GHANA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (GIMPA)
By Joyce Boahemaa Fosu
The YALI Regional Leadership Center (RLC) West Africa, Accra has completed the onsite training of 108 young Africans in leadership skills. The three-week onsite training, dubbed Cohort 43, brought together participants from nine countries within the sub region.
At the closing ceremony for the cohort, the Project Director of the YALI Accra RLC, Dr. Esi E. Sey, encouraged participants of Cohort 43 to stay the course as they progress to the post training phase of YALI training. In all, 108 participants, comprising 58 females and 50 males, have over the past three weeks, exhibited, built on, and improved their leadership skills to impact other young people within their communities, organisations and countries. YALI provides the opportunity for young people to interact, network and improve their leadership skills while reflecting on the challenges facing the continent and possible innovative solutions available to mitigate such challenges.
Rector of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), implementing institution of the YALI Accra RLC, Prof. Samuel K. Bonsu, underscored GIMPA’s appreciation of USAID support for the YALI program through the Accra RLC. “GIMPA remains committed to the success and sustainability of the Accra RLC”, Prof. Bonsu stressed, adding that “GIMPA is therefore geared up to collaborate further with USAID to train even more young people across the sub region”
Deputy Mission Director of USAID West Africa, Mr. Greg Howell, congratulated participants of Cohort 43 while highlighting USAID’s commitment to the YALI project since its inception. Mr. Howell outlined USAID’s support for YALI participants and alumni alike over the years, through the provision of various resources for the training and development of participants and alumni of the Center.
USAID, according to Mr. Howell, “has provided funding support of about $44,000 to 23 alumni under the YALI Accra RLC Community Engagement Fund, with which Alumni are currently implementing various community level activities and initiatives to improve and impact lives across the sub region”. Winners of the fund, which is competitive, and administered by a review committee, are implementing initiatives to sensitize rural women to their rights and help reduce teenage pregnancy, and training and equipping young people, including rural women, with employable skills to earn some livelihood among other initiatives.
“Through support for the Center as well as opportunities such as the Community Engagement Fund, Chapter Matching Grant, Alumni Excellence Awards and other opportunities, USAID continues to strengthen participants and alumni of the Accra RLC to develop personally and professionally in ensuring that they impact their communities, businesses and countries.
In July 2014, the U. S. Government announced the creation of four Regional Leadership Centers in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and South Africa. These Centers serve as regional hubs across the continent to encourage transformational learning and enhanced leadership skills. The RLCs are a collaborative effort between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in close partnership with private sector partners. Each RLC is managed under a public-private partnership.
The YALI Regional Leadership Center, Accra, located at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) has, since its inception, trained over 7,800 young Africans from nine countries within the sub region. The Center trains participants through hybrid and online delivery channels. The hybrid approach trains participants both online and in-person over a five-week period, while the online approach comprises an eight-week training period online. Participants at the post training stage undergo community service or internship, mentorship and the writing of a post training report. The completion of this phase qualifies graduates of the program to join the YALI Accra RLC Alumni.
DIRECTORATE OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS & INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
