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All you need to know about the InterAction Leadership Programme. |
What is the British Council?
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The British Council builds lasting relations between people in the UK and other countries and increases appreciation of the UK’s creative ideas and achievements. We operate worldwide in 110 countries. |
Who is funding this programme?
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The British Council is fully funding the programme. For the coming year we are actively seeking sponsors. |
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What is the InterAction leadership programme?
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The InterAction leadership Programme is an innovative programme of learning, great conversations and action in leadership by committed people of all ages who are passionate about Africa and leadership.
It enables participants to engage the challenges that Africa faces by honouring success and learning from what has worked and is working in Africa. By recognizing Africa’s contributions to the world, the “deficit” view of the continent can be challenged.
Through peer learning participants can challenge assumptions about themselves, their environment, and their continent. The programme encourages people to think and act differently, and to encourage their contribution to bringing transformation to the continent.
“Everybody is a leader”. Leadership comes from within us. One of the tools that the programme uses to bring the best out of participants is to enable them to ask powerful questions to open up great conversations. Participants will work with each other to explore possibilities and opportunities, and be inspired to do great work.
The programme works with the principles of “goodwill, and good intent”. By adopting an appreciative approach, participants can begin to activate their leadership potentials with renewed confidence, and play their part in developing a new perspective of Africa in the 21st century. |
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What is the background to this programme?
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InterAction enables British Council to build relationships with more people in sub-saharan Africa through a range of events and activities on the continent. Our objective is to build and maintain a network of opinion formers, change agents and future leaders in Africa that will increasingly see the UK’s commitments to Africa in a positive light, as a country worth partnering for positive social change.
InterAction is based on the mutually beneficial principle of developing a modern and forward looking relationship between Africa and the rest of the world based on trust, shared values and mutual interest.
“anchoring the development of Africa on its resources and the resourcefulness of its people…partnership between and among African peoples…” and “forging a new international partnership that changes the unequal relationship between Africa and the developed world”
Interaction takes these core statements from the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as the basis for working with African, UK and other international partners in programme design and delivery.
NEPAD arises from a mandate given to the five initiating Heads of State (Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa) by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to develop an integrated socio-economic development framework for Africa (www.nepad.org). NEPAD has the full support of the British Government. |
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When can I apply?
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• Invitations for application will be placed in local and national media in each participating country in June 2006.
• The next round of the programme will run from September 2006 to March 2007.
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Who are our partners?
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The design process of the leadership programme is facilitated by Questions of Difference, a UK-based consulting organization enabling transformation through Affirmatively Disruptive Conversations ™ about leadership, managing differences and cultural change (www.qod.co.uk)
LEAD International was a key partner in the design process for InterAction. Their role has now been taken over by the facilitation team. Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) is an international network of leaders from 80 countries committed to sustainable development ( www.lead.org ) |
Which countries are involved?
Answer:
Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Senegal, CameroonKenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Namibia, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, and UK |
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What is the content of the programme?
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A wide variety of skills, tools and techniques will be introduced, strengthened and practiced in the programme. These include: Appreciative Inquiry, questioning, hearing and listening, Complex Adaptive Systems, conflict management, reframing, communication and the TICing model, and more. These will be applied in a number of different contexts, within the participants’ spheres of influence, as well as in communities who will be partners in the delivery of the programme.
- An in-country selection process which will help determine the year’s class, and bring the whole of the participating group into a community that will support joint learning throughout the programme and beyond.
- After the leaders have received their confirmation letter, they begin to prepare for their participation in the programme. One of the first steps after receiving their information packet is to talk with their British Council Coordinator meet their in-country facilitators for a one-to-one session to help them better understand the logistics of the programme and to plan their own participation.
- A one-to-one session with a facilitator to explore each individuals development hopes and opportunities arising from the programme. This will happen again between the final two modules of the programme
- A three day event, Module 1, will help the participating leaders set their own goals for the programme and begin developing a network of peers in their own country and to launch the programme at the country level through a public event.
- A 3-day Pan-African Event, attended by over 100 delegates representing all countries, will provide participants the opportunity to share their own experiences, to learn from others, and broaden their networks to other African countries.
- A further two 3-day modules back at country level will be delivered including; deepening understanding of Africa, leadership skills, gender mainstreaming, coaching and experiential learning.
- In addition, participants will ‘twin’ with a partner and visit each others communities, representing a maximum of 6 days.
- Throughout the programme and beyond, participants will be members of a network with a dedicated website administered through British Council offices, to stay in touch with fellow participants, share knowledge and access information.
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Who will I meet on this programme?
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Participants
The InterAction Leadership Programme seeks to bring together those with a desire to make a significant positive contribution to society; those who are open to learning, open-minded, curious, and willing to share their own experiences and at the same time actively seeking new perspectives. The programme aims to achieve a balance of diversity in terms of religion, gender, disability, ethnicity, class, sectors (private/public/civil society), and geographical balance (rural/urban and regional/provincial), in order to reflect and impact across society at the country level.
Facilitation team
Facilitators have been selected to represent the many regions of Africa and the UK. These highly skilled facilitators will be working with participants at country and Pan-African Events. They have been deeply involved in the programme design and structure, and the series of important Training-of-Trainers events that were developed and implemented prior to the start of the programme. Facilitators will also work individually with participants on their personal development plans.
British Council
Coordinators
In each of the 19 participating countries and in the UK, there is a British Council Coordinator at the national British Council Office. This Coordinator will help with the administration and logistics of the programme at the country level, as well as take on some group process facilitation roles at different points in the programme. |
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What are the essential requirements before I apply?
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- Resident in country of application
- Availability on dates
- Available to Travel, with a valid passport (for at least 6 months for visa purposes) Able to cover all travel costs to venues, medical and insurance costs associated with the programme
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Which costs will the programme cover?
Answer:
The British Council will cover:
- Programme materials, documentation and a dedicated, interactive website
- £700 grant to participants for airfares and in-country costs during visits to Pan African events. This will include accommodation, meals, and a small incidental allowance towards personal expenses.
- Accommodation and meal costs during events held in country
You are expected to cover:
- Any cost associated with attending the selection event
- All travel costs associated with getting to and from venues in country, and to/from the airport to join Pan African events.
- Insurance cover, medical and visa costs associated with travel to a Pan African event
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