About

About the Programme

The AIG Public Leaders Programme is a flagship leadership capacity building initiative designed to equip public sector leaders across Africa with the capabilities required to lead effective change. Delivered in partnership with the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, the programme offers an immersive, world-class executive education experience.

The programme is designed to ensure that public sector leaders rapidly acquire critical leadership, policy, and management skills. Participants are equipped with robust conceptual frameworks and practical tools to effectively navigate the complexities of the public institutions in which they operate, and to lead effectively within increasingly dynamic and evolving governance contexts.

The experience is intensive and highly interactive, combining faculty-led discussions with practical exercises, simulations, and collaborative group work. Through this approach, the programme develops the capacity of participants to foster cultures of excellence, effectiveness, and integrity within the public institutions they lead, generating measurable benefits for their organisations and for national development.

Core Programme Focus

• Negotiating in the public interest
• Harnessing digital technology
• Strengthening public organisation
• Integrity in public life
• Communication and narrative power

Capstone Project

To maximise learning outcomes, the programme provides structured opportunities for participants to integrate skills and conceptual frameworks acquired across sessions through capstone project work, peer learning, and guided reflection. Following several weeks of blended instruction, participants are given dedicated time to design and develop a capstone project, enabling them to translate programme insights into practical, workplace-based initiatives that address real policy and institutional challenges within their respective organisations.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a citizen of any African country and actively working within the public sector in Africa
• Have a minimum of 7 years of public sector work experience
• Be at Grade-level 13 and above
• Be between 35 and 54 years old

Application Milestones

Milestone	Date
Applications Open	20 February 2026
Applications Close	12 April 2026
Stage 1 – Computer-Based Tests	May 2026
Stage 2 – Essays Submission	4th week of May 2026
Stage 3 – Video Interview	3rd week of June 2026
Final Selection	August 2026
Programme Commencement	October 2026

How to Apply

Apply directly on the AIG Public Leaders Programme website. Project summaries from previous cohorts (Cohorts 1 to 4) are available for download on the programme website.