Emerging Public Leaders at UN Summit of the Future consultation

Geneva, Switzerland – Emerging Public Leaders’ Executive Director Abigail Kajumba attended the United Nations pre-conference Consultation of the United Nations Summit of the Future, "Shaping the Futures: Amplifying Minority Voice through Political, Traditional, and Youth Leaders for Sustainable Development and Global Governance.” The five-day pre-conference consultation organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and The Global Minority Parliamentarians Caucus, invited youth leaders, NGOs, and representatives of minority groups to the forefront of conversations ahead of the Summit of the Future in September 2024.

Kajumba moderated the panel discussion of Session Five, “Transforming Global Governance”. The discussion focused on the need for greater representation of minorities and young people in policy and decision-making positions. Watch this video from Geneva Times as EU Parliamentarian Monica Semedo responds to questions about youth representation.

Following this, the United Nations General Assembly invited Kajumba to the Third Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent at the United Nations headquarters, Kajumba made a statement about increasing access to careers in the public service; how Emerging Public Leaders and their partners in government are engaging more young Africans, especially women and individuals with disabilities to entry-level positions in the public service; and the need for more support and funding to civil society groups working in Africa.

Emerging Public Leaders was one of only a few civil society organizations asked to make a statement to underscore the important work on the continent sustaining progress toward realizing the SDGs. An emphasis on partnership permeated the pre-conference highlighted by the conversations of attendees and the linkages being made throughout the proceeding to be followed up on in the coming months before the Summit of the Future at which the attendees have determined to agree to a strategic plan to accomplish the SDGs by 2030.

Preparing for the Summit of the Future, the importance of youth-led initiatives in policymaking continues to command focus in conversations on sustainable good governance. Emerging Public Leaders is committed to demonstrating the lasting impact of investment in young professionals and leadership and amplifying the voices of minority leaders.

Editor’s Note

About Emerging Public Leaders

Emerging Public Leaders is a public service leadership organization that is preparing the next generation of competent and effective public sector leaders in Africa. EPL partners with governments and local organizations to rigorously identify public service professionals who are committed to practicing and promoting good governance throughout Africa. With our support throughout their career journeys, this diverse network of leaders influence and strengthen their country’s institutions for delivering democracy with excellence, care, innovation, and integrity. Learn more about EPL on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

About The Summit of the Future

The Summit of the Future: multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance cooperation on critical challenges and address gaps in global governance, reaffirm existing commitments including to the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Charter, and move towards a reinvigorated multilateral system that is better positioned to positively impact people’s lives.

Hosted by the United Nations, the summit will take place from September 22 to September 23 in 2024 alongside the United Nations General Assembly session. For more details visit their website.

Emerging Public Leaders Alumni Form a Network for Regional Collaboration, Learning, and Support

Nairobi, Kenya - The inaugural gathering of the Emerging Public Leaders Alumni Network capitalized on the presence of alumni representatives from Kenya, Ghana, and Liberia by sharing learnings from the three countries’ fellowship programs and establishing goals for the nascent association of graduates from Africa’s premier leadership program for public servants. Brought together for three days in Nairobi concluding March 6th, the three dozen alumni on site represented more than 400 EPL alumni across Africa.

The group formed a diverse cadre from various government ministries, departments, agencies, and specialties. Their various experiences during the fellowship and within their country alumni associations allowed for a fruitful discussion to improve programming for current fellows and inform the short-term goals and vision for the Alumni Network.

That vision is a network of ethical, citizen-centric, and innovative pan-African leaders in the public service who are dedicated to driving change and solving critical issues in Africa. 

To pursue the vision, the group decided on several near-term goals to establish and sustain the Alumni Network:

• Selecting an interim body of representatives to lead the formal establishment of the Alumni Network governing body

• Hold elections for a formal governing body

• Develop a strategic plan and activity schedule for the Alumni Network

At the close of the gathering, those present selected interim representatives Abigail F. Coker (Liberia), Husein Pumaya Yakubu (Ghana), and Esther Wanjiru Ngure (Kenya). The representatives then selected a date for their first meeting to review the collected notes from the conference, draft a strategic plan, and outline the steps to elect a formal governing body.

During the closing dinner and award ceremony, Emerging Public Leaders and partner programs in Liberia, Ghana, and Kenya honored and awarded the success of individuals dedicated to the vision of the Alumni Network. The teams recognized two Alumni from each country for their outstanding contributions to the public service and the fellowship programs:

GHANA

Irene Osei-Owusu, Public Investments and Assets Division, Ministry of Finance 

Husein Pumaya Yakubu, National Service Personnel, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources

KENYA

Stephanie Kusa, Human Resource Management and Development Officer, the Office of the President under the State Department for Devolution

Jacob De' Kiage, Senior Adult Education Officer, Ministry of Education

LIBERIA

Hh. Zaizay, Project Search Lead, Montgomery County Government, Maryland / United States of America

Ciata Stevens d’Almeida, Executive Director, President’s Young Professionals Program

The impact of the Emerging Public Leaders Alumni Network will continue to grow as more cohorts graduate from existing programs and the program expands to more countries. In addition to the network’s stated goals, the first-ever gathering achieved a critical objective of any alumni organization: building connections across borders, gender, age, sector, and any other perceived boundary. At this inaugural gathering, the greatest success was that the Alumni met in person, shared their stories, and found commonalities among their peers that will ensure they remain connected to support, challenge, and celebrate their unfolding careers in the public service.