IDIA Academy Applications
The International Development Innovation Alliance (IDIA) Academy offers a range of professional development opportunities to equip development practitioners, funders and decisionmakers with the skills they need to identify, design and scale solutions to global challenges.
These range from immersive, one-week courses delivered in countries around the world, to tailored programmes on sector and context-specific challenges such as health systems strengthening. In 2025, we expanded our offering to cover artificial intelligence, providing development innovation leaders with practical knowledge, frameworks, tools and skills to advance the responsible and inclusive application of AI-driven technologies in development.
Browse our latest opportunities below and submit your application today.
IDIA Academy Adaptive Leadership Programme 2026 — Managing Innovation for Impact
The IDIA Academy Managing Innovation for Impact Adaptive Leadership Programme offers development innovation leaders a transformative opportunity to address complex challenges with clarity, confidence and practical tools. Through a unique blend of structured learning, personal reflection and collaborative networking, the Programme transforms how leaders approach global development challenges, equipping them with the skills, networks, and mindsets to drive impact within their organizations and beyond.
Participants complete our trainings with:
Enhanced Leadership Capacity: participants gain knowledge of key innovation principles, systems-thinking concepts, and storytelling techniques, enabling them to articulate and implement strategies for scaling impact.
Increased Confidence and Efficacy: Our training alumni report significant growth in their ability to lead and inspire change, foster collaboration, and apply tools in real-world contexts.
A Lifelong Network: Our programmes foster diverse, global cohorts of professionals who build enduring connections, enabling ongoing learning, collaboration, collective action and resource sharing.
Who Is This Training For?
The IDIA Academy Managing Innovation for Impact Adaptive Leadership Programme is open to anyone driven to advance innovation for sustainable development, including members of multilateral agencies, philanthropy, investment funds and civil society.
IDIA particularly encourages applications from individuals who:
Manage innovation portfolios and/or scaling programmes
Influence country innovation ecosystem strategies
Shape institutional innovation policy
Invest in innovations to address global development challenges
Key Programme Details
Dates: 7-10 December, 2026
Location: Ghana, Venue TBD
Cohort: 25 places
Fees & Funding: USD $2175 (A limited number of fully-subsidized IDIA scholarships are available for individuals from the Global South)
Application Window: 31 July - 21 August, 2026
Ready to Apply?
Applications for the 2026 IDIA Academy Managing Innovation for Impact Adaptive Leadership Programme officially open on July 31st. If you would like to be notified of future training opportunities, please contact idiatraining@r4d.org.