Addis Ababa (Ethiopia today), January 30, 2023 :- The African Mayoral Leadership Initiative (AMALI), whose first leadership program focused specifically on African city leaders, unveiled its plans to catalyze the transformation of cities across the continent.
The inaugural cohort of mayors taking part in the AMALI City Leadership Programme gathered for an intensive, four-day leadership forum held at the University of Cape Town this week.
AMALI will provide exclusive, tailored support to African city leaders, drawing on the insights and experience of a distinguished group of coaches including former heads of state, government ministers, and mayors with a legacy of transformation.
The forum kicked off a year-long programme, which will support the participating mayors to hone their visions for their cities and identify the teams and tools needed to realise them.
The initiative was conceived by the African Centre for Cities (ACC) at the University of Cape Town and Big Win Philanthropy. Also announced today is that Bloomberg Philanthropies will join the collaboration. Speaking at the conclusion of the Forum, Big Win Chair and President, Jamie Cooper, said:
“Africa is experiencing unprecedented rates of urbanisation and growth of its youthful populations. Bold and competent city leadership has the potential to harness these trends and put cities and countries on a trajectory in which their populations thrive for generations to come. I look forward to working with the leaders in our inaugural cohort as they plan out their respective journeys to delivering these game-changing pathways for their people.”
Africa where 42% of the population living in cities, there must be a priority in the effort to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth for the continent says, Edgar Pieterse, Founding Director of ACC.
Bloomberg Philanthropies brings to AMALI the wealth of learnings with data support including technical assistance, access to data experts, and workshops and other materials to help African mayors participating in AMALI.
“I am delighted to see African mayors learning about transformative leadership and exchanging experiences on how to transform African cities into vibrant, productive, and liveable hubs that are engines of the economy,” says Arkebe Oqubay, AMALI advisor and former mayor of Addis Ababa.
