Clocks tick so fast; the past 8 months have run by with extreme advancement of our Leadership capabilities.
“We all have individual leadership styles, and each matters.”
Our Executive Director, Jerry Mang’ena and Underwater Program Lead, Ms. Nancy Iraba were privileged to be part of the 2nd Cohort of the African Marine Conservation Leadership Program (AMCLP) that is conducted by a partnership between Maliasili and Blue Ventures.
The program hosted 18 senior leaders from community-based organizations across three countries: Mozambique, Kenya, and Tanzania where the program included 3 in-person, week-long workshops and a series of online courses from November 2023 to July 2024.
These workshops were designed to strengthen connections and build peer-to-peer support but also the structure allowed leaders to put lessons into practice between sessions.
An interactive walkthrough through the 3 interconnected levels of leadership development, each designed to address crucial aspects of effective leadership in the conservation space.
The first level, “Leading Self,” focused on personal development. Helping participants gain a deep understanding of their leadership style, strengths, and the behaviors that influence their approach to leadership.
The second level, “Leading Organizations,” builds on this personal foundation by equipping leaders with the skills necessary to inspire and motivate their teams. It emphasized the importance of creating strong, mission-driven organizations that not only achieve their goals but also foster team satisfaction and high performance.
The third level, “Leading Collaborations,” broadened the scope even further. This level aimed to cultivate leaders’ abilities to navigate relationships with various actors, including government bodies, donors, and partner organizations.
After 8 months of interaction, learning and growth, our team recently graduated from the program and this marks us as an official member of the African Conservation Leadership Network (ACLN), a prestigious alliance that opens up valuable opportunities for local conservation groups. This network serves as a platform for organizations like ours to expand our reach and impact beyond our individual scope. Through ACLN, we can perpetuate strong collaborations and partnerships that will extend our roots deeper into the wider ecosystem of conservational efforts.
Javis Bashabula
Communications Lead - AFO