The Afro-Diasporic Academics Network (ADAN) is a unique network in the German-speaking region that brings together students, professionals, companies, and organizations to promote diversity in German society and provide a nuanced understanding of Africa, Africans, and Afro-Germans. Founded in 2014 in Frankfurt by a group of ambitious students with African roots, the association now has more than 600 members and continues to grow steadily. ADAN offers its members a platform to connect with companies and organizations, promote personal and professional development, and influence issues affecting Black people and people of color (BPoC) and the African diaspora. This enables students and young professionals to acquire and apply valuable skills, including project management, communication, strategic planning, event organization, and intercultural competence, in their professional lives.

We worked with ADAN over eight weeks on the development of a strategy for the further development of the organization, and particularly the introduction of an administrative office. This should help the organization to continue to manage the strong growth in membership and to present itself even more professionally to the public. In consultation with the executive board and other members of the association, a future operating model for the organization and the area of responsibility for the administrative office were first defined. Based on this, detailed profiles were developed for future employees and an initial job advertisement was prepared.

Our project significantly advanced ADAN’s mission by laying the groundwork for its first administrative office and full-time employee, transitioning from a volunteer-only model. We defined a realistic office size and set a detailed timeline with milestones to ensure a structured approach to its expansion. By creating comprehensive job descriptions for the initial hires and developing a financial model based on past revenues and expenses, we provided strategies for sustainable financing. Additionally, the flyer and pitch deck we produced will enhance its fundraising efforts by effectively communicating ADAN’s work and impact.