Liberia
It all begins with an idea.
Continuing Our Legacy in Liberia
Emerging Public Leaders’ inaugural program in Liberia, the President’s Young Professionals Program (PYPP), supported its 10th cohort this year. The recruitment process focused on ensuring that the PYPs selected represent a diversity of lived experiences including individuals living with disabilities. The introduction of a new class meant it was also time to celebrate 63 Fellows from Classes VII, VIII, and IX, whose graduations had been delayed by the pandemics. PYPP partner the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), former officials from the Government of Liberia, and EPL interim Executive Director Caren Wakoli all attended the graduation ceremony.
Leaving an indelible legacy as PYPP Founder and Emerging Public Leaders Board Co-chair, Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will transition to emeritus board member. In December, she traveled to Washington, D.C., for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, where she delivered a keynote address on accelerating public service in Africa at a side-event hosted by the Center for Global Development. We are immensely grateful for President Sirleaf’s work to establish a foundation for expanding Emerging Public Leaders work to countries across the continent.
As we head into an election year in Liberia in 2023, it is a reminder that politicians may make many promises in their campaigns, but it is civil servants who ensure those promises can become a reality. No matter who is elected, Liberia’s Fellows will continue to make an impact in government by delivering services to citizens throughout the country, and, in turn, building citizen trust in government.
Introducing Ciata Stevens d’Almeida
Since April 2022, Liberia’s program has operated under the strong leadership of Executive Director Ciata Stevens d’Almeida. Ciata was a graduate of PYPP’s Class III, where she was assigned to the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs. Previously, she has served in roles at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia. Ciata has expanded the PYPP team’s staff allowing it to widen and deepen its reach across Liberia.
Fellows and Alumni
Our Impact In Liberia
Fellows throughout the life of PYPP (55% male, 45% female)
of those Fellows stayed working in public service
ministries and agencies served
PYPP as an organization outperformed other institutions it was benchmarked against in the areas of organizational effectiveness, leadership and governance, structures and system, human resources, program management, planning, M&E and knowledge management.
of supervisors note Fellow performance is higher than other staff
More than 95% of Fellows have experienced increased know-how to become effective public sector leaders (compared to 76% for civil service employees and 78% for non-Fellows).
Partners and Funders
Ghana
It all begins with an idea.
Expanding Skill Sets to Enhance Effectiveness in Ghana
Emerging Public Leaders of Ghana (EPL Ghana) selects recent high-achieving graduates for a two-year Fellowship program that introduces them to the Ghanaian civil service. Since launching in 2018, the program has provided Fellows with public sector positions and rigorous training to develop transferable professional skills. During the two years, Fellows receive guidance from mentors and opportunities for career development and advancement.
The Ghana program celebrated several milestones in 2022. The Fellowship graduated its third cohort, placing 16 accomplished professionals in full-time civil service placements across 10 ministries. These alumni joined the Emerging Public Leaders Alumni Network (EPLAN), where they will continue to deepen their relationships across fields with other public service professionals. Cohort four Fellows have also progressed in their civil service journey. After finishing the program’s national service requirements for recent graduates, they move on to full-time positions as Ghana Civil Service professionals.
Throughout the year, EPL Ghana invested in educational opportunities for Fellows to expand their skill set. The program hosted quarterly knowledge gatherings, regular Leadership Gatherings — speaking engagements with high-level leaders in the public and private sectors — and Fellows and alumni participated in four “By the Fireside” chats, achieving learning from other development programs in Ghana. Fellows also engaged in the program’s Deep Dive trainings, two-day intensive sessions facilitated by an expert in a chosen topic.
Ghana’s Fellows are not only increasing accountability and efficiency at the government level, they are also giving back to their communities. In partnership with the Ngleshie Amanfro Senior High School, the program's fourth cohort launched the EPL Ghana Career and Entrepreneurial Drive 2.0 project, attracting 500 final-year students. The Fellows coordinated and facilitated informative sessions covering scholarship opportunities, practical entrepreneurial breakout sessions, and opportunities in social media monetization.
EPL Ghana has also continued efforts to increase the percentage of women in Ghana’s civil service and achieve gender equity within government, with the fourth cohort of fellows achieving 50/50 gender parity. The program fosters a sense of community within the Fellowship by sponsoring an affinity group for women and also establishes a strong support system for women in government through a robust mentorship program.
Introducing Juliet Amoah
Juliet Amoah serves as the Country Director for Emerging Public Leaders of Ghana, having assumed the role in 2022. She is responsible for strategic development and programmatic leadership.
She has decades of experience as a development specialist, mentor, and business coach for multicultural organizations. Juliet has led in the delivery of projects in education, governance, science and innovations, and the creative industries. The core of Juliet’s career has focused on forging partnerships and collaborations that engage public, private and third-sector counterparts to contribute to the delivery of sustainable solutions for communities spanning three continents: Africa, the Americas and Europe.
In 2022, Juliet embarked on a trip to Mombasa, Kenya, to participate in the African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM) conference with other members of Emerging Public Leaders. During the conference, Juliet shared the accomplishments of EPL Ghana’s initiatives aimed at educating, training, and mentoring the next generation of civil servants in Ghana.
In October, Juliet participated in the Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2022 conference hosted by UNESCO and the Government of Nigeria, where she shared insights and ideas with cross-disciplinary and pan-African partners on the significance of media and information literacy in promoting good governance.
Fellows and Alumni
Upon graduation from the Fellowship, EPL Ghana Fellows joined the Emerging Public Leaders Alumni Network (EPLAN), which was launched in 2021 to serve as a network of ethical public servants committed to excellence and acting as catalysts to drive systemic change in Ghana’s public sector. Through the network, EPL alumni have access to ongoing professional opportunities, interactions with current Fellows, and opportunities to engage in cross-learning beyond their Fellowship experience.
Our Impact in Ghana
Fellows Since EPL Ghana was established (61% male, 39% female)
of Fellows have remained in public service after initial fellowship
of supervisors surveyed agreed that current EPL Ghana Fellows perform better than other co-workers in civil service who are not in the fellowship
ministries and agencies served
22.7% of Fellows and alumni are working in ministries and agencies that facilitate and contribute to building and infrastructure. Some examples include the Department of Urban Roads, Ministry of Roads and Highways, and the Ministry of Railways Development.
Partners and Funders
Kenya
It all begins with an idea.
Deepening Connections in Kenya
Launched in November 2021 and begun with its first class in January 2022, the Public Service Emerging Leaders Fellowship (PSELF) in Kenya is now entering its second year of equipping young professionals across the country with the critical skills for making meaningful careers in public service. In May, PSELF inaugurated the first cohort of 51 Fellows, who underwent a rigorous recruitment process and were selected from 41 counties across Kenya and spread across 26 government ministries, departments, and state agencies. Developed in collaboration with one of our partners, the Chandler Institute of Governance, our globally competitive curriculum has a deliberate focus on leadership skills for the public sector, citizen-centric public service delivery, and ethical decision-making.
Because Kenya’s first cohort was drawn from young professionals already serving in the civil service, PSELF Fellows have had an impact from day one, some already citing their aspirations to eventually lead the ministries where they currently work. They are working on issues as diverse as criminal justice, infrastructure, education, technology and more. We have Fellows developing a human-centered approach to helping the elderly access healthcare. One Fellow working in education successfully gained a grant to purchase computers and printers for a digital library. The PSELF curriculum is empowering them with the skills to use policy as a tool for solving the challenges they face in their roles.
Alongside the technical training components to the Fellowship, PSELF ensures Fellows are making the necessary personal connections to maximize their experience and sets them up for future success in the next steps of their careers. With well-established alumni networks in Liberia and Ghana, current PSELF Fellows have enjoyed opportunities to engage with graduates of other Emerging Public Leaders fellowship programs who are also leaders and innovators in the public sector. Additionally, Fellows are assigned two mentors for the duration of their Fellowship for personal and professional support and guidance.
Introducing Stella Nderitu
Stella Nderitu is the Project Manager for PSELF, where she leverages PSELF’s vast network of partners both within Kenya and throughout the continent to expand opportunities for Kenya’s next generation of aspiring leaders. She has keen interests in advocating for the empowerment of women in government, equipping Kenyan youth with the skills they need to be successful public service leaders, leading climate justice efforts. Stella is an alumnus of the first cohort of the Emerging Leaders Foundation.
Fellows
Our Impact in Kenya
Fellows included in the inaugural cohort (51% female, 49% male)
ethnic communities represented
Fellows represent
41 counties
ministries and agencies served
By the fourth segment of training, Fellows demonstrated increased knowledge by over 20% in the following areas: citizen-centricity in public services, skills for young public service leaders, and public service leadership and ethics.
