cross-sector approaches to leadership development

Department of Public Policy and Administration

Cross-sector Approaches to Leadership Development

Dr. Jennifer BremerPublic Policy and Administration Department

School of Global Affairs and Public PolicyAbu Dhabi – February 2010

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Community leadership

• What is leadership?

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Community leadership

• What is leadership?

• What is community leadership development – and why is it an effective approach?

Department of Public Policy and Administration

Community leadership

• What is leadership?

• What is community leadership development – and why is it an effective approach?

• Can this approach work in the Middle East? – experience from Egypt

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The four elements of leadership

The leader recognizes that:1. Action is necessary2. Action is possible3. S/he personally must act

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The four elements of leadership

4. The leader mobilizes others to believe that:

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The four elements of leadership

4. The leader mobilizes others to believe that:

• Action is necessary• Action is possible• They personally must act

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The rest is:

• Analysis• Planning• Management

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The rest is:

• Analysis• Planning• Management

All very necessary for success,

but distinct from leadership

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The rest is:

• Analysis• Planning• Management

All very necessary for success,

but distinct from leadership

BUT effective leaders have these skills

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What leadership is not• Recognizing there is a problem• Describing the problem ad nauseum• Raising awareness about the problem• Complaining that no one is doing anything

about the problem

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What leadership is not• Recognizing there is a problem• Describing the problem ad nauseum• Raising awareness about the problem• Complaining that no one is doing anything

about the problem

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How can leadership be developed?

• Analysis, planning, and management can be taught

• But can leadership be taught?

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How can leadership be developed?• Analysis, planning, and management can

be taught• But can leadership be taught?• NO

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How can leadership be developed?• Analysis, planning, and management can

be taught• But can leadership be taught?• NO• But it can be developed• People can learn skills that make them

more effective leaders and encourage action

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Community leadership development

• What is community leadership development?

• Why is the community a good venue to develop leadership?

• How can the community be used as a venue to develop leadership?

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Community Leadership DevelopmentA program that: 1. Brings together potential leaders from

business, civil society, and (sometimes) government

2. Helps them to recognize the need to act by educating them about the community’s needs

3. Helps them to recognize that action is possible by showing them models for action

4. Builds skills needed for them to act5. Creates a network for future collective action

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Community Leadership in the U.S.• Most major U.S. cities have community leadership

programs (1000 belong to the association)• Most commonly organized by chambers of commerce,

sometimes independent or university-based• Generally conduct one program over a nine-month

period• Combine study of community problems and solutions

with skill development • Encourage action, but rarely proceed themselves to

action

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Who participates?• Varies from program to program• Sometimes promising young managers• Sometimes more senior government

leaders and officials• Sometimes special categories, such as

women or minorities• Always cross-sectoral http://www.claweb.org/

faq.php

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The Community Development Triad

Community Foundation

Community Leadership Group

Community Business

Partnership

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The Community Development Triad

Community Foundation

Community Leadership Group

Community Business

PartnershipBuilds skills and

connections

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The Community Development Triad

Community Foundation

Community Leadership Group

Community Business

PartnershipChannels

donor funds to

local needs

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The Community Development Triad

Community Foundation

Community Leadership Group

Community Business

Partnership

Mobilizes business to promote economic

development

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The NILE Project – an Egyptian pilot

• Aim: to launch the community leadership development process

• Kenan Institute (part of UNC-Chapel Hill)• Egyptian NGO Support Center• SECID• MEPI, then USAID

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Strategy

• Begin with community leadership development program

• Encourage collaborative projects• Encourage formation of ongoing groups• Had gender focus (donor-driven)

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NILE I PARTICIPATION TOTALS

Participants Year 1 Year 2 TotalTotal participants 155 308 463Men 73 166 239Women 82 142 224NGOs 34 84 118Business Sector 25 202 227Donors 3 4 7Government 3 39 42Universities 2 8 10Media 5 5 10Governorates 4 5 5Trainers 6 30 36

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Port Said training, 2005

Master class, 2007

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Achievements• Partnership between nonprofit leaders from El Arish and

the business leaders association in 6 October City to promote workforce development among El Arish youth. The 6 October investors association provided El Arish youth with room and board as well as vocational training for youth from North Sinai at the 6 October City  investors' vocational training center.

• In Sohag, a community that started participating in NILE programming in its last quarter, the local community development association and an NGO signed a cooperation protocol to train trainers from Suhag to deliver training to youth on textile production.Port Said training, 2005

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Achievements – new cities• 0th of Ramadan City, a group of businessmen and

community members paid school tuitions for low-income children from the community. The program is in its second round, and during the 2006-2007 period, the alliance has doubled the number (now 1500).

• Micro credit program initiated by the 6 October businessmen’s association links community members with entrepreneurial ideas with basic business funding and mentors. In first two years, funded 50 poor families to start their own businesses; had a 97% pay-back rate.

• Also, in 6 October City, an alliance between the business investors and nonprofit providers led to the creation of a vocational training center, which since June 2006, has provided handicraft training to 25-plus women.