The Women’s Leadership Development Programme (WLDP), organized by Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre ( KAIPTC) with sponsorship from the Federal Government of Germany, held its closing ceremony at the Labadi Beach Hotel last week.
WLDP enables women to develop critical skills in self-leadership, be sensitive and aware of key dynamics when taking decisions across a wide range of contexts and circumstances, and also empowers them to become effective, agile and conscious leaders in their organisations
60 women leaders and managers were selected from various security agencies and their enrolment onto the Women’s Leadership Development Programme (WLDP) has been a period of self-discovery and an immeasurable boost to their competence and impact as leaders.
The female leaders were selected from the Ghana Armed Forces, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ghana Fire Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Police and Prison Services, and selected staff of KAIPTC,
Commandant of KAIPTC, Major General Francis Ofori speaking at the ceremony said, “gender equity is key to all aspects of society these days. Societies in which women and men have equal participation are more stable, peaceful, prosperous and culturally innovative”
“We have seen progress in the women, peace and security agenda, indeed there are more women than ever working in the security sector, but ladies and gentlemen, representation is not enough- we have not reached the finishing line. We need to see numbers strengthened within all four pillars of United Nations Security Resolutions (UNSCR) 1325 and more women appointed to the most senior level positions within our national organisations”, He added
In view of this, Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General, has put in place a gender policy in which his objective has been to seek a gender parity at the most senior levels of management at the United Nations Headquarters (UNHQ). He achieved this goal two year ahead of a schedule he set, but expects gender parity at all levels of the organisation by 2028
Recognizing that today’s leaders are required to anticipate and address complex challenges involving multiple stakeholders, while navigating the tensions and ambiguities that characterize the world of work, KAIPTC and the Federal Government of Germany designed the programme to provide the skills and competencies for women leaders in the security sector to advance their careers, and to prepare them to assume senior leadership positions in their respective agencies.
The programme also provides a safe space for participants to candidly and constructively discuss the personal and structural limitations they face and the strategies and skills to overcome them
The second edition of the programme begun in March 2020, and is structured in three phases; the first phase focuses on personal leadership and emphasizes on communication, dealing with emotions and the embodiment of leadership. For the second phase, participants are required to complete an online leadership development and decision-making assessment exercise. The third phase focuses on managing and navigating complexity, decision-making, strategic communication and negotiation.
What stands the programme apart from many in its stable is its approach; it is highly practical and experiential and departs from the typical classroom and lecturing methodology. The facilitators are celebrated experts and coaches from Ghana and Europe who have specialized in women and security sector leadership and who have a combined experience of 77 years.
The facilitators comprise Blanka Bellak PhD, Ms. Maureen Brown and Ms. Ama Duncan. Dr. Bellak specializes in neuroscience-based approaches that facilitate personal transformations.
In 2017, Dr. Bellak founded Leadership Associates, a boutique leadership consultancy that provides services to the leading international security agencies such as the NATO and OSCE, to the UN, and to the private sector. Maureen Brown, QPM, is a former UK Chief Police Officer with a breadth of experience in senior leadership roles.
Following her successful national police career, she has provided strategic advice to senior government officials and police leaders within the EU and internationally. A mentor on EU and UN programmes, Maureen has developed and conducted international leadership and development programmes worldwide.
Ama Duncan is the Founder of ‘The Fabulous Woman Network (The FWN)’; through this network, she has organised entrepreneurial development events for over 5000 women. With over 13 years’ experience in corporate training, Ama has trained over 2000 professionals on leadership, team building and other subjects.
She regularly facilitates trainings for GIZ, the British Council, CAMFED and NBU Hub, among others. She coaches and mentors women and the youth, speaks on radio, television and conferences, is an author, an Access Bank Women Ambassador and a 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow.
