Transformative African Leadership Programme Reopens Applications for 2027 Cohort
he Transformative African Leadership (TAL) programme has reopened applications for its inaugural 2027 cohort, following strong interest from professionals across Africa.
The programme attracted applications from West, East, Central, Southern and North Africa, reflecting its pan-African focus and broad geographic reach.
The 10-month programme will begin on February 1, 2027, bringing together between 25 and 30 participants for a combination of online learning and two in-person residencies.
The first residency will be held in Nairobi from February 1 to 5, 2027, while the second will take place in Rabat, Morocco, from October 4 to 8, 2027.
TAL is aimed at experienced professionals who are already influencing decisions within their organisations, institutions and sectors, with the programme seeking to strengthen their ability to respond to complex challenges facing Africa.
Its curriculum covers democratic governance, geopolitics, artificial intelligence, climate change, security, industrialisation, regional integration and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Rather than examining these issues in isolation, the programme considers how they intersect and influence leadership, institutions and development across the continent.
Discussions will draw on historical, national, regional and global perspectives while examining opportunities for Africa's development.
Dr Penny Parenzee, Senior Programme Manager at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, said the programme encourages participants to assess Africa's development challenges within a broader context.
“The programme asks participants to look beyond the challenges and identify where the opportunities lie. Agenda 2063 provides an important backdrop for these discussions, while African perspectives anchor how we examine the continent’s development and the leadership needed to drive transformation,” she said.
“Participants will also leave the programme with a deep understanding of the AfCFTA and its potential for Africa.”
TAL is jointly designed and delivered by the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, the Public Policy School at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Morocco, Université Cheikh Anta Diop in Senegal, and the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Nairobi in Kenya.
Dr Nouzha Chekrouni, Academic Director of Leadership Programmes at the Public Policy School at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, described TAL as a programme designed for African leaders seeking to contribute to the continent's transformation.
“TAL is a bold, first-of-its-kind programme designed for African leaders who want to help shape the continent’s transformation. From self-mastery to systemic change, it equips participants with the mindset, tools and rigour to navigate disruption, challenge existing systems and lead with greater impact,” she said.
Participants will work with scholars, policymakers, practitioners and fellow professionals from across Africa, bringing different regional and professional experiences into the learning process.
The programme also includes an applied component through a collaborative capstone project focused on building a regional value chain. The project will give participants an opportunity to translate ideas on industrialisation, economic integration and AfCFTA into practical initiatives.
TAL is open to African citizens, including those living and working outside the continent. Applicants are not required to hold a university degree, with relevant professional and leadership experience forming an important part of the selection process.
Applications for the 2027 cohort are now open.
More information, including the programme brochure and application details, is available at www.taljourney.com.
