A new pan-African leadership programme is pushing back against imported executive education models, arguing that Africa’s leadership challenges require solutions shaped by the continent’s own institutions, values and economic realities.
Launched in March 2026, the Transformative African Leadership (TAL) programme is convened by four universities: the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar and the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Nairobi. This partnership spans multiple regions and academic traditions and is a first-of-its-kind collaboration.
Designed for mid-career professionals across government, business and civil society, the 10-month programme responds to the growing demands placed on leaders working across institutions, sectors and borders.
Its launch comes at a time when Africa is navigating complex global pressures alongside continental ambitions to establish one market under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). While policy frameworks and investment flows continue to evolve, institutional capacity to deliver and collaborate, as well as leaders’ ability to make sound decisions, remains uneven. TAL is emerging as one response to this gap.
TAL distinguishes itself from conventional executive education by shifting the focus from individual advancement to institutional and systemic impact. It combines Ubuntu-centred leadership with learning models designed around African institutions, governance systems and economic priorities.
“TAL was born from a shared aspiration to establish leadership models that embed the vision of a thriving continent and reflect values of solidarity,” says Dr Penny Parenzee, Senior Programme Manager at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance. “We wanted to create a space for mid-career Africans, positioned to support the implementation of the AfCFTA, to lead with authenticity and collective wisdom, rooted in African values such as Ubuntu.”
TAL places greater emphasis on demonstrated experience rather than prioritising formal qualifications. Participants are selected based on their track record of operating in complex environments where decisions carry real consequences.
The first cohort will draw candidates from public institutions, private companies and civil society who can contribute to regional value chains and broader structural transformation. TAL focuses on navigating uncertainty, aligning stakeholders and translating strategy into measurable outcomes.
That practical focus is reflected in the programme’s structure. A hybrid model combines online learning with in-person residencies in Kenya and Morocco, allowing participants to apply insights within their professional contexts while engaging in peer learning across countries and sectors.
Applications for the inaugural cohort opened in April. The programme begins in September, with its first residency taking place in Kenya after online orientation. The programme fee is €8,000, excluding accommodation and travel.
Beyond its structure and logistics, TAL reflects a broader shift in how leadership is being developed across Africa.
“The way leadership is exercised and understood across the continent is critical to driving meaningful change,” Parenzee notes. “This moment calls for leaders who are willing to challenge existing systems, rethink how institutions function and make grounded decisions with long-term impact.”
TAL’s pan-African design, spanning North, West, East and Southern Africa, is intended to encourage collaboration across linguistic, geographic and institutional divides that have historically limited coordinated action.
As African governments, businesses and institutions face mounting pressure to deliver results, TAL is betting that stronger institutions and better leadership will determine whether Africa’s ambitions translate into measurable progress.
