ELP Public Sector Leadership Track

Exploring the distinctive demands and opportunities of leadership in public institutions.

• 1. What distinguishes public sector leadership

  Understand how leading in public institutions differs from private sector management in terms of mandate, accountability, and legitimacy.

• 2. Leading complex bureaucratic organisations

  Develop strategies to lead effectively within hierarchical structures while maintaining agility and responsiveness.

• 3. Building political acumen and institutional influence

  Navigate the political dimensions of public leadership and build influence without compromising integrity.

• 4. Setting long-term institutional vision

  Develop compelling institutional visions that align stakeholders and sustain momentum across political cycles.

• 5. Servant leadership and citizen focus

  Apply servant leadership principles to centre citizen welfare at the heart of institutional decision-making.

• 6. Managing upward and across government

  Build skills to manage relationships with ministers, elected officials, and cross-government partners.

• 7. Crisis leadership in public institutions

  Prepare for high-pressure crisis scenarios unique to public sector contexts: pandemics, financial shocks, political crises.

• 8. Personal leadership development in the public context

  Create a personal leadership development plan grounded in public sector realities and career aspirations.

Building institutions of integrity and leading ethical conduct across public organisations.

• 1. Foundations of public sector ethics

  Examine the ethical frameworks, codes of conduct, and normative expectations governing public officials.

• 2. Corruption: causes, forms, and consequences

  Analyse the systemic and individual drivers of corruption and their devastating impact on public trust and development.

• 3. Anti-corruption strategies and institutional safeguards

  Design and implement robust anti-corruption frameworks, oversight mechanisms, and whistleblower protections.

• 4. Building a culture of integrity

  Lead by example to build institutional cultures where ethical behaviour is the norm, not the exception.

• 5. Transparency and open governance

  Explore open government principles, freedom of information, and proactive transparency initiatives.

• 6. Conflict of interest management

  Identify and manage conflicts of interest at individual and institutional levels.

• 7. International anti-corruption frameworks

  Survey global instruments (UNCAC, OECD Convention) and regional frameworks shaping anti-corruption obligations.

• 8. Ethical dilemmas in public leadership

  Work through real-world ethical dilemmas specific to senior public officials using structured decision frameworks.

Develop robust strategic plans and position public institutions for long-term relevance and impact.

• 1. Strategic planning frameworks for the public sector

  Apply proven strategic planning methodologies adapted to public sector contexts and multi-stakeholder accountability.

• 2. Environmental scanning and scenario analysis

  Use environmental scanning, PESTLE analysis, and scenario planning to anticipate change and reduce strategic risk.

• 3. Translating strategy into operational plans

  Bridge the gap between high-level strategy and day-to-day operations through cascading plans and performance targets.

• 4. Stakeholder mapping and engagement

  Identify, prioritise, and engage stakeholders strategically to build coalitions for institutional mandates.

• 5. Managing organisational change

  Lead transformation programmes in public institutions using proven change management frameworks.

• 6. Performance management systems

  Design performance management systems that drive accountability and continuous improvement in public organisations.

• 7. Aligning resources with strategic priorities

  Apply strategic resource allocation frameworks to ensure budgets, people, and technology serve institutional priorities.

• 8. Building and reviewing institutional strategies

  Practice developing, stress-testing, and adapting institutional strategies through simulation and peer review.

Mastering budget cycles, fiscal frameworks, and financial planning in the public sector.

• 1. The public budget cycle

  Understand the full public budget cycle from formulation and negotiation through execution and audit.

• 2. Medium-term expenditure frameworks

  Apply medium-term expenditure frameworks (MTEFs) to align multi-year spending with strategic priorities.

• 3. Performance-based budgeting

  Design performance-based budgeting systems that link resource allocation to measurable results.

• 4. Public debt management

  Understand sustainable debt management principles, borrowing strategies, and debt sustainability analysis.

• 5. Fiscal decentralisation and intergovernmental transfers

  Navigate fiscal relations between central and subnational governments, including transfer design and oversight.

• 6. Revenue mobilisation strategies

  Explore domestic revenue mobilisation approaches including tax policy, compliance, and non-tax revenue diversification.

• 7. Public financial management reforms

  Review international best practices in PFM reform and how to lead systemic improvements within government.

• 8. Budget transparency and citizen participation

  Apply open budget principles and participatory budgeting approaches to strengthen public trust and accountability.

Ensuring integrity, value for money, and transparency in public procurement and contracting.

• 1. Principles of sound public procurement

  Master the core principles of transparency, competition, value for money, and accountability in public procurement.

• 2. Procurement planning and needs assessment

  Develop robust procurement plans aligned with institutional budgets, programme timelines, and strategic priorities.

• 3. Fighting corruption in procurement

  Identify, prevent, and address fraud and corruption risks in the procurement cycle using red flag systems.

• 4. Public-private partnerships (PPPs)

  Evaluate, structure, and manage PPPs to deliver public infrastructure and services efficiently and equitably.

• 5. Sustainable and green procurement

  Integrate environmental and social sustainability criteria into public procurement frameworks.

• 6. Contract management and supplier oversight

  Develop competencies for contract monitoring, performance management, and dispute resolution with suppliers.

• 7. E-procurement and digital platforms

  Leverage e-procurement platforms and digital tools to improve transparency, efficiency, and audit trails.

• 8. Legal and regulatory frameworks for procurement

  Navigate the legal architecture governing public procurement in national and international frameworks.

Strengthening financial reporting, internal audit, and oversight in public institutions.

• 1. Public sector accounting standards (IPSAS)

  Understand International Public Sector Accounting Standards and their application to financial reporting.

• 2. Financial statement analysis for public institutions

  Read, interpret, and analyse public sector financial statements for strategic and managerial decision-making.

• 3. Internal audit and control systems

  Design and lead effective internal audit functions and internal control frameworks in public institutions.

• 4. External audit and supreme audit institutions

  Understand the role of external auditors and supreme audit institutions (SAIs) in public accountability.

• 5. Parliamentary oversight and financial accountability

  Navigate parliamentary scrutiny and strengthen accountability mechanisms for public financial management.

• 6. Fraud detection and financial forensics

  Apply fraud detection methodologies and financial forensics approaches to protect public resources.

• 7. Risk management in public financial management

  Integrate risk management frameworks into public financial management to anticipate and mitigate fiscal risks.

• 8. Communicating financial results to non-financial stakeholders

  Translate complex financial data into accessible narratives for ministers, citizens, and civil society.

Using research, data, and evidence to design effective public policies.

• 1. The policy cycle and evidence use

  Map the policy cycle and identify where evidence can most effectively inform decisions at each stage.

• 2. Problem diagnosis and needs assessment

  Conduct rigorous problem diagnostics that distinguish symptoms from root causes and identify actionable policy leverage points.

• 3. Policy options analysis and appraisal

  Systematically evaluate policy options using cost-benefit analysis, feasibility assessment, and stakeholder impact analysis.

• 4. Regulatory impact assessment

  Apply regulatory impact assessment (RIA) tools to anticipate the costs and benefits of proposed regulations.

• 5. Inclusive policy design and gender mainstreaming

  Design policies that address the needs of marginalised groups and integrate gender mainstreaming throughout the policy cycle.

• 6. Piloting and experimentation in policy

  Use randomised controlled trials, pilots, and behavioural experiments to test policy interventions before scaling.

• 7. Behavioural insights in public policy

  Apply behavioural economics and nudge theory to design more effective, low-cost public policy interventions.

• 8. Policy briefs and decision-ready analysis

  Produce concise, decision-focused policy briefs that translate complex evidence into actionable recommendations for leaders.

Managing the complex process of turning policies into results on the ground.

• 1. Implementation planning and readiness

  Develop comprehensive implementation plans that address sequencing, resourcing, stakeholder buy-in, and risk management.

• 2. Managing implementation bottlenecks

  Identify and resolve common implementation barriers including capacity gaps, political resistance, and coordination failures.

• 3. Interagency coordination and whole-of-government approaches

  Build effective coordination mechanisms across agencies, ministries, and levels of government to deliver joined-up policy outcomes.

• 4. Managing political dynamics in implementation

  Navigate political interference, shifting priorities, and stakeholder resistance to maintain implementation momentum.

• 5. Monitoring implementation progress

  Design monitoring systems that provide real-time intelligence on implementation progress and early warning of problems.

• 6. Adaptive management and policy adjustment

  Apply adaptive management principles to adjust policies and implementation approaches based on emerging evidence and context.

• 7. Capacity building for implementation

  Develop strategies to build the human, technical, and institutional capacities required for successful policy implementation.

• 8. Scaling successful pilots

  Apply frameworks for scaling successful pilots while maintaining fidelity to evidence and adapting to diverse local contexts.

Building evaluation cultures that generate learning and drive continuous policy improvement.

• 1. Evaluation design and methodology

  Select and design appropriate evaluation methodologies (process, impact, value-for-money) for different policy contexts.

• 2. Theory of change and results frameworks

  Develop rigorous theories of change and results frameworks that guide evaluation and accountability.

• 3. Impact evaluation methods

  Apply rigorous impact evaluation methods (RCTs, difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity) to public programmes.

• 4. Building evaluation capacity within government

  Develop evaluation functions within ministries and agencies to institutionalise evidence-based learning.

• 5. Using evaluation findings for policy improvement

  Translate evaluation findings into actionable policy recommendations and institutional learning cycles.

• 6. Communicating evaluation results

  Present evaluation findings effectively to politicians, civil society, and the public to drive accountability and learning.

• 7. Ethics in evaluation

  Navigate ethical challenges in evaluation including independence, conflicts of interest, and protecting research participants.

• 8. International evaluation standards and practices

  Survey international evaluation standards (OECD DAC, UN), benchmarks, and cross-country learning platforms.

Developing and executing digital government strategies to modernise public services.

• 1. Digital government vision and strategy

  Develop a coherent digital government strategy aligned with national development priorities and citizen needs.

• 2. Citizen-centred service design

  Apply user research, design thinking, and co-design approaches to build services that citizens actually use and value.

• 3. Digital identity and authentication systems

  Design secure, inclusive digital identity systems that enable seamless access to public services.

• 4. Interoperability and shared platforms

  Build interoperable government systems and shared platforms that eliminate silos and improve service integration.

• 5. Digital inclusion and bridging the divide

  Design digital services that are accessible to all citizens including those with limited connectivity or digital literacy.

• 6. Cybersecurity and data protection in government

  Build cybersecurity competencies and data protection frameworks to safeguard government systems and citizen data.

• 7. Measuring digital government maturity

  Apply digital maturity models to assess and improve government digitalisation across key dimensions.

• 8. International best practices in digital government

  Review digital government success stories from Estonia, Singapore, Rwanda, and other leaders to extract transferable lessons.

Harnessing government data as a strategic asset for decision-making and public value creation.

• 1. Government data as a strategic asset

  Understand how governments can leverage data assets to improve service delivery, policy design, and institutional performance.

• 2. Data governance frameworks

  Design data governance frameworks that ensure data quality, security, privacy, and ethical use across government.

• 3. Open data and transparency

  Launch and manage open data initiatives that enable innovation, accountability, and civic engagement.

• 4. Data analytics for public decision-making

  Apply data analytics tools and techniques to generate actionable insights for senior government decision-makers.

• 5. AI and machine learning in government

  Evaluate AI and machine learning applications in government and their ethical, legal, and accountability implications.

• 6. Privacy, surveillance, and civil liberties

  Navigate the tensions between government data use and the protection of citizen privacy and civil liberties.

• 7. Building data literacy in government

  Develop strategies to build data literacy across government organisations at all levels.

• 8. Data for SDG monitoring and reporting

  Use data systems to monitor SDG progress and support voluntary national review processes.

Cultivating innovation capability within government to solve complex public challenges.

• 1. Public sector innovation: models and frameworks

  Survey models of public sector innovation from incremental improvement to disruptive transformation.

• 2. Innovation labs and experimental government

  Establish and manage government innovation labs as protected spaces for experimentation and learning.

• 3. Systems thinking for complex public problems

  Apply systems thinking to understand the root causes of complex public challenges and design more effective interventions.

• 4. Co-production and citizen co-design

  Build models of co-production that engage citizens as active partners in designing and delivering public services.

• 5. Managing risk in government innovation

  Build appropriate risk tolerance and fail-safe cultures that allow experimentation without endangering public trust.

• 6. Cross-sector collaboration for innovation

  Build partnerships with academia, the private sector, and civil society to access external innovation capabilities.

• 7. Procuring and scaling innovation

  Use innovative procurement approaches (challenges, prizes, pre-commercial procurement) to access new solutions.

• 8. Building a public sector innovation culture

  Lead the cultural transformation needed to make innovation a sustainable capability within public organisations.

Attracting, developing, and retaining top public service talent for institutional excellence.

• 1. Strategic human resource management in the public sector

  Apply strategic HRM frameworks to align human capital management with institutional mandates and service delivery goals.

• 2. Recruitment and talent acquisition

  Design merit-based, inclusive recruitment processes that attract diverse, high-calibre public servants.

• 3. Learning and development strategies

  Build comprehensive learning strategies that develop the skills and capabilities government needs for the future.

• 4. Performance management and feedback culture

  Design performance management systems that drive high performance and create a feedback culture across government.

• 5. Succession planning and leadership pipelines

  Build succession planning frameworks that ensure leadership continuity and institutional knowledge transfer.

• 6. Employee engagement and motivation

  Develop strategies to build engaged, motivated public servants committed to institutional mission.

• 7. Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the public service

  Build DEI strategies that make the public service reflective of the communities it serves.

• 8. Wellbeing and preventing burnout in government

  Design wellbeing strategies that protect public servants from burnout while sustaining institutional performance.

Leading deep cultural and structural reforms to build high-performing public institutions.

• 1. Diagnosing organisational culture

  Use cultural diagnostic tools to understand current institutional culture and identify needed shifts.

• 2. Leading cultural transformation

  Develop strategies to shift entrenched bureaucratic cultures toward service, performance, and innovation.

• 3. Civil service reform and modernisation

  Lead civil service reforms that improve capability, accountability, and responsiveness without disrupting service delivery.

• 4. Managing resistance to change

  Diagnose and address resistance to reform from within institutions, unions, and political stakeholders.

• 5. Building high-performance team cultures

  Develop the leadership practices that create high-performance cultures within government teams and departments.

• 6. Knowledge management and organisational learning

  Build systems to capture, share, and apply institutional knowledge for continuous improvement.

• 7. Communication and stakeholder engagement during reform

  Design communication strategies that build support for institutional reform among internal and external stakeholders.

• 8. Sustaining reform over time

  Build the institutionalisation and sustainability mechanisms that prevent reform gains from being reversed.

Navigating the complexity of multi-level governance and building effective intergovernmental cooperation.

• 1. Models of intergovernmental relations

  Survey federal, devolved, and decentralised governance models and their implications for inter-level coordination.

• 2. Managing vertical coordination

  Build effective vertical coordination mechanisms between central, regional, and local governments.

• 3. Horizontal coordination across government

  Develop strategies for whole-of-government approaches that break down silos and deliver joined-up outcomes.

• 4. Local government capacity and autonomy

  Strengthen local government capacity and fiscal autonomy to deliver effective local public services.

• 5. Managing tensions in multi-level governance

  Navigate the conflicts, mandate overlaps, and resource disputes that characterise multi-level governance systems.

• 6. Regional integration and cross-border governance

  Engage effectively with regional bodies (AU, ECOWAS, EU) and manage cross-border governance challenges.

• 7. International development cooperation

  Navigate development partner relationships, aid effectiveness principles, and South-South cooperation frameworks.

• 8. Africa's governance architecture

  Engage with the African Union governance architecture including APRM, Agenda 2063, and African continental frameworks.

Understanding and measuring the value that public institutions create for society.

• 1. What is public value?

  Examine the theory of public value (Moore, Benington) and its implications for how government institutions define success.

• 2. The strategic triangle for public managers

  Apply Moore's strategic triangle (value, authorising environment, operational capacity) to institutional strategy.

• 3. Measuring outcomes, not just outputs

  Shift institutional measurement from activity counting to genuine outcome and impact assessment.

• 4. SDG integration in government reporting

  Align institutional performance frameworks with SDG indicators and voluntary national review mechanisms.

• 5. Citizen satisfaction and quality of life metrics

  Use citizen satisfaction surveys, wellbeing indices, and quality of life metrics to assess public value creation.

• 6. Social return on investment (SROI)

  Apply social return on investment frameworks to quantify the broader social value of public programmes.

• 7. Environmental and intergenerational impact

  Measure and account for the environmental footprint and intergenerational equity implications of public decisions.

• 8. Communicating public value to citizens

  Build compelling narratives around institutional impact that strengthen citizen trust and democratic legitimacy.

Building robust accountability architectures that sustain public trust and institutional legitimacy.

• 1. Accountability architectures in government

  Map the full landscape of accountability mechanisms available to public institutions: political, legal, social, administrative.

• 2. Building internal accountability cultures

  Develop internal accountability systems and cultures where performance delivery is owned at all levels.

• 3. External accountability and oversight bodies

  Engage constructively with external oversight bodies including auditors, ombudsmen, and parliamentary committees.

• 4. Transparency and access to information

  Implement proactive disclosure policies and effective freedom of information mechanisms.

• 5. Social accountability and citizen oversight

  Build mechanisms for social accountability including citizen scorecards, community monitoring, and participatory audits.

• 6. Media, civil society, and accountability

  Engage proactively with media and civil society as accountability partners rather than adversaries.

• 7. Managing accountability failures and reputational crises

  Develop crisis management capabilities to respond to accountability failures without compounding institutional damage.

• 8. Building public trust through accountability

  Develop strategies to rebuild and sustain public trust through consistent accountability and transparent governance.

Leading public institutions to create enduring legacies and sustainable outcomes for future generations.

• 1. Long-term and foresight thinking

  Apply foresight tools (horizon scanning, futures wheels, scenario planning) to extend institutional thinking beyond electoral cycles.

• 2. Sustainable development and climate leadership

  Lead government action on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and just transition frameworks.

• 3. Intergenerational equity in public policy

  Embed intergenerational equity principles into fiscal policy, infrastructure investment, and long-term institutional planning.

• 4. Building resilient public institutions

  Develop institutional resilience frameworks that enable public organisations to absorb shocks and adapt to change.

• 5. National identity and social cohesion

  Lead inclusive institutional approaches that strengthen national identity, social cohesion, and democratic citizenship.

• 6. Leaving a leadership legacy

  Reflect on how senior public leaders can shape enduring institutional legacies that outlast their tenure.

• 7. Mentoring and developing the next generation

  Build mentoring and leadership development practices that invest in the next generation of public service leaders.

• 8. Personal reflection: your public leadership journey

  Consolidate your leadership learning journey with a capstone personal reflection and peer-sharing session.