Our Work in Leadership Development

The beginning

Skillshare International launched its leadership development programmes in 1999 in response to the popularity and success of an initial series of three workshops for leaders of NGOs, community-based organisations and government institutions in Southern Africa.

With initial funding support from the UK government's Department for International Development (DFID), the programmes drew in organisational leaders from four countries in Southern Africa, extending to six in the region, and later to East Africa and Asia. Over the years the programme has strengthened and training is now offered all over the world.

"This innovative programme has been highly valued by the participants for its relevance to their personal development as leaders and for their work with staff teams and colleagues to address processes within their organisations ...There is early evidence that, in most cases, participants are playing more facilitative and enabling roles within their organisations. Most participants have been able to effect changes already that are beginning to embed principles of continuous improvement and team working to good practical effect in their workplaces".
DFID evaluation report, February 2000

Feedback from our leadership programmes

Client feedback highlights the significant transformation within their organisations, such as:

• Development of an inclusive leadership that motivates and inspires
• Enhanced strategic leadership and improved organisational capability to deliver the vision and objectives
• Improved user and customer focused service delivery
• Demonstrable performance improvement in both service delivery and cost effectiveness
• Development of a new culture of continual improvement to ensure that change is sustainable.

Enhancing leadership capacity in East Africa

In September 2009 we brought together organisations from across East Africa through our leadership development programme. This was an exciting opportunity to expand our leadership development work and to hear positive feedback about the impact of the programme.

Participants came from a range of backgrounds and sectors including gender advocacy, health, agriculture, peace building, and HIV/AIDS. The group's diversity generated interesting discussions during which people were able to share ideas based on their different experiences and perceptions. Participants also had an opportunity to hear from Dr David Mburu who had attended a previous workshop and shared his own experiences of implementing change back in his organisation as a result of the workshop.

Find out more

To discuss your needs, and for further information on our leadership development work, please contact the Leadership Development team at: