STAR-Ghana Launches The Leadership Development Programme For Grant Partners
Effective leadership is fundamental to whether an organisation is thriving and growing or whether it is stagnating and declining. Quality leadership is particularly important in determining whether an organisation is able to sustain itself in a rapidly changing and competitive context. In recognition of this, STAR-Ghana has launched a Leadership Development programme (LDP) for its Grant Partners (GPs) as a complement to the Sustainability work stream. The objective of the LDP goes beyond strengthening individual leaders to strengthening organisational effectiveness and financial sustainability of GPs and ultimately of civil society as a whole. As such, it focuses on eighteen (18) critical leadership competencies around: Leading Self, Leading Others, and Leading the Organisation.
The LDP is designed as an on-going process from May 2014 until January 2015 and in line with global best practice uses a variety of approaches including: Three (3) training workshops, coaching, a 360-degree assessment at the beginning and towards the end of the programme, reflective journaling and learning circles. Leaders from STAR’s current GPs applied for the LDP and twenty-nine (29) were selected to participate in the programme.
The programme began with a 360-degree survey where participants received feedback from their line manager, two (2) people that report to them and two (2) peers. From June 10th -12th, the participants came together in Takoradi for their first workshop focused on Leading Self. This was later followed by one-on-one coaching sessions which will took place in July and August. During this period, participants also met in their learning circles, which are self-organised groups in which peers meet to support each other with leadership challenges and learning. More recently, from September, 16th -19th, the participants came together again in Kumasi for their second workshop which focused on Leading others and Leading the Organisation. The Last of the Workshop is expected to take place in January, 2015. The LDP is being implemented by Busara Leadership Training Limited, a leadership development firm managed by Ms. Taaka Awori and Ms. Susan Andah.