YALI RLC West Africa Emerging Leaders Program Cohort of 2017

YALI RLC Emerging Leaders Program for Young Africans

Deadline: 29th November, 2020

Are you passionate about improving your leadership skills through the most experiential training on the continent? Join the over 6,000 YALI Regional Leadership Center Accra Alumni impacting their communities, organizations, and countries. The RLC West Africa develops the skills of young African leaders by providing core training in contemporary African issues, as well as specialized training in three key areas: Business and Entrepreneurship, Civic Leadership, and Public Management.

Applications are opened for the YALI Regional Leadership Centre (YALI) Emerging Leaders Program for Young Africans in Africa.

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) was launched by the United States government as a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders. The need to invest in grooming strong, results-oriented leaders comes out of the statistics: nearly 1 in 3 Africans are between the ages of 10 and 24, and approximately 60% of Africa’s total population is below the age of 35. Who will empower and lead these young Africans? Who will shape the future of business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public management? In order to answer these questions, YALI promotes three models designed to identify and empower young leaders: the YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship,YALI Network and now the establishment of Regional Leadership Centers across Africa.

Supporting this progress, the Accra Regional Leadership Centre (RLC), as part of the United States government initiative, Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI), will offer an innovative and game changing leadership training program in Africa. The program will be hosted by Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), and the first cohort will walk through the doors on the 31st July 2014.

How the Program is Designed

The program is two pronged by design with the Emerging Leaders Program targeting Africa’s young leaders and the Executive Leadership Program targeting the more experienced African leader group. The overall program entails a combination of taught content as well as practical and in-the-field leadership engagements.

The Emerging Leaders Program will teach young African leaders about modern leadership over a period of 17 weeks. The program will be broken down into four phases – a 5 week coursework phase delivered in-person or online and the remaining 12 weeks distributed equally among a mentorship program, internship or community service, and a report writing period.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Are 18 to 35 years of age at the time of application submission,
  • Are citizens and residents of one of the following countries: Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Liberia, Sierra     Leone, The Gambia and Burkina Faso.
  • Are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.
  • Are eligible to receive any necessary visa to Ghana, and
  • Are proficient in reading, writing, listening and speaking English.

What We Offer

Business and Entrepreneurship

This track caters to the range of emerging or aspiring entrepreneurs who expect to take on leadership roles within the private sector or build their own business ventures on the continent.

Civil Society Management

This track is oriented to those who are or aspire to be civically engaged and serve the public through non-governmental organizations, community based organizations, or volunteerism.

Public Policy and Management

This track is tailored to those who work or aspire to work in any level of government (including elected positions), regional organizations such as the African Union or the West Africa Community, international organizations such as the United Nations, or other publicly minded organizations or think tanks

Selection Process and Criteria

Selection for participation in the YALI Regional Leadership Center West Africa will be conducted as a merit-based, open competition. All eligible applications will be reviewed by a selection panel. Chosen semi-finalists will then be interviewed before a final selection is made and an invitation to join the program is issued.

Selection panels will use the following criteria to evaluate applications:

  • Demonstrated leadership in public service, business and entrepreneurship, or civic engagement.
  • Active engagement in public or community service, volunteerism, or mentorship.
  • The ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and respect the opinions of others.
  • Strong social and communication skills.
  • An energetic, positive attitude.
  • A demonstrated knowledge, interest, and professional experience in the sector/track selected, and
  • A commitment to apply leadership skills and training to benefit your country and/or community after the program.

Applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, gender, religion, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Reasons to Apply to the YALI Accra RLC

At the end of the programs participants will be awarded with certificates and become members of the YALI Alumni

Participants will be taken through various forms of leadership training to prepare them for leadership roles in their various endeavours.



For More Information on the YALI RLC Emerging Leaders Program, visit the official website here.

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