African Intergenerational Leadership Hub

The African Intergenerational Leadership Hub (AIGLH) aims to build intergenerational leadership capacity in the environmental sustainability and conservation arena. More particularly, it seeks to build leaders for the conservation sector of Africa who are able to work across the boundaries of generation, discipline and sector, with diverse stakeholders, elevating conservation as a key economic driver, for the benefit of all. AIGLH leadership programmes are focussed in Southern and East African conservation institutions and communities.

AIGLH brings together senior and young professionals from conservation institutions and senior and young community leaders. This intergenerational leadership framework encourages understanding, collaboration and cooperation across the generations to address challenges and make joint decisions. The model breaks down barriers between generations, facilitates the mentoring of future leaders by the senior leaders, whilst building a consultative decision-making approach.

The AIGLH is a collaborative initiative between the Southern African Wildlife College, the Environmental Sustainability Agency and Common Purpose. It builds a powerful synergy between the extensive African conservation networks and knowledge of the Southern African Wildlife College, the community knowledge and networks of the Environmental Sustainability Agency and the global leadership development expertise of Common Purpose.

AIGLH Leadership Development Programmes

The AIGLH presents two intergenerational leadership programmes:

A programme offering leadership development for leaders who are formally in the conservation sector.

The programme brings together a diverse group of 30 conservation leaders from multiple conservation institutions across Southern and Eastern Africa, to undertake a 3-month leadership programme together. The cohort will be intergenerational, comprising one senior and one young leader (under the age of 35) from every participating institution. It follows a blended learning approach, using the strengths of both online (own time) and online (real-time) in a four-stage learning journey.

Next programme

Accelerator:                            Completed

Leadership Foundations:     Completed

Embedding:                            Completed

Translate:                                Completed

How does it work?

  • Accelerator: In this first module, delivered online, both generations of participants “meet” each other and are introduced to some of the basic concepts of Leading Beyond Authority and Cultural Intelligence.
  • Leadership Foundations: This is a four day face-to-face module, which builds on the basics acquired in the Accelerator and stretches the participants thinking about leadership. It does so through a variety of exercises and immersive experiences which take the participants into face-to-face contact with impressive leader role models and their organisations. This module will take place in Johannesburg and participants will have access to a wide diversity of leaders from different types of organisations. This module includes intra-generational and inter-generational coaching. This module culminates in candidates selecting practical challenges in their workplaces on which they will begin to try out their new skills.
  • Embedding: This is the phase in which the participants work to integrate their new thinking and skills into their workplace and life practice. The inter- and intra-generational peer coaching groups continue to provide a support structure during this period of experimentation and learning.
  • Translate: This is the final face-to-face module, held over two days. It focuses on sharing the learning from the Embedding period, and building collaborative skills, through a Collaboration Laboratory. The module concludes with the development of a strong personal growth plan ahead.

The programme comprises an up-front introductory WhatsApp-based module, followed by three days, delivered in person in the community, using highly experiential techniques. The three-day in-person module includes the following elements:

Day 1: Leadership Foundations The concept of Leading Beyond Authority(LBA) is introduced, with exercises to assist in internalising this leadership approach, and engagements with an external leaders whose own stories inspire and illustrate this leadership principle.

Day 2: Leadership Building  We build practical leadership skills, using the foundational concept of LBA. We focus on collaboration, using a Collaboration Laboratory as the teaching tool. This comprises a simulation exercise in which the group is presented with a real-world community challenge and, with the help of representatives of relevant local institutions, they role-play leadership within those organisations’, working together to find solutions to a challenge. This module includes a range of external stakeholders as participants, adding significantly to the depth of the learning.

Day 3: Leadership EmbeddingWe guide the participants into consideration of real-world challenges and opportunities in their community and wrestle with the skills and behaviour shifts needed to pursue them. Inspiration external leaders enable the participants to see and imagine how they too can succeed as leaders.

2021 community programme dates and locations:

  • Barokologadi, North West from - Completed
  • Moopong, Limpopo from - Completed

Other locations still to be confirmed.

Why take part in the programmes of the AIGLH?

To become a leader who:

  • is able to be ‘present’, connected emotionally, and have the courage to lead beyond authority;
  • address issues using innovative, ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking, drawing on intergenerational inputs, to address conservation challenges in collaboration with communities;
  • is able to work across the boundaries of discipline and sector, with diverse stakeholders, elevating conservation as a key economic driver; and
  • is engaged at all levels in decision-making to collectively solve issues and be able to lead complex change.
Barokologadi Leadership Programme
Mnisi Leadership Programme
Mayibuye Leadership Programme

Meet some of our Conservation Leaders Programme alumni

Young Leaders

Young conservation leaders are nominated for the leadership programme by their CEOs, ensuring a group of exceptional young talent.

Senior Leaders

Senior leaders are nominated for the leadership programme by their CEOs, bringing together those most invested in transferring their skills to and learning from  the next generation.

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AIGLH News

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Guest contributors

We would like to acknowledge and  thank all its amazing contributors who have taken part in the online African Intergenerational Conservation Leadership Programme. Thank you for the role you have played in transforming the lives of conservationists in Africa. It is truly an honour to have worked with you. Without your support, none of the memorable engagements would have been possible. Thank you for inspiring and challenging our participants to double the impact of Conservation activities in Africa in the next 10 years.

  • Tanya Abrahamse, Chair, Global Biodiversity Information Facility
  • Nkandu Luo, Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, Republic of Zambia
  • Ian Utermohlen, Regional General Manager: Europe, South African Tourism
  • Churchill Otieno Head of Development & Learning, Nation Media Group
  • Jeunesse Park, Founder, Food & Trees for Africa
  • David Kamau Kuria, Founder, Africaqua & Ecotact
  • HRH Lerato Mabalane, Head of HR & CSI, Baphiring Tribal Authority
  • Jay Naidoo, South African Politician and Businessman
  • Elias Mpondela, President, Zambia Amateur Athletics Association
  • Johara Naidoo, Climate Change Advisor, Promethium Carbon
  • Dupe Killa, Founder, Platinum Fisheries Limited
  • Joanne Yawitch, Chief Executive Officer, National Business Initiative (NBI)
  • Yvette Nowell, Program Director, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
  • Paul Magwagwaza Mnisi, Royal Counsellor, Mnisi Traditional Authority
  • Forget Shareka, Co-Founder, Chashi Foods
  • Andrew Paverd, Senior Researcher, Microsoft
  • Gerald Chirinda, Founder and CEO, Future Africa Investments Limited
  • Caroline Kayonga, Consultant in Environment & Climate Change Policy and Natural Resources Management
  • Alex Awiti, Vice Provost (East Africa), Aga Khan University
  • Sarah McPhail, Director: Financial Sector Policy, National Treasury
  • Kgosi Mabalane, King, Baphiring Traditional Authority
  • Bertha Chiroro, Project Coordinator, Gender CC
  • James Campbell, Managing Director, Botswana Diamonds
  • Charlotte Karibuhoye Said, Director, West Africa programme MAVA Foundation
  • Geoffrey Rothschild, Former Chairman: JSE, currently holds multiple Directorships and public roles
  • Nontokozo Hadebe, Head of Corporate Strategy & Innovation, Industrial Development Corporation of SA Ltd. (IDC)
  • Iris Sibanda, Partner, Brunswick
  • Mushi Dorah Marema, President, GenderCC – women for climate justice, International
  • Welcome Zisebenzele Maphanga, Trustee, Mayibuye Game Reserve
  • Ruba A. Alzubi, Advocate for green economy and policy mainstreaming
  • Bheki Sibiya, former CEO, Chamber of Mines
  • Mark Heywood, Editor, Maverick Citizen
  • Atiya Mosam, Public Health Medicine Specialist and Senior Researcher: PRICELESS SA – SAMRC/Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science

Participating Organisations

Our current context requires leaders that are able to adapt to challenges, crisis, and a fast-changing environment. The past year has challenged organisations and individuals to be more agile.

The African Intergenerational Leadership Hub (AIGLH) congratulates the below organisations on giving your leaders the skills they need to lead well in this fast-changing context. Thank you for choosing us as your leadership development partner. It has been a great pleasure working with you and we look forward to the opportunity of co-creating more transformative experiences for your leaders in future.