The Association for Research on Civil Society in Africa (AROCSA) in partnership with the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) at the Wits Business School in Johannesburg, South Africa, is pleased to announce this call for applications to the Innocent Chukwuma African NGO Leadership Transition Fellowship Program (ICLTFP), formerly known as the African NGO Leadership Transition Fellowship Program (LTFP). The Fellowship is funded by the Ford Foundation.
The Africa Leadership Transition Fellowship Program (LFTP) began in 2018 under the moniker of the Nonprofit Leadership Transition Fellowship Program (NLTF Program), with support from the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) and the Ford Foundation. It was started due to the recognition of the urgent need for an NGO leadership transition program to aid sector leaders – civil society and NGO leaders – who are considering transitioning out of their positions in creating a supportive infrastructure.
The program’s chief purpose is thus to help sector leaders prepare and position their NGOs to be sustainable, vibrant, and continue to thrive after their exit from the organisation. It would enable both the leaders and organisations successfully make the shift, and in so doing create spaces for a new generation of leaders in the social sector to not only emerge but also have platforms to apply their creative and youthful energies. Transitioning leaders would develop succession plans within their own organisations, contemplate their personal transition plans, and preserve their knowledge and experience.
The inaugural year began with 2 cohorts (1 in spring and 1 in fall) which have since evolved to a single annual cohort since 2019. The Fellowship program is hosted by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (LFSOP) of Indiana university, Indianapolis.
The objectives of LTFP in Africa are to:
- Contribute to the process of establishing a supportive infrastructure for leadership transition within the NGO movement in Africa.
- Promote creation of leadership spaces for next generation of leaders in African civil society to grown and strive.
- Increase documentation of leadership experiences/reflections and renewal processes within civil society in Africa.
Eligibility
I. Founder/Executive Director of an NGO in Africa, and from Africa, ‘actively’ seeking to transition away from their NGO/CSO.
II. Approval from the board to take a sabbatical from work from March – May 2022
III. Candidate must be above forty (40) years of age
IV. Candidate must have been in the executive leadership position for at least ten (10) years
V. Candidate must be a full-time paid staff of the NGO
VI. Medical fitness certified by qualified medical doctor
Notes
- Transition for the program is defined in the context of “an NGO leader exiting the NGO in which he/she has been in its full employment and paid staff leadership position for at least 10 years, and moving into a different NGO, academia, business, government, or going into retirement.
- Once an offer is made, participation may not be deferred.
Required Deliverables
I. Written Personal Transition Plan
II. Written Leadership Succession Plan for the NGO
III. A book chapter on a topic of choice reflecting topical issues in the nonprofit sector in Africa; the chapter must be between 5,000 – 7,500 words including references
Program Support
I. Stipend: $3,000 covering living support and associated expenses for one month in South Africa.
II. Accommodation: one single furnished bedroom either in a studio/one bedroom, or shared apartment with other fellows for one month in South Africa.
III. Economy class return ticket from home country to South Africa for in-person placements at CAPSI
IV. Visa application fees.
V. Travel Health Insurance
Method of Application
Applicants are required to apply for the Fellowship through the electronic application portal on the
AROCSA website. Applications must include the following:
I. Completed electronic application forms
II. Copy of valid international passport (must be valid for six months from March 2022)
III. Curriculum Vitae
IV. Two letters of recommendation (including one from the NGO Board Chair indicating that the board is aware and approves of the applicant’s participation in the fellowship)
V. 3-5 page (double space, 12pt font with one-inch margins) personal statement that includes, but not limited to, the reason for participating in the fellowship and anticipated fellowship objectives that the applicant seeks to achieve
Program Timeline
November 15th, 2021 5:00 PM WAT Application deadline (all materials must be submitted by this time)
December 5, 2021 Selection process begins (reviews and Zoom interviews)
January 15, 2022 Awardee Notification
March 14 – April 14, 2022 One month placement at CAPSI
April 14 – June 14, 2022 Remote facilitated career planning and documentation
June 6 – 10, 2022 Fellow chapter presentations
June 13, 2022
June 14, 2022
For any questions or enquiries, please email programs@arocsa.org with the subject ‘ICLTFP 2022’
Application Deadline: November 15th 2021
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