More than 80 Emerging Public Leaders from across Africa gathered in Margibi County, Liberia for the Alumni Network Gathering. Over two days, participants, united by a shared commitment to ethical leadership, public service excellence, and inclusive growth, reflected on how a growing network of young public servants can shape the future of governance and improve public policy and community initiatives. 

A Reflection by Linda Williamson Eshun on the lessons and learnings from the Emerging Public Leaders Alumni Network (EPLAN) gathering held in Liberia from 2nd to 3rd June 2026.

Esther Emmanuella Spio shares her reflections as a young Ghanaian public servant attending events on the sidelines of the 2026 Skoll World Forum in Oxford.

AfricaXchange 2026 brought leaders together in Nairobi to explore how Africa can move from ideas to action on development, markets, and systems change. In this reflection, two Emerging Public Leaders Kenyan Alumni share what they learned, and how the experience is shaping their thinking on youth engagement and the future of the EPL network.

Across Africa, conversations about financing democracy are growing more urgent. From sovereign endowment funds to diaspora-backed financing mechanisms, new ideas are emerging to reduce dependence on external aid and strengthen democratic institutions. The Governance Consortium’s G20 Sideline Event report explains how youth are the future implementers of these models inside government and are already financing democracy.

This year’s 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) was a vivid reminder that the conversations shaping Africa’s public service leadership happen just as often in small circles and spontaneous side events as in the main plenary. Here are five takeaways for EPL and African leadership from UNGA80:

H.E. former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf met with Rose Wachuka Macharia, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, and Robert Fefegula, the new country director for Emerging Public Leaders of Sierra Leone, on the sidelines of the 4th Nalafem Summit in July.

Emerging Public Leaders participated in the 2025 Ibrahim Governance Weekend in Marrakech in June, the annual convening dedicated to advancing good governance and exploring innovative ways to finance a more sustainable and prosperous future for Africa.