Leadership is central to realising Africa’s potential. This is why NEPAD, with the support of the UNDP, has identified leadership transformation as a key cornerstone necessary for the continent’s renewal and transformation. In order to develop leaders that transform the continent, a number of needs should to be addressed.

Firstly, African evidence on disablers and enablers of leadership should be documented in a scientifically responsible manner. This evidence should, secondly, be applied in ways that truly have an impact on both the development of leaders and the strengthening of existing leaders. This should be done, thirdly, in a collaborative manner, bringing together researchers and practitioners in a way that strengthens existing networks.

In order to address these needs – and ultimately make a tangible and grounded contribution to the continent’s transformation – the ALCRL was invited by NEPAD and the UNDP to co-host a high-level roundtable aimed at designing a continental Leadership Transformation Programme (LTP). This took place on 9 and 10 May 2013, and was attended by Prof Derick de Jongh (Director of the ALCRL), Dr Willem Fourie (associate at the ALCRL and Senior Lecturer in Ethics at the Faculty of Theology) and Ms Rene Swart (ALCRL). Dr Fourie is the University of Pretoria’s representative on the three person core team driving this process.

The regional roundtable brought together national governments, regional economic communities, academia and research institutions, the private sector, civil society and development partners. It offered a key platform towards the formulation of a collective, African-owned leadership programme geared to respond effectively to the demands and challenges of attaining the AU’s transformation goals.

The roundtable concluded with the acceptance of six principles that will form the basis for a continental LTP and a roadmap for the eventual implementation of a programme that could make a major contribution to Africa’s transformation.