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INTRAC played a key role in establishing learning relationships between some key leaders, facilitated the emergence of two values-led OD organisations, and built a discourse around OD in Malawi.
Final Evaluation Report, December 2008
Innovative leadership development
Capacity building through reading
In 2005 INTRAC facilitated three one-day workshops in Malawi, hosted by CONGOMA, with facilitation support from CADECO, and supported by Hivos.
Objectives of the workshops:
- to build the capacity of CSOs by providing them with appropriate materials
- to develop the habit of reading amongst CSO leaders
- to disseminate the learning from the capacity building experience of CADECO and INTRAC in Malawi.
120 local NGOs were given short training inputs in:
- learning through reading
- leadership and change
- the organisational impact of HIV/AIDS
- the use of proverbs in organisational assessment.
Research (by INTRAC, CORAT and CDRN) on leadership development in Africa highlighted the significance of reading for changing the way some leaders think and behave. In Malawi, although some leaders develop themselves through systematic reading, many do not prioritise time for such reflection and learning as CSOs tend to be action-oriented.
Part of the problem has been the lack of published material that is relevant to a Malawian context – but this is changing. Over the course of the programme CADECO and INTRAC published a number of books, reports and articles based on practical capacity building experiences in Malawi.
Participants were introduced to the books and given vouchers to purchase some of them. It proved to be a highly popular and innovative way of disseminating learning. Participants were extremely enthusiastic about the process and they rated it as ‘excellent’ in terms of usefulness to their organisation.