Leadership for Development Organizations

Date and Time

Date: Aug 24–28, 2026, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Venue

Kigali, Rwanda.

Overview

The Leadership for Development Organizations program is designed to strengthen leadership capacity within development, humanitarian, and social impact organizations. It equips leaders with the skills to navigate complex operating environments, manage donor-funded programs, lead diverse teams, and deliver sustainable development outcomes.

The program integrates strategic leadership, governance, results-based management, accountability, partnership building, and adaptive leadership, enabling participants to respond effectively to evolving development challenges and stakeholder expectations.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Lead development organizations with strategic clarity and integrity

• Strengthen governance, accountability, and ethical leadership

• Manage donor-funded programs effectively and responsibly

• Drive results, learning, and sustainable impact

• Build resilient teams and partnerships in complex environments

________________________________________

Training Benefits

Participants and organizations will gain:

• Enhanced leadership effectiveness in development contexts

• Improved program delivery, accountability, and impact

• Stronger donor relations and compliance

• Better strategic alignment between mission, programs, and resources

• Increased capacity to manage change, risk, and uncertainty

• Practical leadership tools applicable across development settings

Who Should Attend

• This program is ideal for:
• • Executive Directors, Country Directors, and Program Directors
• • NGO and INGO managers and team leaders
• • Project and program managers in donor-funded initiatives
• • Monitoring & Evaluation and operations managers
• • Public sector and development agency officials
• • CSO leaders and social enterprise managers
• • High-potential leaders in development organizations

Workshop Outline / Modules

Module 1: Leadership in Development Organizations

• Nature of leadership in development and humanitarian contexts

• Balancing mission, accountability, and performance

• Ethical and values-based leadership

Module 2: Strategic Leadership & Visioning

• Strategic thinking for development impact

• Translating mission into strategy

• Long-term planning in dynamic environments

Module 3: Governance & Accountability

• Governance structures in NGOs and development agencies

• Board–management relations

• Accountability to donors, beneficiaries, and regulators

Module 4: Donor Landscape & Development Financing

• Overview of donor funding mechanisms

• Managing donor expectations

• Financial stewardship and sustainability

Module 5: Results-Based Management (RBM)

• RBM frameworks and principles

• Linking strategy, programs, and results

• Performance measurement

Module 6: Program & Project Leadership

• Leading complex development programs

• Program lifecycle management

• Cross-functional coordination

Module 7: Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)

• Designing MEL systems

• Evidence-based decision-making

• Learning and adaptation

Module 8: Financial Management & Compliance

• Financial accountability in development programs

• Budgeting and financial controls

• Audit and compliance requirements

Module 9: Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Working with governments, donors, and communities

• Managing partnerships and alliances

• Stakeholder communication and trust-building

Module 10: People Leadership & Team Management

• Leading diverse and multicultural teams

• Talent development and retention

• Performance management

Module 11: Risk Management & Safeguarding

• Programmatic, financial, and reputational risks

• Safeguarding policies and practices

• Duty of care

Module 12: Adaptive Leadership & Change Management

• Leading through complexity and uncertainty

• Adaptive leadership approaches

• Managing organizational change

Module 13: Advocacy, Policy Influence & Communication

• Advocacy strategies and policy engagement

• Strategic communication

• Influencing decision-makers

Module 14: Innovation, Digital Tools & Sustainability

• Innovation in development programming

• Digital tools for impact

• Sustainability and exit strategies

Module 15: Capstone – Leadership for Impact

• Real-life development case studies

• Leadership self-assessment

• Development of personal and organizational action plans

Facilitator

Global Leadership Institute Executive Trainers

Investment / Fees

• Standard Fee: USD 1250 per participant
• Includes training materials, lunch, tea/coffee breaks, and certificate.

Registration Deadline

Aug 22,2026

How to Register

• Register here: https://www.leadership.rw/register/ or click “Register/Apply to Attend”.
• Then, payment details will be shown/visible & automatically emailed to you.
• Once payment is received, you’ll get a confirmation & pre-read pack 1 week before the workshop.
• Need help? Call +250 738 713 619‬ (9 AM–5 PM EAT).

REGISTER NOW / APPLY TO ATTEND