Twenty-five senior managers drawn from across Africa and South East Asia met in Johannesburg, South Africa in November 2018 for a brand new organizational development programme called “Pathways to Leadership for the Transformation of Health in Africa”.

The program, which was developed in collaboration with ENCOMPASS, a leading training and development firm which offers professional learning to international organisations, is designed around the utilization of case studies, best practices and learning aids specifically designed for the challenges facing WHO staff members.  Core learning activities also include individual assessments, work assignments to be completed prior to the start of the workshop and coaching support. The purpose of the program is to develop the skills of senior staff in the areas of organizational, team and personal leadership; enhance their analytical and strategic thinking skills; and help them gain a greater understanding of the complex issues facing managers and leaders today and in the future.

Dr Matshisdiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, stated, “We are committed to ensuring that our staff bring their strongest skills and a state-of-the-art understanding of what it takes to achieve our strategic results so that we can make the greatest difference in health outcomes globally.” Over the next 14 months, more than 200 staff, including heads of country offices, cluster directors and senior technical and administrative staff will participate in the program.