Leading from the middle: rethinking leadership in global networks

The role of networks and coalitions in addressing complex global challenges in the development sector is on the rise. The ways in which they differ from traditional organisations are significant, especially in their structures and decision-making approaches. In this short paper published by INTRAC, Bethlehem Mengistu explores an approach she refers to as “leading from the middle.” This is an approach to leadership in a network context, one which relies not on command or control, but on trust, relationships, and shared ownership.

“Leading from the middle is not about controlling decisions. It’s about facilitating a space with conditions that allow diverse actors to align around joint goals whilst maintaining independence. In practice, this entails investing in trust, cultivating relationships, and distributing leadership across the network rather than concentrating it within a single institution.”

Bethlehem Mengistu is the Executive Director of Agenda for Change, a global coalition working to strengthen water, sanitation, and hygiene systems through collective action and systems change.