The history of the African Council on Foreign Relations began as an idea in 2016 when I was preparing to leave Cote d’Ivoire for the United States of America. It was one of the projects that I wanted to deliver in my lifetime. It all began with a critical observation that Africa must advance in the 21st century with a Values-Based Competitiveness Leadership. By applying this innovative development model, Africa will take a driving seat in the 21st-century global development systems. I remember sharing the idea of building this world-class institution with many business leaders and government officials in Africa to have their guidance, support, and blessings.” Jean Narcisse Djaha. 

Jean Narcisse Djaha, Founding President of ACFR remarks in 2022, ”by founding and launching this great institution, we would like to help Africa position to compete and win in the 21st century. ACFR is set to become a powerful and trusted voice for youth everywhere in Africa and the diaspora. Our parents such as Kwame Nkrumah, and Nelson Mandela had an outstanding developmental vision for us and future generations. Today, it is our responsibility to communicate that vision to our children, grandchildren, and the next generation of visionary leaders.”

In 2022, I started to gather relevant information regarding the formation of the ACFR in Virginia. In 2023, the African Council on Foreign Relations was formed in the State of Virginia, USA. 

The African Council on Foreign Relations exemplifies Jean Narcisse Djaha’s vision for a world where Africa fully participates in all political, economic, and financial decisions.

Today, the African Council on Foreign Relations remains committed to its founding mission of becoming the most trusted think tank that serves, anticipates and solves Africa’s biggest challenges on the global stage by providing a comprehensive range of impact-driven programs and bringing business, government, private sector, and social sector actors together to share perspectives, develop constructive ideas and opportunities for Mother Africa.

About Our Founder

The story of a village boy who has overcome all barriers to achieve his life dreams. From my hamlet to the sky. Hard work and integrity are my weapons to compete and win. 

He is guided by Romans 8:30” And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified”.

Testimonial: Dr. Gary Robert, Regent University Professor of Public Administration, writes, “God has a great calling on your life. You will be remembered as one of the very best outperforming young African leaders in my lifetime and the history of Robertson School of Government.’’

An Ivorian and a rising influential global business diplomat, Jean Narcisse Djaha is the Founding President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Council on Foreign Relations, a world-renowned think tank dedicated to advancing Africa’s competitiveness, and political, and economic interests on the global stage. He is also a Distinguished Fellow for West Africa at the African Council on Foreign Relations specializing in social entrepreneurship, trade competitiveness, business diplomacy, business for peace, etc. At the Council, he is the founder and principal leader of the Global Africa Center and Diplomatic & Business School.

Djaha is an accomplished and highly acclaimed visionary young global leader and a rising global social entrepreneur on a mission to inspire and empower the next generation of young African leaders to work toward their dreams and the common vision they all have for Africa and the world. An eternal believer in the power of hope, prayer, hard work, and consistency, he is a pure example and witness of how God can take anybody from nowhere and make them global change impact makers.

Through the power of his pen, exceptional bravery, and God-given gifted creativity, He was selected as one of the best and brightest minds out of Lycée Djibo Sounkalo of Bouake, Cote d’Ivoire in 1997 to study political theology with many courses in business diplomacy, peace diplomacy, and geopolitics of trade (later), a field that studies the real centers of global economic and political powers. This experience would change his life forever. From 2004 to 2016, He had the pleasure of leading impactful leadership, peace, and educational initiatives in 35 countries in Africa. In addition, He has led programs and projects extensively in every country in West Africa.

He was the Founding President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of KOFF Global Corporation, Global Africa Leadership Council, Global Relief Fund for Education, and several other social enterprises. An Ivorian and a rising global influential business diplomat, Dr. Djaha is an outstanding long-time champion of social innovation and an expert in entrepreneurship ecosystem systems change.

A prominent and prolific writer, managing and editor-in-chief, and passionate about the liberal international order. Jean is the author of four books, including Geopolitics of AfCFTA, a book that allows everyday people, governments, and businesses to understand the high-level geopolitical aspect of the African Continental Free Trade Area, free trade agreements, and international trade in general. In January 2024, Dr. Djaha will publish ”AfCFTA: The African International Economic Order”, a book that has coined the term ‘’African International Economic Order’’. The African International Economic Order consists of four sub-orders: African International Trade Order, Investment Order, Multinational Corporation Order, and SMEs Order. With this great innovation, he becomes the father of the African International Economic Order, an international order that is already here and will shape the future of Africa’s economic development relations with the rest of the world.

A bold thinker and great thinker with a rich history of publishing and editing earned over nearly two decades, he has a high level of passion for art and creative writing’s transformative power to effect change and drive positive change in today’s world marked by intense violence. He is building the African Council on Foreign Relations’ Peace Leadership Network to promote dialogue, peace, and understanding in Africa. With the Arts and Poetry for Peace in Africa project and Peace Leadership Accelerators Program, He wants to develop an international network of mission-driven young leaders to promote peace, diplomacy, and dialogue for peaceful crisis resolution in Africa and worldwide.

In 2024, Djaha was the leading architect in building the Dr. Toby Malichi Institute for Global Impact of Dr. Toby Malichi, Hon.D.Bus., DHL, LHD, known as “The Global Godfather,” a purpose-driven, non-profit global Think Tank headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with a significant presence in Washington, DC dedicated to inspiring young global leaders, empowering social entrepreneurs, and creating economic opportunities in a shifting global economy. 

A purpose, vision, mission-driven, and charismatic young global servant leader, Jean is a lifelong active member of Catholic Church organizations such as Saint Vincent De Paul and Saint Egidio Community and has been serving since 1997. In 1998, as a student, he served as a volunteer to Liberian war refugees in San Pedro and Tabou in Côte d’Ivoire, helping them process their cries, sufferings, and pains.

In 2008, with the help of a Catholic Priest, he founded Nouvelle Force, a program and movement that helped young people access food, water, shelter, and a creative environment where they can be heard and acknowledged as people. Consistently lauded as a trailblazer and with a deep advocate for peace diplomacy, Djaha has an abiding interest and passion for art, poetry, and the creative expression of words to advance peace, business for peace, and diplomacy in Africa.

He dreams of winning the Nobel Peace Prize in his lifetime.

Jean has educational backgrounds in political science, international relations, international business and trade, journalism, government, corporate strategy, applied intelligence, and political theology.

Djaha was born and raised in Cote d’Ivoire.