 Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) has officially launched the IFA Summer Camp 2026, welcoming a new cohort of outstanding young scholars and recent graduates with an interest in diplomacy, international relations, and global affairs. The program, now in its second round, gives participants a unique opportunity to engage in discussions on foreign policy, regional and global issues, leadership, and diplomacy while interacting directly with experts and practitioners in the field. Through interactive sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the camp aims to strengthen participants’ knowledge, critical thinking, and leadership skills, helping prepare the next generation of global leaders.
Opening the training program, Dr. Gizachew Asrat, Chief of Staff and Director General for Strategic Partnerships at IFA, welcomed the trainees and congratulated them on earning their place through academic excellence, commitment, and demonstrated potential. He underscored the importance of equipping young Ethiopians with critical thinking, cross-cultural communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills to engage confidently with an increasingly interconnected and complex world, and reaffirmed IFA’s long-term commitment to investing in youth and preparing a new generation of Ethiopians to contribute meaningfully to national, regional, and global affairs.
Also addressing the trainees, Mr. Melaku Mulualem, Stakeholder Training and Consultancy Director General, spoke on the Institute’s mandate and mission, reminding participants that IFA exists to serve Ethiopia’s national interest through rigorous research, strategic foresight, and the cultivation of diplomatic capacity. He noted that the Institute’s role has grown alongside Ethiopia’s expanding position in regional and global affairs, and that this year’s trainees become part of an institution entrusted with shaping the strategic thinking behind the nation’s foreign policy
