The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) has underscored the need to strengthen leadership training within the public sector in Africa stressing that leadership is a critical driver of the economy.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony of the second cohort of the Leadership Excellence in Africa’s Public Sector (LEAPS) program in Nairobi, Rudolf Bancé, ACBF, Head of Economic and Social Governance and country manager, said that leadership remains the cornerstone of successful development models globally.
The move is part of the government efforts to strengthen the management of public funds and reduce wastage and embezzlement within state institutions in Africa.
The program developed by the African Capacity Building Foundation(ACBF), focuses on building leadership governance and accountability skills among senior officials working in key financial institution such as the National Treasury, the Office of the Auditor-General, the Office of the Controller of Budget, the Kenya Revenue Authority and relevant parliamentary committees.
Rudolf noted that the program combines several components; online leadership training, personalized coaching, and technical modules on emerging topics, Public Financial Management (PFM) in crisis situations, green PFM, artificial intelligence in PFM, and negotiation skills.
“We have the first cohort of 15 senior officials from Kenya, joining others from Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Senegal. Their graduation marks the completion of the first six-month program, while the second cohort will begin soon.” He said.
Adding that: “We are expecting to see transformational leaders emerge with ethical values and leadership excellence that will strengthen the implementation of PFM systems and improve public service delivery across the participating countries.”
Rudolf emphasized that many countries that have achieved significant development, such as those in East Asia, owe much of their success to strong leadership noting that by investing in leadership within public institutions, countries can transform management practices and accelerate development.
He lauded the Kenyan government, particularly the National Treasury, for its partnership and support stressing that the inclusion of participants from the Office of the Auditor-General, Office of the Controller of Budget, Kenya Revenue Authority, and Central Bank of Kenya reflects the country’s commitment to building ethical and effective leadership within its financial institutions.
“We expect to see transformational leaders who will strengthen PFM systems and improve the quality of public service delivery to citizens,” he added.
While acknowledging the importance of the program, the Director General Public Debt Management at the National Treasury, Raphael Otieno emphasized that LEAPS is part of wider efforts to equip leaders with the technical and ethical skills needed to manage public resources responsibly.
“The Foundation has supported the African government for many years in building leadership and governance systems. Training leaders in public financial management is vital, especially in developing countries where weak leadership often leads to mismanagement of public resources, “Owino said.
Owino said the training aims to transform how public institution handle finances by improving coordination, promoting accountability and strengthening transparency adding that the initiative comes at a crucial time as Kenya continue to face challenges related to public debt and mismanagement of funds.
“Good governance and responsible leadership are key to ensuring debt sustainability and economic stability. Kenya is relying on improved governance to strengthen debt management and ensure financial responsibility. Equipping leaders from key institutions with the right training and skills is essential for accountability and effective management of public resources,” he said.
