Training & coaching of local leaders in Africa
International Leadership Training & Coaching (LTC) is one of the key-competencies of ‘De Professionele Mens’. Jan Willem has been involved in international LTC programmes in The Netherlands and abroad for more than 20 years. In 2005 while working in Western Africa he developed together with some African colleagues, the very successful ‘Leadership for Change’ Programme (click for english Word and french pdf version) for SNV. This Programme now has been upscaled to Niger, Mali, Benin, Cameroun, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau and Ghana. This experience inspired both Gerry and Jan Willem to continue working on Leadership Development in Africa ever since.
Leaders in Africa have to make decisions in often very difficult circumstances characterised by lack of means, a weak institutional environment and conflicting expectations. There is a desperate need for practical, well tailored hands on leadership training and coaching as opposed to the mainstream rather theoretical and formal management training if any. A well integrated leadership training and coaching component could boost the impact of many sector- and valuechain development programmes in Africa.
The ‘Professionele Mens’ is eager to contribute with its experience and know how on this matter to an improved impact of development programmes in developing countries.
At this moment we are searching for partners, local and international, to start a leadership training & coaching centre in Africa.
To read more about our vision and experience with leadership development in the African context read the article ‘Leadership, the hidden factor in capacity development: a West African experience’ (pdf) Jan Willem co-authored in the book ‘Capacity Development in Practice’.