What is the Strong Nations for Africa Programme?

The Strong Nations for Africa Programme is designed for senior African public sector leaders who are passionate about strengthening governance.
It offers a unique opportunity for those committed to driving impactful change to build more effective and high performance governments.


The programme is co-designed and co-delivered by the Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG), a Singapore headquartered non-profit organisation, and the African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM), a professional organisation that promotes best practice and excellence in public administration and management in Africa. 

Why this Programme?

Through this programme, we hope to build a community of African public sector leaders who are committed to improving the quality of national governance in their respective countries, and to provide a platform for sharing good practices in governance, drawn from Africa and around the world. 

Programme participants will have opportunities to form peer networks with other public sector leaders across the continent. They will also get to experience examples of public policy and service delivery in practice first-hand in Africa and in Singapore, through facilitated discussions and learning journeys.

Who is it for?

Senior public sector leaders with deep experience in governance and public policy will benefit most from this programme. 

Programme applicants should meet the following criteria:
  1. Must be a citizen of an African country
  2. Currently living and working in the public service of an African country
  3. Have a minimum of 5 years of experience working in the public service
  4. Be fluent in English
  5. Be present and commit to participate in all segments and activities of the programme

Programme Structure and Dates

 The Strong Nations for Africa Programme will be delivered through two in-person segments which will be held in Tanzania and Singapore. Participants will also be expected to attend a few days of online training held between the in-person segments.  

The programme will be delivered through a mix of modalities that will bring learning to life. Participants can look forward to an exciting programme filled with discussions, curated learning journeys, lectures, and expert sharing sessions to facilitate peer-learning and build a sense of cohort and shared perspectives.


  • Understanding and Stewarding Strong Nations
    Tanzania
    4 -8 August 2025

  • Developing the Leader
    in You
    Virtual
    11 - 15 August 2025

  • Building Wise, Prosperous and Unified Nations 
    Singapore
    1 -5 September 2025

Programme Fees and Participant's Expenses

Confirmed participants will pay a programme fee of US$1,000. This fee covers part of the cost of organising and delivering the programme. The rest of the programme costs are covered by the Chandler Institute of Governance.


In addition, participants are required to cover their own costs of travel to, accommodation, and ground expenses in Tanzania and Singapore.  

Application for Strong Nations for Africa Programme 2026 will open in the first half of 2026

Click the button below to register your interest and receive updates about the 2026 application cycle!

Meet Our Participants

The Strong Nations for Africa Programme was first held in Kenya in 2023, South Africa in 2024 and recently Tanzania in 2025.
Click on the links below to explore highlights from each year.
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Hear what our participants have to say about their key takeaways from the programme.
Geoffrey Kiarie Njuguna
Senior Deputy Secretary
State Department for Public Service
Kenya
"The programme has been transformative and I am convinced it has really changed the way I look at public service. I will be making recommendations for the office to sponsor more senior officers in Government to generate a critical mass of transformative thinkers and officers who are at the driving seat of policy formulation and implementation to undertake this course at CIG."
Patience Allotey-Pappoe
Director
Office of the President
Ghana
"I liked the way the programme has been structured – theory then practical. The mix of activities has helped my learning to better understand that to shape policy, you need community involvement, inclusivity and ownership."
Irene Pauline Bateebe
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development
Uganda
"The model of building strong nations and the pillars of leadership, building a wise, prosperous, but also diverse nation, are very relevant to my country. As part of the programme, we also learnt how to build our narrative, our story, and how we continue from there to develop a strong nation. So I believe, by strengthening the leadership within my country, we should be able to build a wise nation and a leadership that is transformational."
Carlize Knoesen​
Chief Registrar of Deeds ​
Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, South Africa​
“The good thing about the peer learning is to realise that in Africa, no matter which country we come from, we all have the same desire and aspirations although the challenges we face are different. We formed very good friendships and I do think we will continue to engage with each other and share our experiences. I have already, and others have invited us to visit their countries and to form relationships, to work together for the better of Africa.​"
Aminah Zawedde​
Permanent Secretary ​
Ministry of ICT and National Guidance​
Uganda
"We have learnt a number of things from this programme, from our peers, and even got to know and compare. For example, I'm able to compare what Uganda has done, or how Uganda is performing in relation to other parts of Africa, because we have representation from North Africa, West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa as well. ​

Bringing all these people together will help me to find out how they are transforming their different areas where they sit, so that I'm able to also support my colleagues back home in the different sectors within government to be able to do this. "
Achref Ghorbel
Director of Procurement and Logistics
National Health Insurance Fund
Tunisia

"What I liked the most about the programme was its comprehensive approach to leadership and governance. The takeaway for me was that accountability and transparency in government build public trust and ensure sustainability and progress.
The programme not only gave us new insights but also connected us with leaders across Africa. These networks will be great for ongoing support and sharing of best practices to continuously support our efforts in improving governance in our respective countries."

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is the Strong Nations for Africa Programme for?

The programme is for senior public sector leaders with deep experience in governance and public policy, are passionate about improving national governance and would like to enhance their knowledge in public sector innovation and reform alongside colleagues across Africa.

Will I get a certificate upon completion of the programme?

Participants who have successful completed the programme will be awarded a Certificate of Accomplishment jointly issued by the Chandler Institute of Governance and the African Association for Public Administration and Management.


Contact Us

Please reach out to the CAG Programmes Team in case of any enquiries.