By Conrad Mwanawashe
CLIMATE change will be one of the key features under a new leadership training programme which seeks to elevate senior public sector leaders from “good managers” to transformative leaders who can manage in times of crisis.
The Leadership Excellence in Africa’s Public Sector (LEAPS) under the Enhancing Leadership and Governance in Public Financial Management in Africa Program was launched by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube recently is expected to equip senior leaders with the soft skills and human qualities (“soft power”) needed to drive change, deliberately focusing on vision ownership; integrity; ethics; adaptability; empathy; accountability; collaboration; problem-solving; and negotiation skills among other qualities.
“Situational leadership is also part of this program. Situational means how adaptable these leaders can be to manage in times of crisis, whether this is crisis related to climate, or man-made crisis, or natural disasters, how to respond to those specific areas, in those specific circumstances, to ensure that actually the provision of quality services to citizens are not disrupted,” Mamadou Biteye, Executive Secretary of the African Capacity Building Foundation said.
The LEAPS program is over six countries to start with over the next three years, and every year a cohort of 15 senior officials in the public financial management ecosystem are hand-picked and go through a six-month leadership program, which includes mentoring, coaching, and other types of training, and over the course of the program, the initial program is 45 per country, for six countries.
Zimbabwe was chosen as the official launch venue because it is home to ACBF headquarters. Additionally, Zimbabwe was the first country where ACBF conducted the Country Needs Assessment.
The LEAPS Program will be expanded to the other five target countries: Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal.
“The challenges we face in Africa today – the complex fiscal landscapes, global economic pressures, and the need for responsive governance – require that we equip our senior public finance managers not only with technical knowledge, which most of them already have but with the soft skills and human qualities,” said Biteye.
Finance Minister Ncube said public financial management is fundamental to good governance, and therefore, it is imperative that to equip leaders with the skills necessary to navigate the complexities of today’s challenges.
“The LEAPS program, therefore, offers a unique opportunity for senior officials from various public financial management institutions in Zimbabwe and across the continent to engage, learn and lead with excellence. This initiative, therefore, underscores the importance of collaboration, innovation and resilience in public service. I am confident that the LEAPS program will provide similar transformative experiences for all participants,” Ncube said.
“This comprehensive curriculum covers essential topics, including self-leadership, team dynamics, organisational strategies and a deeper understanding of the public financial management ecosystem.”
A national workshop which served to orient the officials to the LEAPS program, introduce them to essential knowledge platforms, and assist them in developing personalised leadership development plans was held last week.
The plans will lay the groundwork for their executive coaching journey, ensuring that they are well-equipped to maximise the benefits of this program.
