Africa Leadership Foundation (ALF) is an independent international think tank, established as a not-for-profit Civil Society Organization in 1988 and incorporated under the Nigeria Companies Act of 1968 by H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, who was also the Founding Chairperson. ALF offers a public space for leaders, decision and policymakers, civil society groups and other stakeholders to dialogue in an open, informed, respectful and sustained manner that contributes experience, expertise, knowledge, and building capacity towards developing better public policies that will enhance delivery of pro-development dividends.
The Africa Leadership Foundation has 3 operational arms which are;
- Africa Leadership Forum manages activities around Governance and Democracy, and Leadership Development.
- ALF Centre for Gender Equality & Research coordinates and advances all gender-related activities and interventions of the Africa Leadership Foundation.
- ALF Centre for Entrepreneurship & Digital Empowerment’s objective is to enhance entrepreneurship development in Africa by training individuals in starting, managing and expanding businesses, and take advantage of opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The Centre also provides Business Development Support Services to MSMEs, including facilitation of loans from Commercial Banks and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).
ALF’S PROJECTS ON GOVERNANCE AND DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA
The Governance and Democracy Arm of ALF typically focuses on promoting good governance, transparency, accountability, and democratic principles at the regional level. ALF promotes the values of democracy, including free and fair elections, respect for human rights, rule of law, and civic participation. It provides training and resources to government institutions, election observers, civil society organizations, and citizens to strengthen their capacity to participate in democratic processes effectively. ALF facilitates avenues for active citizens engagement with government institutions to express their concerns, and participate in decision-making processes. In addition, ALF conducts research and analysis on governance issues, policy formulation, and their impact on democracy and society, and using this information to advocate for evidence-based policy changes among many other programmes.
List of ALF’s Past and Current Projects on Democracy and Governance
- ALF-AU Memorandum of Understanding on Election Management in Africa
- Democratic Leadership Training Workshop (DLTW)
- Parliamentary Support Programme (PSP) including regional conferences and training workshops for African parliamentarians
- Legislative Internship Programme (LIP)
- Hosting of Regional Leadership Development Programmes, Conferences and Symposia on various issues including Conflict Transformation, Poverty and Development, Agricultural Production and Food Security, Africa and the Successor Generation among many others
- Corruption, Democratization Human Right in West and East Africa
- The Farm House Dialogue Series
- Political Parties and Good Governance In Nigeria
- Democracy, Gender and Development Programme
- Creation of Conference on Security, Stabilisation, Development and Cooperation in Africa (CSSDCA)
- Seminar Series on Democracy and Human Rights
As part of its efforts at developing and enhancing leadership capacity in Africa, the Africa Leadership Foundation has capacitated thousands of Africans on various topical issues. The Governance and Democracy Arm of ALF continues to play a crucial role in fostering democratic governance, promoting citizen participation, and ensuring accountability and transparency in Africa.
ALF’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT ARM
ALF believes that small and medium-sized enterprises are key sources of dynamism, innovation, and flexibility. In Nigeria, they account for over 65 percent of enterprises, generate two-thirds of employment and are one of the main sources of new jobs. As one of Africa’s premier civil society organisation, the ALF plays a critical role in advocating for a stronger business start-ups, and in enabling small companies to modernise and grow. It does this through its three-fold role in turning initial stages of entrepreneurship development into employment and net contributor to economic growth
LIST OF ALF’S Entrepreneurship and Digital Empowerment Centre Past and Current Programme
- Junior Business Seminar 1991
- CBN’s Entrepreneurship Development Centre Phase 1 (2008-2013)
- CBN’s Entrepreneurship Development Centre for Southwest (2015-2017)
- Partnered with HP to run a specialized Graduate Entrepreneurship Training through Information Technology (GET-IT).
- Launch of ALF Tech-hub
- ALF Partnership with the SOS Village in Nigeria
- Osun State Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (2015-2016)
- Oyo State Ajimobi Business Leadership Training Programme OYOABLE (2016)
- Sterling Bank Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YEDP 2015)
- Heritage Bank Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YEDP 2016)
- FCMB-MEDA EKITI State Entrepreneurship Development Programme for Youth
- Agribusiness Small Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS)
- ALF Launches Digital Business Operation for SMEs
- N-POWER NEXIT Training Programme of (3,900 participants) organized by the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development working in conjunction with NSIP the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (2022)
- World Banks and Lagos State Government Support Project on Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement, and Livelihood Improvement (APPEALS)
- ALF’s Advocacy in Export Promotion for the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act AGOA
- ALF’s Partnership with AFREXIMBANK to Capacitate Agribusiness SMEs on Export Readiness Accelerators Programme across Africa
- ALF Partnership with Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
- ALF Partners with Google to Implement First Edition of Google CS First Training on Coding for Secondary School Students
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION: Through ALF’s financial intermediation with Financial Institutions and Development Finance Agencies, ALF has been able to assist its training participants to raise start-up and expansion funds up to a total of $14,285,714 since 2008
ALF CENTRE FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND RESEARCH
The Centre is dedicated to advancing gender equality and promoting research that addresses gender disparities across various sectors of society. Activities of the Centre includes conducting research, advocacy and awareness, capacity building, collaboration and networking and policy influence. ACGEQ adopts an intersectional approach, recognizing that gender intersects with other African social identities and addresses the unique challenges faced by women at these intersections. Africa Leadership Foundation has been in the forefront of working with and building the capacities of African Women for leadership and development, which culminated in the creation of the Africa Women Foundation (AWF) in 1988, and became a foundational member of Gender is my Agenda Campaign Network since 2002. The Centre is also a member of the WPD Centre for Excellence
List of Past and Current Project at the Centre
- Publication Titled Maputo Protocol Scorecard and Index Framework in Nairobi, Kenya, jointly produced by ALF, African Union and Plan International
- ALF- OXFAM in Africa (OiA) Partnership on WECare Project (Phase 4 and 5) to address Unpaid Care and Domestic Work (UCDW) as a key to barrier to gender equality.
- ALF Conducted a Perception Study in 15 African Countries to Identify Social Investment Priority Area that can form basis for future advocacy with Stakeholders on the recognition, reduction and redistribution of unremunerated domestic burden on women.
- Girls Technology (G-Tech) Training
- ALF-TECH HERFRICA Financial Literacy Training for Small Holder Women Farmers and SMEs
- ALF Partnership with German Development Cooperation (GIZ) Produced Evaluation Report of 5 Member States of the African Union on their Implementation of Maputo Protocol
- ALF Partnership with PLAN International to Capacitate 30 personnel from 10 Member States of the African Union on the Utilization of the Maputo Protocol Scorecard and Index (MPSI) Framework
- ALF Partners with the Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA) on the Role of Writers and the Media in Advocating for the Reduction of Unpaid Care and Domestic Work (UCDW) on women in Africa
- First to Third Phase of the MSD for Mothers project on Maternal Health in Africa and the Launch of the GIMAC Maternal Health Initiative (GMHI) with the AU Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The 4th Phase of the project is to positively contribute to the improvement of Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA)
- Organising Regional Dialogue Series on Positive Masculinity and UCDW
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