Our Approach
Increasing youth inclusion in public governance
Emerging Public Leaders has been preparing young leaders for public service for fifteen years, starting in Liberia and expanding to Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and most recently Sierra Leone. We have trained hundreds of young people, and have a dynamic network of more than 500+ young professionals in five countries.
We continue to evolve and adapt our proven model to each country's context. At the core, this involves meritocratic recruitment and selection, a one or two-year work placement, continual on-the-job training, mentoring, performance evaluation, and community engagement.
Working in Partnership
We partner with civil service agencies to identify professional skills gaps and rigorously select, train, and support ethical and exemplary young leaders to meet those needs.
We work closely with our government partners to make sure these young people are in permanent roles that are inspiring and meaningful. We also place leaders in civil society organizations that are influencing public policy and delivery.
“The results of the survey and interviews indicate that PYPs typically move up the civil service career ladder more rapidly than their non-PYP peers with equivalent education.”
Our Priorities
Good Governance
To train ethical and innovative leaders, practicing and promoting transparency, accountability, and excellence at all levels.
Capacity Development
To build the technical capacity of young African public sector professionals and provide pathways to continued professional development opportunities.
Youth Leadership
To amplify youth leadership voices and increase youth engagement in decision-making processes about public services.
Climate Change
To leverage diverse leaders educating on the impacts of climate change in African communities and drive meaningful policy change.
Gender Diversity & Inclusion
To increase the number of women and young people from minority groups into leadership positions in Africa’s public service and promote the diversity of the population.
Peace and Security
To ensure lasting peace and security through critical investments in the capacity of civil servants and the democracies they uphold.
Our Impact
52%
Women in current cohorts.
91
Ministries, departments, and agencies hosted Fellows, alongside CSOs and private sector organizations.
476
Mentors, supervisors, and facilitators supported Fellows’ career journeys.
131
Fellows successfully graduated in Ghana, Kenya, and Liberia in 2024. .
2,325
Applications from young graduates seeking full-time employment in public service.
95%
Completion rate of fellowship programs across all countries.
