The Leadership Excellence in Africa’s Public Sector program, known as LEAPS, is shaping a new generation of African public officials who lead with integrity, collaboration, and strategic insight.

Designed and delivered by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) through its Ubora Academy, this six-month capacity development initiative is redefining public service leadership across six African countries, including Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

LEAPS provides practical leadership training designed to strengthen the foundations of governance through ethical, accountable and visionary leadership.

With over 79 senior public officials already participating, the program marks a significant step toward equipping public institutions with the capacity to manage reforms, deliver services and respond to complex economic, digital and social challenges.

Each participant joins a six-month journey centered around five core areas: understanding African leadership challenges, building self-awareness, managing teams, driving strategic change and leading across institutional ecosystems.

He emphasized that a better understanding of self comes before effective leadership of others. Muimi views the training as vital for driving digital transformation and sees it supporting reforms by strengthening transparency and accountability.

A Learning Journey Rooted in Practice and Real-World Application

Participants engage in coaching, expert-led seminars and collaborative case studies that allow them to test ideas and apply lessons within their country contexts.

The hybrid format combines in-person and online sessions, while a five-day in-person track is tailored for senior executives with limited availability.

He sees the experience as key to preparing public institutions for a fast-changing economic environment, enabling teams to act more effectively in public financial management.

She found the training useful for creating a leadership plan shaped by both insight and foresight. With a better understanding of her strengths and areas for development, she now feels more prepared to lead within and beyond her current role.

The program’s learning design encourages reflection and exchange among participants from different countries and institutions. This cross-border engagement creates a collaborative environment where leaders share strategies and experiences.

She views her participation as both an honor and a responsibility, with the training offering essential tools for leading herself, her organization and the wider public finance system.

He explained that many departments had operated in silos, but LEAPS has encouraged the creation of synergies across agencies, ultimately improving how public finance systems function.

Strong Partnerships

The initiative’s reach is also expanding through strong partnerships with development organizations.

He emphasized that long-term reform success requires leadership support alongside technical assistance. With plans to mentor over 200 public officials in the next three years, the foundation is backing LEAPS as a way to build sustainable leadership pipelines.

In Senegal, the experience has been equally impactful.

She explained that while formal training prepared officials for their roles, the coaching and leadership development she received through LEAPS filled a crucial gap, bringing clarity to both her current and future responsibilities.

He believes that exposure to both national and international leadership experiences helps public officials improve their practices, manage teams more effectively and strengthen service to the state.

The program structure aligns with national calendars, making it easier to integrate into ongoing reforms and leadership cycles.

Countries can host one or two national cohorts annually, with intakes opening in September and sessions beginning in February.

This structured approach allows for consistent growth and institutional memory across cohorts.

LEAPS Integrates Learning With Action

Participants work on real-world challenges, receive continuous coaching and build networks that extend beyond the classroom.

The alumni community remains active, enabling the continued exchange of knowledge across ministries and national borders.

Dr. Birago Antwi-Agyei emphasized that the journey does not end with the workshop. She and others are applying lessons directly in their institutions, shaping policies, guiding teams and redefining internal culture to prioritize ethical leadership and innovation.

The LEAPS program is creating a group of senior officials who bring strategic vision, emotional intelligence, top leadership qualities and operational discipline to public service.

Public servants who once worked in isolation are forming continental networks, aligning reform goals and applying shared learning.

Whether building digital systems, improving transparency or managing cross-sector collaboration, these leaders are shaping a more resilient and capable public sector for the continent’s future. Meet the remarkable leaders from the program’s inaugural PFM cohort representing Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Sénégal, and Zimbabwe. Their stories illustrate how leadership excellence, innovation, and resilience are critical drivers of positive change on the continent.

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