10 ways to make your mentees great

I'd like to share part of a post from a blog called 'Leadership Freak'. It was originally posted under 'Great leaders make others great'. Besides the leadership aspect, it provides some pretty sound advice for mentors. Have a read and make your mentees great!

Your greatest challenge isn’t leading, it’s making others great. Settle for nothing less than growing leaders that become greater than you.

10 ways to make others great

1. Think less about what you want and more about what they want. Tap into who they want to be. Ask - how can I help you get where you want to go?
2. Provide opportunities for failure. Nothing succeeds like a good failure. Our failures, more than successes, make us. Organizations that learn from failure go farther than ones that punish them.
3. Accept average performance as long as there’s passion to learn and grow.
4. Throw wood on their fire. Anyone can quench someone. Try igniting them. Passion, passion, passion …
5. Learn from them by honoring what they know. They learn by teaching you. Additionally, Honor opens the door to influence.
6. Listen to your selfishness. Give to others what you want from them. Not so you’ll get it back but so they’ll be built up.
7. Step back so they can step forward. Prepare them. Provide resources. Set deadlines. Remember, leaders learn by leading.
8. Be a safety net. Young leaders need a place of refuge where they can recover, renew, and refocus.
9. Be direct with correction. Don’t play around. Describe wrong behaviors and explain the path to success.
10. Leverage ownership over accountability. The power of accountability fades in light of ownership. Say, “This is your project.”

Execution of some of these points may be a little different in your role as a mentor because we aren't (directly) trying to create leaders for the workplace (i.e. we encourage you to be good leaders for your mentees rather than good managers). I hope it can still be a useful resource for you.

To see the original post, click here.

WFP: Ghanaian Women Go Into Business To Tackle Goitre

World Food Programme reports:

Fatima Fuseini and her business partners sit around a table filling plastic bags with rock salt and sealing them with a packing machine. It’s tedious work, but Fatimah says it’s some of the best work she's ever done.

She and the other women around the table are their own bosses and the salt they're putting in packets belongs to them.

“We’re in business,” says Fuseini. “We sell our salt at the local market and we use the money to buy the things we need—like food.”

Fuseini and her partners weren’t always entrepreneurs. Like most businesses, theirs required know-how and capital to get off the ground. They received both through a WFP nutrition programme, which first gave them training in business management and then provided the seed capital they needed to get started.

The investment came in the form of [iodised] salt, a vital commodity in places like the Gbumgbum region of northeastern Ghana where iodine deficiency has reached endemic proportions.

78 per cent of children in Ghana are anemic, and the proportion of women isn't far behind. To help combat malnutrition, WFP has launched a project to teach mothers the importance of micronutrients and train women to produce products like [iodized] salt. Find out how you can help.

Some 56 per cent of adults in Gbumgbum suffer from goitre—an inflamed thyroid gland—which is caused by a lack of iodine.

Iodine deficiency is also the leading cause of preventable brain damage in children worldwide. It’s estimated that iodizing salt protects over 91 million children per year from severe mental impairment.

Fuseini and her group resold the salt WFP gave them and used the returns to go into the salt business for themselves. In the process of marketing their wares, they’ve also become activists raising awareness about the importance of consuming enough iodine.

“Cooking with [iodised] salt will prevent you from getting goitre and will help your children to grow up strong and healthy,” says Fuseini.

Better viewing from your mobile

I'm glad to inform you that there is now a mobile version of the blog for your mobiles. Blogger is still working on perfecting the process; it's at the Beta stage of testing at the moment but it should work fine. I hope this will greatly increase the quality of browsing on the go (and save you some money too)! If you have any trouble/suggestions, just let me know.

Note: Your mobile browser should direct you to the mobile site automatically, but just in case it doesn't you can access the mobile site at http://ylmp.blogspot.com/?m=1.

We've been reading...

A fresh chapter is opening in Africa's history
Guardian -- It is 60 years since Africa began to emerge from the shadow of colonialism. For much of the intervening time, this paper has charted the continent's battles with poverty, famine, pestilence, corruption, drought, Aids and war. It was only right that the developed world focused on some of its poorest inhabitants. And it was right that richer countries came to the aid of those less fortunate. But the story of Africa's despond took root and crowded out other news. At times, and over the years, it seemed as though there was no other news from Africa. We framed post-colonial Africa with the same narrative for decades – this was a continent that was, to European eyes, gamely but mostly failing to come to terms with its new-found independence...

Social media emancipates journalists in Libya
allAfrica -- As international media struggle to cover a story to which they don't have access, Libyans both inside and outside the country are using social media to plead for more visibility. No independent media is tolerated in Libya, and international journalists are being denied entry to the country. Over the weekend, while television networks in the United States featured experts opining on why the Libyan government would be able to quickly quell the protests, activists were circulating rough videos of assaults on heavily fortified military establishments in eastern Libya. By late Sunday, thousands of tweets were claiming that large areas of Benghazi and several smaller cities had been "freed" by democracy activists, who were busy organizing a new administration...

Gadhafi says he's 'still in control'
CNN -- As Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi announced Tuesday that he was still in charge of the country, the U.N. Security Council readied to meet later in the day to discuss the spreading unrest there - the first time the council has held consultations over any of the revolts that have swept the Arab world since January. Gadhafi made a brief television appearance early Tuesday to announce that he was in Libya, denying reports that he had fled the country in the face of a spreading revolt. Speaking to a state television reporter in front of his Tripoli home, Gadhafi said he wanted to show people "that I am in Tripoli, not in Venezuela. Don't believe those dogs in the media. But as Gadhafi asserts his power, he continues to gain the ire of Libyans worldwide...

West African nations to boost universities with online library
UN News -- The West African monetary union and the United Nations agency tasked with promoting education have signed an agreement to launch a $12 million project to boost the information and communications technology (ICT) capacity of universities by creating a regional virtual library network. Irina Bokova, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Soumaïla Cissé, the President of the Commission of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), which is providing the funds, signed the agreement in Paris. The project is part of a wide-ranging cooperation plan initiated in 2006 by the two bodies, aiming to develop the use of ICTs to support an ongoing reform of higher education in the member countries of the UEMOA – Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Mali, Senegal and Togo...

African sun could light the world's cities

Africa: The Good News reports:

Africa's greatest resources may no longer be diamonds and gold, but instead, its big sun-drenched skies. In coming years, the continent, known for the innovation and determination of its people, could provide enough solar energy to light up some of the world's biggest cities.

A group of students from a girls' college in Mauritius is showing the way. The pupils have recently developed a way of producing 14KW of clean electricity daily, and their project is touted to be a model which other nations in Africa could adopt.

The use of solar power reportedly doubled in 2010, and is expected to grow in 2011 by at least 25%. However, the developing world has been slower off the mark than Western countries to use this technology, although it would derive the most advantage from solar energy - remote regions especially.

Following the Mauritian government's December 2010 call for the population to find alternative means of producing electricity, the students from the Hindu Girls' College in Curepipe, Southern Mauritius, set up a three-kilowatt solar power system on the institute's roof. This simple system provides the campus with at least 20% of the power it needs.

Andrea Gungadin, the rector of the non-profit private college, said that the project is one way of avoiding the high rates that accompany the regular use of fossil fuels.

"We have so much sunshine here. Why allow it to go to waste when we can use it to produce electricity at a time when fossil fuel is becoming scarcer and more expensive?"

The college's system consists of 17 panels and costs around US$4 600. However, project engineer Pavitra Maulloo said in an IPS Africa report that not all institutions could expect to invest that amount.

"Costs will vary depending on factors like the location of the site, the number of panels desired, the structure itself and access to the site," he said.

Mauritius to become sustainable
Mauritian Minister of Energy and Public Utilities Rashid Beebeejaun said the government plans to transform Mauritius into a sustainable island by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing energy resilience.

"Investments in such a project can be covered within a five year period for an office or institution and in seven to eight years for a home. Afterwards, you just produce, use and sell your electricity for 20 years," he said.

The idea is catching on, and the education ministry recently opened a tender for installation of solar panels at 10 public schools around the island. The ministry hopes to produce a total of 55 000KW of energy with this project, and during the holidays when the schools are empty, surplus electricity will be sold to the Central Energy Board.

Appraisal Form hand in date

Today is the second to last mentor-mentee session before the Appraisal Forms are due (see here for the schedule for this term). The hand in date for the Appraisal forms is the 23rd of March; the Wednesday after the last mentor-mentee session for the term.

Please ensure that you have filled out a Form for each of your mentees before this date. Remember that the Mentor Awards take into account whether the forms are handed in on time or not!

You only need to fill in sections one and two at this point; don't complete the interim performance tracking section or anything after that just yet. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me - leave a comment, send me an email, call me, text me, tweet me... whatever.

What next for Sudan?

Former UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Sir John Holmes tells ONE what he expects in South Sudan over the next few months.

The results of the referendum in South Sudan confirm that 2011 will see the birth of a new state in Africa. Rejoicing in the south has been unconfined, as people see the goal they have long dreamed of coming to reality after so many years of suffering and war. The Government in Khartoum have said they will accept the result. They should be taken at their word and held to it, whatever our doubts about their long-term intentions. Elsewhere in Africa, there is concern about the breaking of the convention against changing colonial boundaries, but a warm welcome for the new state nevertheless.

I have been to Juba several times over the last four years, and talked to many southern leaders and ordinary people. I share their sense of achievement. The question now is whether fears of South Sudan as a failing or even already failed state at birth are likely to be realized or whether the enthusiasm and commitment we see now can be turned into a new drive for progress and development. So, what are the opportunities and the challenges?

The opportunities lie in a renewed sense of purpose and unity among the southern leadership; the commitment to make a success of this adventure from their people; the new influx of talent and ideas from those returning to their homeland from the north and elsewhere; and what I hope will prove to be a lasting determination of the international community to accompany the south on this final leg of their journey, even if it takes 10 years of hard struggle. They also lie in the size of the new country, its ample fertile land and water, and the possibility of undiscovered resources beneath that land. Juba has boomed in the last few years, even if much of the growth is not so soundly based for now.

The challenges are clear and multiple. This is a country starting from a very long way back, even after more than five years of effort since the historic Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Government capacity remains very low. Basic services like health and education are poor to non-existent, and those that do exist too often provided by international NGOs, not the government. Infrastructure is also virtually non-existent, with still less than 100 miles of paved road in a country the size of France. Travel around many of the states is difficult at the best of times and more or less impossible during the rainy season. Rates of child and maternal mortality are among the highest in the world. Agriculture remains rudimentary in many areas, with for example much of the food for Juba coming from neighboring Kenya and Uganda – a scandal in such a fertile country. Even the ubiquitous cattle are regarded for the most part as a way of amassing and demonstrating wealth, not an active source of income.

The unresolved issues with the north need to be tackled decisively before they fester –- Abyei, debt, borders, oil, citizenship, etc. The list is long and many of the items on it are highly sensitive. There are also tricky questions about those left in the north, in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, who are also supposed to be consulted about their destiny. Some risk feeling abandoned in a potentially hostile environment without international help.

Full Text: President Mills' State of the Nation Address

As promised, here is a copy of the President Atta Mills' third State of the Nation Address - "Raising Ghana to the Next Level" - which was delivered earlier on today (17th February 2011). It is rather lengthy, so instead of posting the whole speech I'll highlight a few key areas (education, youth and - after the jump - corruption). If you want to see a copy of the full text, click here.

Here's what he had to say on education:
Madam Speaker, this year, we will further intensify our commitment to free exercise books, free school uniforms and turn more schools under trees into brick and mortar classroom blocks.

We will also expand the Capitation Grant as well as the School Feeding Programme support.

The latter program has been restructured in such a way that the development partners which earlier pulled out on account of poor financial and procurement audit reports are considering resuming their financial support for the programme

Government will continue to provide incentives and motivation packages for teachers, especially those in deprived areas.

Madam Speaker, in the coordinated programme of economic and social development policies I referred to earlier, we have noted the rate at which the computerized placement mechanism is blocking access to second cycle education by pupils from basic schools in the catchment areas.

It has therefore been decided that from the 2011-12 academic year, the policy of selecting 30% of first year students from within 10-mile radius of where schools are situated will be restored.

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology has already begun distributing computer notebooks to brilliant but needy science students.

In line with Government’s vision to expand ICT infrastructure development, this Administration has also put in place a Tertiary Institutions Internal Access Programme (TIIAP) of institutions to benefit from a discounted laptop scheme.

The first batch of beneficiaries of the Mathematics, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme as promised in our manifesto will be awarded scholarships before the end of March.

The scheme covers needy but brilliant science biased students in second cycle and tertiary level institutions.

Madam Speaker, Government will continue to support the expansion of especially tertiary education including those in the private sector but will not allow a mushrooming of institutions without the appropriate accreditation.

As you are aware I have already cut the sod for work to begin on the promised two additional public universities in the Volta and Brong Ahafo Regions.

Madam Speaker, the sod-cutting for the commencement of works on the construction of the University of Health and Allied Sciences in the Volta Region, as well as the University of Energy and Natural Resources in the Brong Ahafo Region, is ample testimony to our commitment to breathe life into our manifesto pledges.

Here's what he had to say on the youth:
...The Youth and Sports Ministry is being tasked to collaborate with the GFA and private stakeholders to rebuild colts football as a base for the growth of Ghana’s football.

Other sporting disciplines will also be used as rallying points to harness the potential of the youth.

Madam Speaker, we are going make an effort to reorient the psyche of our youth towards what we consider to be Ghanaian values – especially on the issue of moral consciousness.

The Ministry of Education will be working in conjunction with the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture as well as the relevant state and private entities to reinforce Arts and Culture Festivals in second cycle institutions.

Also, Choral Festivals will be organized from the district to the national level.

The idea is to have a National Festival of Arts, Culture and Choral Music championed by the youth to reignite their sense of belonging.

State of the Nation Address

President Mills will deliver a State of the Nation's Address to Parliament later on this morning. I will post a copy (or link to) the full text when it becomes available. For now though, here's what you can expect according to the Daily Graphic:

The fight against the drug menace, efforts to improve on education and health as well job-creation and governance will feature prominently, in the address.

There are strong indications that key drug cases in the past will be reviewed and measures taken to discourage the country being used as a subsidiary for drug trade and a sanctuary for the drug barons.

This year's address, which is the third to be delivered by President John Evans Atta Mills, would encompass all the ingredients of the better Ghana agenda, a highly government source told the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday on what he thought would be the dominant features of the President's address.

The source said although the address would reflect all aspects of the "action year" as declared by the President, priority attention would be placed on sensitive areas such as security, agriculture, youth employment, job-creation, education and housing.

On education, the source said the President would focus on the achievements of his administration, particularly the free uniform programme for children in public schools, the elimination of schools under trees through the construction of more classrooms, the increase in the capitation grant and the initiative to establish two public universities in the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions.

The President would also highlight the historical feat chalked up by his administration in cutting the sod for work to begin on the housing project that would provide accommodation for the security services.

On youth development, the source said the, "future belongs to the youth and so it is important that the youth buy into the 'Better Ghana' agenda and become an integral part of that vision".

On governance, the President would credit his administration for setting up the Constitutional Review Commission to look at the aspects of the constitutions about which concerns had been raised.

The President is expected to speak on food and food security pointing out the gains chalked up, particularly how rice importation had gone down by 120 million dollars.

Competition: Google Africa's Young Minds

Google Africa is giving the chance to 12 young people (aged 18-24) the chance to take part in their annual Zeitgeist event. Here's more information from their blog:

Young Minds is a competition supported by Google and hosted on YouTube, seeking the pioneers, change-makers and leaders of tomorrow. They will take part in a special programme of masterclasses and workshops run near London in May 2011.

From February 1st till March 21st, the search is on at www.zeitgeistyoungminds.com to find 12 exceptional, motivated and inspiring 18-24 year-olds from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, who are making a positive impact on their world.

Winners will be invited to participate in Google’s annual Zeitgeist event, where previous speakers have included Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former US President Bill Clinton, Black Eyed Peas superstar Will.i.am and global entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson.

Zeitgeist Young Minds is an incredible platform for future world-changers to meet some of the most powerful and inspiring people on the planet today.

For a chance of winning a place at Zeitgeist 2011, applicants simply need to upload a video telling their story, explaining what matters to them, and showing how they’re making a positive impact on the world to www.zeitgeistyoungminds.com

21 years of freedom

Reblogged from ONE:

As of today, February 11 will go down in history for two very important events: the day that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down from power, and the day that Nelson Mandela was freed from prison.

Mr. Mandela was freed from prison 21 years ago. He served 27 years in the Robben Island prison, located offshore of Capetown, South Africa, because of his involvement in the anti-apartheid movement. During his prison sentence, Mandela became a symbol of the struggle against racism.

While in prison, Mandela famously said, “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society, in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunity. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and achieve. But, if need be, my Lord, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

He was elected president of South Africa in 1994 and became the country’s first black president. His work in social justice continues to be celebrated—he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for his work in liberating South Africa from apartheid rule. In 1998, Congress awarded Mr. Mandela the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor for his fight against discrimination and oppression.

In honor of the 21st anniversary of Mr. Mandela’s release from prison, Rep. Waters commented, “President Mandela is an inspiration to millions of people in South Africa and around the world, and on this anniversary we honor him and the many South Africans who put their lives on the line by confronting racism and discrimination head-on.”

Mr. Mandela’s struggle against apartheid is still important today. Mr. Mandela never lost hope that all South Africans would be treated equally, and he never compromised with the apartheid government.


*The 11th of February is also the date the royal regime was overthrown in Iraq (in 1979).

Mini Seminar: Sex Sense

On Friday, Ben Ahunu took our second Mini Seminar of the term. It was a highly interactive session that was not only informative but enjoyed by all. Mr. Ahunu structured his talk on the first five books of the Bible. I'll briefly run through the main points of each.

Genesis: It is not good for man to be alone
Man was created as a social being; relationships are not only important, they are necessary. There are two kinds of relationship each man is required to have - a relationship with God and a relationship with man. People (or things) can't replace the part God is meant to fill in our lives and vice versa. Relationships must be build and maintained.

Exodus: It was not so from the beginning
This part of the discussion addressed certain paradigms that need to be set right. Remember; paradigms are the beliefs, viewpoints, ways of thinking etc we hold that shape the way we see the world. Some inaccurate paradigms are:

1. Some men were made for men and some women for women
2. Relationships with the opposite sex must be sexual
3. Love=Sex
4. Young people cannot abstain from pre-marital sex
5. Using a condom makes pre-marital sex ok

As Sean Covey said, "When you have incomplete [or inaccurate] perceptions about yourself or life in general, it's like wearing glasses with the wrong perception. That lens will affect how you see everything else".

Leviticus: A Kingdom of Priests
Here, Mr. Ahunu outlined ways for 'Kingdom people' to form healthy relationships with people of the opposite sex. He mentioned that there are three levels of relating to other people. First we have those who mentor you (role models) - learn from them. Next we have friends - enjoy their companionship and share with them. Finally we have protégés, or those who learn from you - teach them but don't take advantage!

Numbers: When shall I?
Here we disused the ideal age - when is the best time in to 'zoom in' on a particular person for a relationship? Mr. Ahunu suggested that you're most likely to make the right choice in our late teens/tweens. That said, a more important factor than age is maturity. Are you physically, spiritually, mentally, socially and economically mature? These things are important especially considering that relationships are for the long term. Mr. Ahunu suggests that you don't engage in a relationship unless you're thinking about gettina married within the next 2 to 3 years.

Deuteronomy: What are the commandments?
This was the concluding section of our seminar, which was summed up with 10 rules - the 10 commandments of relationships if you like.

1. Find Your God-given purpose
2. Improve yourself
3. Have a clear mental sketch of the kind of person you want (negotiables vs non-negotiables)
4. Set S-M-A-R-T goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time bound)
5. Pray into the future
6. Decide to court and not just date
7. Resolve to abstain from pre-marital sex
8. Watch what you watch (& listen to)
9. Watch where you go
10. Watch what you touch and with what (declare boundaries & remember - hormones are not believers!!)
    

On behalf of everyone at the Foundation and indeed all involved in the YLMP, I'd like to say a huge thank you to Mr Ahunu for all his insights!

History is made!!!

After 18 days of angry protests, Egypt's president Mubarak has finally decided to resign. Coinciding with the date Nelson Mandela was released from prison 21 years ago, the 11th of February is made all the more significant. Leadership and indeed common sense have finally prevailed. God bless the Egyptian people for their persistence and unity. BBC reports:

Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down as president of Egypt. In an announcement on state TV, Vice-President Omar Suleiman said Mr Mubarak had handed power to the military.

It came as thousands massed in Cairo and other Egyptian cities for an 18th day of protest to demand Mr Mubarak's resignation. Protesters responded by cheering, waving flags, embracing and sounding car horns. "The people have brought down the regime," they chanted.

Mr Suleiman said Mr Mubarak had handed power to the high command of the armed forces.

"In the name of God the merciful, the compassionate, citizens, during these very difficult circumstances Egypt is going through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down from the office of president of the republic and has charged the high council of the armed forces to administer the affairs of the country," he said.

The military high command is headed by Defence Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi. Mr Mubarak has already left Cairo and is in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh where he has a residence, officials say. In Cairo, thousands of people are gathered outside the presidential palace, in Tahrir Square and at state TV. They came out in anger following an address by Mr Mubarak on Thursday. He had been expected to announce his resignation but instead stopped short of stepping down, transferring most powers to Mr Suleiman.

The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo said the announcement caught everyone by surprise, and all over the city drivers honked their horns and people fired guns into the air.

But the army takeover looks very much like a military coup, our correspondent adds. The constitution has been breached, he says, because officially it should be the speaker of parliament who takes over, not the army leadership.

'Historic change'

European Union leaders reacted positively to the news of Mr Mubarak's resignation.

Foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton said the EU "respected" the decision.

"It is important now that the dialogue is accelerated leading to a broad-based government which will respect the aspirations of, and deliver stability for, the Egyptian people," she said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the "historic change" in Egypt.

Meanwhile Iran described the recent events as a "great victory".

A senior Israeli official expressed the hope that Mr Mubarak's departure would "bring no change to its peaceful relations with Cairo".

The anti-government protests that began on 25 January were triggered by widespread unrest in Egypt over unemployment, poverty and corruption.

They followed a popular uprising in Tunisia which brought about the downfall of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

We've been reading...

Egypt's Mubarak 'may stand down'
BBC -- Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak is to make an address on national television, amid suggestions that he is preparing to step down. A senior member of Egypt's governing party, Hossan Badrawi, has told the BBC he "hopes" Mr Mubarak will transfer power to Vice-President Omar Suleiman. The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) says there is a "strong likelihood" that Mr Mubarak will step down soon. It comes on the 17th day of protests against his 30-year rule. Earlier, Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq told BBC Arabic that the scenario of President Mubarak stepping down was being discussed. The BBC's Lyse Doucet, in Cairo, says the fact that President Mubarak's departure is even being talked about is a huge development.

Artists use music to promote maternal health in Tanzinia
UN News -- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has teamed up with a group of artists from the United States and Tanzania to raise awareness, through music, on the need to have better maternal health services in the East African nation, where deaths related to childbearing remain a serious challenge. The collaboration, made possible with the help of the global network of artists known as MDGFive.com, just concluded a three-day music workshop with the production of a song calling for increased attention to maternal health in the country. Goal number 5 of the eight globally agreed anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) calls for the reduction of maternal mortality deaths by three quarters, and the attainment of universal access to reproductive health services by the target date of 2015...

Gbagbo bans UN radio broadcasts
BBC -- The government of Ivory Coast's incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo has officially banned UN radio broadcasts. Mr Gbagbo has refused to stand down following polls in November, which the UN peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast say was won by Alassane Ouattara. The BBC's John James says the UN's FM frequency has already been jammed since the beginning of the crisis, but it has been using unofficial frequencies. He says it is the most widely listened to radio station in the country. Access to the international media has been severely curtailed since the disputed election results came out. It was announced on state television on Wednesday evening that the frequencies assigned to UN peacekeeping mission had been withdrawn...

Small farms, big ideas for food security
CIPE Blog -- For those who believe access to food is a soft issue, relegated to the compassionate humanitarians inspired by photos of starving children, the events of the past few weeks have shown quite the opposite: access to affordable food is the stuff of massive uprisings. High food prices were a significant catalyst that helped tip the scales in Tunisia, in Egypt, and beyond. Hunger has consequences, and unceasing hunger has long term consequences. “Chronic undernutrition leads to negative impacts on intellectual capacity, educational performance, and productivity,” according to a new campaign, 1,000 days. “Two hundred million children around the world suffer from chronic undernutrition”...

Stakeholders meet on USAID's project for MDGs

Ghana News Agency reports:

Stakeholders under the Behaviour Change Support Project (BCSP) that promotes the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals health targets, met in Accra on Tuesday to brainstorm among other issues on the implementation of the second year of the project. The BCSP, a four-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supported project, is managed by the Johns Hopkins Centre for Communication Programs (JHU/CCP) with CARE and PLAN International in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service (GHS). It is being implemented basically in communities in the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in three regions, namely the Greater Accra, Central and Western regions The meeting created a platform that enabled the participants to devise means of jointly mobilising district support for the implementation of the project. Giving an overview of the BCSP, Mr George Baba Ajaligbong of Care Ghana International, one of the managers of the project, said the targets for first year, especially in the area of community mobilisation and education, were exceeded.

The project covers five thematic areas, which are: Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health and Family Planning; Malaria; Nutrition; Water and Sanitation and Infrastructure and Capacity Building.

Mr Ajaligbong said for year one, 490 communities in the three regions were reached during, which a number of activities were undertaken. The activities included organisation of baseline studies, strategic development workshop, development of core Community Action Kit and integrated materials, implementation of regional specific campaigns as well as family planning and malaria campaigns.

For year two, Mr Ajaligbong said, the work plan for the partners would include selection of 25 communities, organisation of district and sub district advocacy meetings, setting terms of reference for Non Governmental Organisations, carrying out Social Analysis and Action for partners and the formation of networks in sub districts The Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), is one of three selected health NGOs selected in the Greater Accra to implement the BCS project in the second year.

Mrs Cecilia Lodonu-Senoo, Executive Director of the HFFG, said the organisation was implementing the project as a sub recipient in partnership with Care International Ghana which is the principal recipient of the funds from USAIDS. She said HFFG has the capacity given its track record in implementing similar projects in the country and noted that it was currently working with the Ghana Health Service on the MDGs.

Leadership blog goldmine

Keeping up with blogs is an easy way to get up to date information on the topics that matter most to you. It's easy to find a blog on just about anything these days. The question becomes not how to find information, but where to find it.

Netherlands based blog Noop have put together a list of the top 150 Leadership and Management blogs. The list is not exhaustive, not by any means, and what they define to be 'good' by their standards may not be the same as everyone else. However, it's a great resource to have on hand; a starting point for research if you like.

They've complied a list of blogs and their corresponding Twitter pages (if they exist) which adds another helpful dimension (excuse the shameless self-promotion, but you can follow us on Twitter here if you aren't already). I've listed their top 10 blogs below; you can have a look at the full list here.

TT	Site	Author	Twitter
1	The Blog of Tim Ferriss	Tim Ferris	tferriss
2	Leading With Purpose	Michael Hyatt	michaelhyatt
3	Anthony Robbins Training Blog	Anthony Robbins	tonyrobbins
4	How to Change the World	Guy Kawasaki	guykawasaki
5	Daniel Pink	Daniel H. Pink	DanielPink
6	Management IQ - Business Week	(various)
7	GTD Times	(various)	gtdguy
8	Life Beyond Code Blog	Rajesh Setty	UpbeatNow
9	Dispatches from the New World of Work	Tom Peters	tom_peters
10	Three Star Leadership Blog	Wally Bock	wallybock

Happy blogging!

Calming the storm

There is be no doubt that the protests in Egypt over the have captured the world's attention over the past two weeks. Post-election tensions in Côte d'Ivoire have also been widely covered by the world's media.

Although these issues have become rather common and almost stereotypical of African politics, there does seem to be progress being made in overcoming them.

Just over a week ago, Mali held a peaceful election which saw civilian rule restored after a year of military rule. Former President Tanjda is now serving time in prison over corruption charges during his time as president.

Yesterday it was announced that South Sudan had voted for independence from the North; the culmination of a relatively peaceful referendum save for some clashes in the region of Abyei and elsewhere. Although many issues remain that will need to be addressed, South Sudan is now poised to become the world's newest nation in six months time.

These cases - added to others such as Ghana being politically stable for almost 20 years - give us hope that there can indeed be an Africa where peaceful transitions of power - true leadership - are the norm.

Transactional vs. Relational Leadership

Over the next few weeks, the folks over at Lead Change Group are going to be running a series on the differences between Transactional and Relational Leadership. What are those, you might ask. To find out, simply read the first installment:

Have you ever thought about the words we use to describe relationships? Our entire paradigm for how we relate to one another is economic. We ‘spend’ time with family. We ‘invest’ training and resources in employees. When we feel neglected by our spouse we tell them they don’t ‘value’ us nearly enough. I’ll get that promotion when my boss recognizes how much I ‘contribute’ to the team.

Seth Godin has said that leadership, at it’s core, is marketing and marketing is leadership. As leaders we’re selling a vision, an idea, a method, a system. We market our influence and hope someone will ‘buy in’. This economic model for relationships affects our approach to leadership at every level. It’s transactional in nature. Quid pro quo. I’ll follow you if I get something in return. You’ll follow me when you realize my idea has more than merit, it has value that will benefit you personally. They say all politics is local. Well, all leadership is transactional and everyone’s looking for an ROI (return on investment) that far exceeds the risk they take when they believe in you.

What would happen if we changed the language of leadership? What if we stopped using the words of Wall Street to describe how a leader relates to others? Transactional Leadership relies heavily on 4 words that have more to do with economics than leadership. What if we replaced these 4 words with new words, better words? Words designed to inspire, empower and engage people.

• Value vs. Respect
• Invest vs. Serve
• Buy-in vs. Trust
• Contribute vs. Collaborate

These aren’t simply 4 contrasting ideas. They are a progressive pattern for how ‘Relational Leadership’ works. They are guiding principles that build one on top of the other.

Over the next several weeks we’re going to explore the differences between Transactional Leadership and Relational Leadership. We’ll discover how these four guiding principles leverage the power of influence, magnify the effectiveness of a team and create a vibrant culture where individual and corporate potential explodes with exponential growth.

It’s going to be a great series. As we get ready to dive in I have some questions for you.

• What’s been your experience with ‘Transactional Leadership’? Was it positive or negative?
• Do you think it’s possible to describe our relationships without using words that are economic in nature?

God Bless,
Chad

I'll be re-posting each installment as it becomes available, so make sure you keep an eye out for them!

UN Women - Promoting gender equality across Africa

MediaClubSouthAfrica.com reports:

The creation of a new body, UN Women - or the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women - was celebrated on 30 January 2011 at the 16th Summit of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Speaking about the new entity at the summit, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said: "There is progress here and there on the continent regarding women's rights, but we must go much further to ensure greater gender equality in Africa. It is not just a matter of justice as the facts show indeed that gender equality is a factor of growth and social peace."

The entity should place emphasis on African women's access to education, health and political responsibility, Ban added.

Achieving gender equality was a key theme of the 2011 AU summit.

"We need to empower African women who produce food, raise children and drive the economy. When women take their rightful place at the negotiating table, in parliament and in leadership positions across society, we can unleash Africa's enormous potential. UN Women is here to help reach this goal," said the secretary-general.

Unveiling UN Women's new logo at the summit, its executive director Michelle Bachelet said: "A vision of how much more is possible when men and women have equal rights and opportunities will drive UN Women. We will be bold and ambitious in our aspirations and we will also be practical in building an organisation that can make a lasting difference in women's lives."

Bachelet was Chile's first woman president, serving her term from 11 March 2006 to 11 March 2010. She prioritised women's issues during her tenure and has been working with the UN Development Fund for Women (Unifem) since leaving office.

Pushing gender equality
UN Women was created in July 2010 at a UN General Assembly session and became operational on 1 January 2011.

It merges four previously distinct entities of the UN focusing on gender equality: Division for the Advancement of Women; International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women; Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women; and Unifem.

UN Women will see to the development of women-friendly policies, and help member states implement and monitor them.