Coco-Cola supports leadership development in SA

The AAI, with its head office in New York, has for some time been busy with community-focused leadership development programmes in Kenya and Nigeria and has now shifted its focus to SA for similar leadership programmes locally. The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation is based in Johannesburg.

The shift in focus to SA involves a partnership between the AAI and the Centre for Business in Society at USB Executive Development (USB-ED), the public management development and training company at the University of Stellenbosch Business School. USB Executive Development was recently once again ranked among the top 50 business schools in the world by the Financial Times Executive Education 2013 World Ranking.

Transformational leadership

The strengthening of relationships between the two leadership development organisations follows the successful presentation of two leadership programmes for non-profit organisations in SA and will now be extended with further programmes this year. The next programme will be presented in Johannesburg from 10-14 June 2013.

Amini Kajunju, president and CEO of AAI, said that the organisation focuses on the development of leadership in Africa. This will be done through the presentation of a programme known as 'transformational leadership', which is supported and funded by the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation.

"Increasing interest in the programme has led to a decision to further expand the programme in South Africa. The eventual objective is to give participants in the programme the ability, capacity and self-confidence to deliver better services to communities.

"Non-profit organisations always have shortages of funds, staff and resources. Through this programme and leadership development we wish to help the organisations overcome these challenges. It is eventually programmes like these that really make a difference," Kajunju said.

A workable strategy

Prof Arnold Smit, director of the Centre for Business in Society, said the focus of the programme would be on leadership and strategy, and would be presented by professionals from the social science sector.

Non-profit organisations find themselves in a complex and sometimes chaotic environment with community dynamics characterised by continuous change, trauma, division and uncertainty. In the midst of this, suppliers of funding wish to see a return on their investment, as well as the impact that activities make, instead of just lists of activities which are embarked on. The challenge for non-profit organisations is to bring together staff, volunteers and other stakeholders for a sustainable and effective implementation of a workable strategy. Knowledge of how to do this is of utmost importance.

The programme is aimed at leaders of non-profit organisations to equip them with skills and knowledge regarding the following:

• Obstacles that prevent you from making progress;
  
• The dynamics of change and how to lead people through it;
  
• How conflict develops and how to address it effectively;
  
• How to retain focus as a leader in the midst of daily challenges; and
  
• How to develop a strategy to keep your organisation on track.