Building a community that gives back: the Ivorian Chevening Alumni Association  

The Chevening journey doesn’t end when scholars return home. In Côte d’Ivoire, alumni are turning their network into a source of support, opportunity, and impact while building connections across West Africa.   

‘You cannot create a sense of belonging for people you have not spoken to.’  

For Lou Sinforale Vanié, President of the executive board at the Ivorian Chevening Association (ICA), this idea is central to the association’s work.  

Before new scholars leave for the UK, the ICA introduces them to the existing alumni community and their future peers. Alumni also meet current scholars throughout their time in the UK, offering guidance and building relationships before they return home.  

Once back in Côte d’Ivoire, new alumni receive a welcome booklet and are invited to a newcomer dinner, where they can reconnect with the community and share their research and experiences.  

The association also makes time for the personal milestones that bring a community together, celebrating birthdays, marriages and new arrivals.  

‘Our alumni community routinely have meetings with current scholars. We ask them how it is going and try to give them that support. We want them to know that we are here with you, so there is already a foundation when they return home.’  

Creating a sense of belonging

The ICA’s WhatsApp community keeps alumni connected, with dedicated groups for different areas of the association’s work. A database of members’ professional backgrounds also helps the association provide targeted support.

Its ‘Opportunity Hub’ shares vacancies and other opportunities, while alumni offer advice on applications and interviews. The network has already helped an alumnus secure a role with an international organisation.  

‘Professionally it has been so beneficial, and that’s why I applied to Chevening… It was through Chevening I got my first job opportunity. It was through Chevening I’ve had the opportunity to speak at events and build my own brand. When I came back, my first support was Cheveners. This is where networking takes effect.’ 

Turning an alumni network into wider impact  

The ICA has used its collective expertise to work on issues including democracy, the environment, and youth development.  

With support from the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund (CAPF), the ICA delivered PeaceVote2025, a peaceful-elections awareness campaign during Côte d’Ivoire’s legislative elections.  

The project trained 58 community leaders and civic actors to prevent, manage, and de-escalate tensions arising from electoral disinformation. Participants were also brought together through a WhatsApp group so that the association could continue providing advice and support after the workshops.  

The association also hosted a podcast featuring a jurist activist, television commentators, and political science students, exploring the role and responsibilities of MPs and the importance of informed civic participation.  

Climate conversations and green careers  

The ICA is also using its network to open conversations about the environment and future careers. 

At the Climate Change Africa Summit 2025 in Cotonou, Benin, the ICA launched a podcast focused on the circular economy, featuring Nora Monnet, Circular Economy Expert at the Prime Minister’s Office of Côte d’Ivoire.  

The initiative aims to make green careers and climate finance more visible to young people and shows how relationships built through the wider Chevening network can open doors.  

ICA first connected with the Ministry of Environment through an Embassy event. That relationship-building is now part of how the association approaches its work: using connections made through Chevening, the British Embassy, and other alumni networks to create opportunities that reach beyond the alumni community.  

Building a West African community  

The ICA now wants to take Chevening further across Côte d’Ivoire and beyond.  

The association is working with universities and their alumni networks to reach prospective scholars outside the capital, while also exploring partnerships that can support its alumni community.

At the regional level, associations in Benin and Togo have approached ICA to learn from its experience. The association hopes to build more opportunities for Chevening alumni across West Africa to share ideas, collaborate, and learn from one another.  

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