Foundation invests Sh50bn in training leaders in Africa

Africa Capacity Building Foundation provides training in corporate governance and leadership. PHOTO | FILE 

By KIARIE NJOROGE

A Pan-African foundation has in the last two decades spent Sh50 billion to improve governance and administration skills of officers in government and private sector.

Africa Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) trains individuals like lawmakers, civil servants, mid-level managers and private sector board members in governance.

The Harare-based foundation was formed in 1991 by African governments and development partners to build capacity for good governance.

“To make its mark in its initial two decades, ACBF committed investment worth more than US$ 500 million (Sh50 billion),” the foundation says in a statement.

“In Kenya, the most noticeable impact of ACBF’s worthy contribution is the Centre for Corporate Governance (CCG).”

The centre provides training in corporate governance and leadership. Specifically, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) as well as several similar institutions rely on CCG on due diligence for staff appointments, training and recommendation of new directors especially for State corporations.

AFCB was involved in supporting the CCG financially before it became self-reliant from 2011.

The foundation has also given grants amounting to Sh5.3 billion to the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (Kippra) distributed in three tranches with the last ending last year.

“The goal is to support government of Kenya’s efforts in policy analysis and formulation,” AFCB says. The Kenya School of Monetary Studies also received a Sh1.5 billion grant in 2007 from the foundation for a master’s in Banking and Finance