.

The first member-led session of the 2025–26 cycle: a dynamic panel discussion on the future of U.S. global health policy at a moment of significant change in how the United States funds, structures, and prioritizes global health work.

Led by
Betha Igbinosun · Spencer Knoll
Featured
Ramona Godbole — Former Deputy Director for Global Health Policy, Planning, and Programs, USAID
Stephanie Psaki — Former Coordinator for Global Health Security, White House National Security Council
September 2025 APA welcome session
Cohort kickoff
September 2025

Welcome to the 2025–26 cohort.

The opening session of the program year — introductions, an overview of the year ahead, and the first round of conversations that turn 23 new members into a cohort.

Get notified about the 2026–27 program.

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2025–2026 Program Sponsors
Kosmos Energy · Cisco