Pan-African CIG Programme on Building Strong Nations Concludes in Singapore

August 31, 2024

Participants engaged in peer learning and discussions on the role of the government in fostering a conducive ecosystem for entrepreneurship and innovation

SINGAPORE, 31 August 2024 —The Chandler Academy of Governance (CAG), the training arm of the Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG), warmly welcomed the 2024 cohort of the Strong Nations for Africa Programme (SNFAP) to Singapore this week for the final segment of the programme held from 26th to 30th August 2024. The cohort this year is made up of 18 senior public sector leaders from nine countries in Africa.

The Strong Nations for Africa Programme is a pan-African programme, co-designed and co-delivered by CAG and the African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM). The programme aims to build a community of African public sector leaders who are committed to improving the quality of national governance in their respective countries and provides a platform for senior African public sector leaders to share good practices in governance. More details about the first segment of the programme held in South Africa can be found here.

Following the first segment, participants reconnected virtually for the online segment held on 14th and 15th August 2024. The online segment was centred on the topic of effective leadership where participants explored the role of leaders indecision-making and in fostering alignment across the whole public service.

Participants then arrived in Singapore on 26th August 2024, excited for the start of the final segment which was designed to explore the role that governments play in fostering a wise, prosperous and unified nation.


Training by Practitioners, for Practitioners

The programme in Singapore included several key topics to introduce the government’s role in stewarding the national story and to share the efforts made by the Singapore government in fostering an environment for entrepreneurship and innovation, in developing social cohesion, and in building a culture of integrity. These sessions were facilitated by CIG’s experts Mr Don Yeo, Mr Lam Yi Young, DrJared Poon, Prof Soh Kee Hean alongside CIG’s CEO, Mr Wu Wei Neng. Ms Melody Hong,Senior Vice-President and Head of Planning, Research & Statistics at the Singapore Economic Development Board also led a session on economy building in Singapore.

Participants exchanged insights with Mr Wu Wei Neng, CEO of CIG (top left), Mr Lam Yi Young, former CEO of Singapore Business Federation (bottom left) and Prof. Soh Kee Hean, Associate Professor of Singapore University of Social Sciences (bottom right)

Mr Don Yeo, Chief Corporate Officer of NTUC Enterprise Co-operative Limited (top left), Ms Melody Hong, Senior Vice President and Head of Planning, Research and Statistics, Singapore Economic Development Board (top right and bottom left), and Dr Jared Poon, CIG Expert (bottom right) used different learning modalities such as interactive games and facilitated discussions to engage the participants

Learning through Direct Experience

To create an engaging and immersive learning experience, the programme incorporated a range of learning modalities such as learning journeys to Singapore’s industrial parks and the Institute of Technical Education – a lynchpin for skills and workforce development in Singapore. Participants also embarked on a self-led learning journey to Singapore’s residential heartlands to understand how various policy levers in areas such as housing, infrastructure and education, work together to foster social interaction and promote social cohesion.

Participants embarked on learning journeys to the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) (top left and bottom right), the heartlands (top right) and the industrial parks in Singapore (bottom left)

“Learning purely through one method of learning as adults will not help. You have to do a blend of field visits, lectures, speaker discussions and interactions. All the learning modalities deployed in this programme worked very well for me.

The field visit to the institutions not only permitted us to listen to information but we also saw innovations and studied how institutions are doing it so that we can learn not only through hearing but through seeing and interacting with those people on their job.”

Ms Suweibatu Adam
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice & Office of the Attorney-General

The programme concluded on the last day with an interactive game on confronting difficult choices in economy building and a session where participants reflected on their journey through the programme and discussed approaches to strengthen the networks and ties formed.

Ms Sin Xin Ping, Deputy Dean (Programmes) of CAG, facilitating the participants’ discussions on their key takeaways from the programme

The 2024 cohort of the Strong Nations for Africa Programme in Singapore for the final segment of the programme

Empty space, drag to resize

About the Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG)

The Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG) is an international non-profit organisation, headquartered in Singapore. We believe in a world where citizens have a deep sense of trust in their governments and public institutions, and where nations are governed by principled, wise leaders supported by an effective civil service. Trust and effective governance serve as a strong foundation for national development and prosperity. CIG supports governments in building government talent, leadership and public service capabilities through training programmes, research initiatives and advisory work. We are not affiliated with any national government or political party, and we do not represent any partisan or commercial interests.

For more news and information, visit https://www.chandlerinstitute.org/ or follow CIG on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn @ChandlerINST

About the Chandler Academy of Governance (CAG)

The Chandler Academy of Governance (CAG) is the training arm of CIG. CAG complements and supports CIG’s work by designing and delivering training programmes that are practitioner-oriented, to equip government leaders with capabilities required to meet the realities and demands of public service work. CAG works with its panel of adjunct trainers and subject matter experts in the design and delivery of these programmes.
Empty space, drag to resize

For media clarifications, please contact:

SIN Xin Ping (Ms)
Deputy Dean, Programmes
Chandler Academy of Governance