Cross-sector Approaches to Leadership Development

1. Cross-sector Approaches to Leadership Development Dr. Jennifer Bremer Public Policy and Administration Department School of Global Affairs and Public Policy Abu Dhabi – February 2010

2. Community leadership • What is leadership?

3. Community leadership • What is leadership? • What is community leadership development • and why is it an effective approach?

4. 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

5. The four elements of leadership The leader recognizes that: • Action is necessary • Action is possible • S/he personally must act

6. The four elements of leadership 4. The leader mobilizes others to believe that:

7. The four elements of leadership 4. The leader mobilizes others to believe that: • Action is necessary • Action is possible • They personally must act

8. The rest is: • Analysis • Planning • Management

9. The rest is: • Analysis • Planning • Management All very necessary for success, but distinct from leadership

10. The rest is: • Analysis • Planning • Management All very necessary for success, but distinct from leadership BUT effective leaders have these skills

11. 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

12. 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 regional sports!

13. How can leadership be developed? • Analysis, planning, and management can be taught • But can leadership be taught?

14. How can leadership be developed? • Analysis, planning, and management can be taught • But can leadership be taught? • NO

15. 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

16. 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?

17. Community Leadership Development A program that: • Brings together potential leaders from business, civil society, and (sometimes) government • Helps them to recognize the need to act by educating them about the community’s needs • Helps them to recognize that action is possible by showing them models for action • Builds skills needed for them to act • Creates a network for future collective action

18. 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

19. 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

20. The Community Development Triad Community Business Partnership Community Leadership Group Community Foundation

21. The Community Development Triad Community Business Partnership Builds skills and connections Community Leadership Group Community Foundation

22. The Community Development Triad Community Business Partnership Channels donor funds to local needs Community Leadership Group Community Foundation

23. The Community Development Triad Mobilizes business to promote economic development Community Business Partnership Community Leadership Group Community Foundation

24. 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

25. Strategy • Begin with community leadership development program • Encourage collaborative projects • Encourage formation of ongoing groups • Had gender focus (donor-driven)

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

27. Port Said training, 2005 Master class, 2007

28. 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

29. 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.