Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture Leadership Program

The Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture’s (CALA) Advanced Leadership Program supports
countries and sector leaders working towards inclusive agriculture transformation across Africa. This is in line with collectively contributing to the African Union’s Malabo Declaration and Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) goals. As a result of CALA’s programs, we believe leaders will be better equipped to mobilize modern agriculture for increased production, productivity, and value addition that contributes to farmer and national prosperity, food security, and jobs.

CALA’s practical leadership programs focus on delivering results in the following areas:

• Enabling leaders to better drive and deliver on national agricultural transformation initiatives, through increased collaboration and leadership capacity.
• Preparing a next generation of public and private sector leaders to meet the succession challenge in Africa’s agriculture sector.
• Increasing agriculture leadership and sector prioritization capabilities for improved implementation

 Program Format

The 16-month leadership program for experienced professionals will include a unique learning approach to developing participants’ leadership, collaboration and management skills, through the following experiences:

•  Virtual and in-person (when possible) learning events to hone leadership skills for delivery.
• Action Learning Projects connected directly to the participants’ job objectives and country transformation objectives.
• On-the-job and in-country coaching.
• Regular peer accountability sessions.
• Participation in bi-annual leadership forums.
• Participation in the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF)
• Exposure to case studies of ‘Game-changers’ in African agriculture
•  Virtual and in-person peer-learning and networking with cohorts of participants from across the continent.

 Certificate & Recognition

• Graduates of the program will receive a certificate in Advanced Leadership Program for Africa’s Food Security & Sustainability
• Be recognized as delivery champions across AGRA’s prestigious continental platforms and events,
  including at the national level
• Join an esteemed network of transformative leaders providing peer support for continuous achievement of country priorities     

Eligibility

Leaders implementing country-level agriculture efforts:

• Established or emerging leaders working in government, private firms and associations, or civil society organizations who are responsible for driving agriculture flagships and priority programs.
• Must be actively employed or working in government (public sector), private sector and civil society (associations or civil society organizations)
• 2 initial cohorts will be formed from participants from the following countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda

Special consideration will be given to:

•  Women leaders
•  Individuals working to advance agro-ecological practices.

Program Outcomes

CALA’s Advanced Leadership Program will support food security champions and leaders to:

•  Be recognized as a delivery-oriented and collaborative leader driving tangible change at the country-level.
•  Advance country-level flagship programs and policies to achieve progress toward agriculture transformation.
• Network & drive cross-sector collaboration to advance sustainability and food security objectives.
• Enhance leadership skills in environmental sustainability through exposure to agro-ecological principles, climate change adaptation and environmental and social management (ESMS), each recognized as contributing to sustainable farming, food production, and resilient food systems in the face of increasing climate change impacts.