Leadership and Management in International Development

Overview

The ILI’s Leadership and Management in International Development seminar will empower participants to become more effective leaders and managers in an international development context. International development work typically involves multi-stakeholder cooperation and delivery in challenging environments. The seminar was designed to target governments from developing countries as well as practitioners in the international development community. The seminar tailors leadership and management training as it pertains to the public service sector and public sector reform. The most crucial skills to be developed include leadership and decision-making, organizational management, human capital development, negotiations, navigating through political waters, and effective communications. The case studies in the seminar are designed to address key issues in international development.

Certification

Upon successful completion of the seminar, each participant will be awarded a Certificate of Completion. Successful completion requires that a participant diligently attend all seminar sessions promptly and on time throughout the seminar, read all assignments, and participate in all group discussions and exercises. If a number of sessions are missed without proper reason, the ILI reserves the right to withhold certification.

Format

This seminar is currently offered in-person. Special requests to attend online must be submitted by email as early as possible. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the overall experience of each participant and the larger group. In-person seminars, even when being joined online, run from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm Washington, D.C., time.

Course Outline

Leading Teams and Organizations

• Developing personal leadership competencies: self awareness; courage; vision; strategic and analytical thinking; learning agility; decisiveness; energy; results driven; credibility; influence; communication
• Planning for and achieving team and organizational results
• Building and maintaining relationships
• Recognizing human potential and delegating appropriately
• Building diversity
• Fostering innovation
• Handling risks, changes, complications and conflicts
• Cultural adaptation

Managing Teams and Organizations

Team and organizational management skills in respect to change, communication, conflict, constraint, crisis, decision, finances, human resources, information, operations, perception, performance, process, projects and programs, quality, resources, risk, skills, and strategy

Leadership and Management in International Development Work

• Meeting donor and other key stakeholder requirements
• Building strong relationships with strategic partners
• Executing in challenging political environments
• Working with limited resources
• Institutionalizing open and participatory communication channels

Course Coordinators

Dr. Gerhard Botha is a Senior Advisor at the International Law Institute where he was formerly the Director of Programs. Before joining the ILI, he worked for the World Bank as a senior sector specialist in legal and judicial reform and private and financial sector development. Gerhard specialized in labour/employment law and relations, conflict resolution and negotiations, both in private practice and within a large corporate environment in Southern Africa. At the start of his career, he served as a Law Officer in the Army, subsequently as a Public Prosecutor, and then as a State Attorney in the Department of Justice in South Africa. Dr. Botha has over 36 years of experience in legal and labor relations practice, and in international development. Gerhard holds a B.A. and an LL.B degree from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, an LL.M in labour law from the University of South Africa, and an LL.M focusing on labour/employment law and alternate dispute resolution from the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. He also holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University.

Jeff Ziarnik is the Director of Training Programs at the ILI. He is a lawyer, educator, and international development specialist. During his time at the ILI, he has organized and coordinated over 150 high-level legal and international development training seminars. He has a J.D. from the Western Michigan University Cooley School of Law and is a member of the Virginia State Bar. While in law school, he worked as a law clerk in Bucharest, Romania. Prior to law school, Jeff was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in The Gambia.