Who we are?
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Focus on providing black young professionals ages 18-35 with access to specialized training and essential learning opportunities to prepare them for careers in public service and global diplomacy.
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We see the creation of this Academy as a direct contribution and investment in the recognition, justice and development of Black communities, as outlined by the United Nations declaration of the Decade for People of African Descent.
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A structured training mechanism that activates the Black youth voice at the individual level that directly impacts the systemic outcomes.
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Aims to prepare participants to interface with regional, national and global policy issues ranging from climate change management to future of work in the digital age.
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Education – SDG 4: The BDA seeks to close experiential learning gaps that prevent access to policy actors for Black youth in Canada aspiring to be the next generation of policy leaders. The Academy recognizes that access to experiential learning opportunities have a direct impact on both the academic and professional trajectory of participants. Therefore, the Academy mitigates this barrier by hosting learning labs, conferences, internships, travel abroad opportunities and access to the network for relationship building as a mechanism to create social inclusion. Through these actions, the Academy ensures that Black youth and young professionals are on an equitable path to opportunities for advancement.
Employment – SDGs 5, 8: The domestic and international relations job sectors in Canada, especially those in the diplomacy space: negotiation, trade, development (humanitarian and economic), Justice and Strong equitable Institutions, National Security, Technology, Infrastructure, are often concealed and difficult to access. Furthermore, these areas continue to present gender-based inequity. The BDA seeks to uncover this hidden job market for Black youths and create a pathway for them to seek and excel in opportunities in these fields.
Representation on policy platforms – SDGs 10, 13, 16 and 17: The BDA seeks to inform policy positions on foreign policy at the national and international levels. Specifically, the mission of the Academy in this context is to champion Canada’s policy positions at High-Level meetings, G-series, World Economic and Climate Action forums. The Academy endeavors to position Black young people to excel in subject matter that is focused on multilateralism. In addition, the Academy pursues the advancement of Black diplomacy at the intersection of racial and ethnic identity, age, gender, differently abled and neurodiverse individuals and lived expertise in African descent diasporic concerns.
The UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent – SDG 10: The BDA is positioned to act in alignment with the modalities of the UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent. The Academy also prioritizes the themes of Recognition, Justice and Development in the context of domestic and foreign policy development.
TESTIMONIAL
Fellow 2021
Keshana King
"The Black Diplomats Academy changed me as a person and a young professional. Through the learning labs, I gained so much insight into the many areas of diplomacy like trade, development and security. Meeting our partners as an Executive Council Member gave me a real life look into the art of building professional relationships. The connections I built with other fellows and mentors will last a lifetime. Overall, I've truly enjoyed the time I've spent as part of BDA!" - Keshana King
Fellow 2021
Danisha Decius
"The BDA program helped me realize that a career in diplomacy is possible for people who look like me. I’ve got to engage with a variety of people with vast experiences and backgrounds thanks to this program. I have also made some really close friends who to this day have impacted my personal and professional development. I truly believe participating in this program has positively impacted my progress in my career and would recommend it to anyone who has faced a similar experience as myself." - Danisha Decius
Fellow 2021
David Nyarko
"My experience at the Black Diplomats Academy (BDA) has been tremendously inspiring and I am truly honoured to say that I was a part of the initial launch of this amazing initiative! BDA’s unprecedented experiential learning program went above and beyond my expectations as an individual interested in policy, geo-politics, national security, and law. The ability to learn from individuals in these respective fields while being part of a cohort of young black successful candidates was a very rewarding experience for me. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for BDA as THE initiative that is breaking systemic barriers and assisting young Black Canadians in pursuing their career interests in public policy and diplomacy!" - David Nyarko
AIM
Drive Legislative and Economic justice through the application of Sustainable Development Goals 1, 4, 5, 8, 10, 13, 16, and 17.
SERVICES
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Weekly learning labs with direct access to global policy leaders.
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Career development workshops and activities (career fair/CV review)
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Black Diplomacy Global Summit
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One to One mentoring with senior public sector leaders Internship opportunities with Global Affairs Canada
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Travel abroad opportunities for representation on policy platforms such as Climate Change conferences (COP26)