The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation Public Leaders Programme (AIG PLP), a flagship executive education initiative of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation delivered in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, has opened applications for its 2026 cohort.
Designed for senior public sector professionals across English-speaking Africa, the programme aims to strengthen institutional performance by equipping leaders with advanced skills in governance, public management, negotiation, and digital transformation.
Applications opened on 20 February 2026 and will close on 12 April 2026, with the programme set to commence in October 2026.
Strengthening Public Leadership Capacity in Africa
The AIG Public Leaders Programme is structured as an immersive executive learning experience that blends academic rigour with practical problem-solving. It is specifically tailored for senior public servants seeking to drive measurable reform within complex government institutions.
Participants engage in:
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Faculty-led discussions
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Policy simulations
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Scenario-based exercises
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Peer collaboration and guided reflection
The curriculum is built to ensure that participants acquire both conceptual frameworks and operational tools necessary to navigate political economy constraints, institutional inertia, and fast-evolving governance environments.
The programme’s emphasis is not theoretical abstraction. It is outcome-oriented, focusing on strengthening public institutions and generating tangible development impact.
Core Programme Focus Areas
The 2026 cohort will explore five priority leadership domains critical to public sector effectiveness:
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Negotiating in the Public Interest – Building the capacity to manage stakeholder complexity and align competing interests toward reform outcomes.
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Harnessing Digital Technology – Leveraging digital tools to modernise service delivery and institutional processes.
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Strengthening Public Organisations – Enhancing organisational design, performance management, and delivery systems.
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Integrity in Public Life – Embedding ethical standards and accountability frameworks within public institutions.
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Communication and Narrative Power – Shaping reform narratives to build public trust and political legitimacy.
These areas reflect contemporary governance challenges across African states, including digital transformation, fiscal constraints, public trust deficits, and reform execution gaps.
Capstone Projects: From Learning to Implementation
A defining feature of the AIG PLP is its structured capstone project requirement.
After several weeks of blended instruction, participants are given dedicated time to design and develop a workplace-based reform initiative. These projects are intended to address real policy or institutional challenges within their organisations.
The capstone format ensures that learning is translated into actionable reform — whether through improving service delivery processes, strengthening compliance systems, redesigning institutional frameworks, or deploying digital governance tools.
This approach reinforces the programme’s strategic objective: institutional transformation, not individual certification.
2026 Application Timeline
Prospective candidates should note the following milestones:
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20 February 2026 – Applications Open
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12 April 2026 – Applications Close
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May 2026 – Stage 1: Computer-Based Tests
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Fourth Week, May 2026 – Stage 2: Essays Submission
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Third Week, June 2026 – Stage 3: Video Interview
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August 2026 – Final Selection
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October 2026 – Programme Commencement
The multi-stage selection process is designed to ensure academic readiness, leadership maturity, and reform orientation among participants.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
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Be citizens of any English-speaking African country
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Be actively working in the public sector within Africa
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Have a minimum of seven years’ work experience
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Hold Grade Level 13 or above (or equivalent senior rank)
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Be between 35 and 54 years old
The programme is targeted at mid-to-senior career public officials with demonstrated leadership responsibilities and reform potential.
Institutional Context
Across Africa, reform implementation often falters not because of policy design gaps, but because of institutional capacity constraints. The AIG PLP positions itself as a direct response to this structural deficit.
By embedding senior African public servants within an Oxford-based executive education framework, the programme seeks to:
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Enhance policy execution capability
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Strengthen institutional resilience
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Build cross-country peer networks
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Professionalise public leadership culture
For African governments navigating fiscal consolidation, digital transformation, and governance reforms, capacity development at senior levels is increasingly viewed as strategic infrastructure.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2026 AIG Public Leaders Programme close on 12 April 2026.
Prospective candidates can also download project summaries from previous cohorts to understand the type of reform initiatives developed by alumni. Click Here.
