Kenyan among three 2022 Mo Ibrahim leadership fellows
Kenyan Joe Lemaron is one of three emerging African leaders chosen by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation for the 2022 Ibrahim Leadership Fellows.
The seasoned development professional was joined by Guinea Bissau's Ilsa Cá e Sá and Tabitha Namulinda of Uganda.
The three will participate in one-year mentoring programmes at leading multilateral institutions. Mr Lemaron will work with the African Development Bank; Ms Sá with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa; and Ms Namulinda with the International Trade Centre.
Under the programmes, fellows will gain technical and leadership skills while contributing directly to research and policy design.
A special feature of the programme is the opportunity to benefit from direct mentorship from the heads of the host organisations.
Ms Sá is a graduate in international relations, with a master’s degree in international cooperation and development studies from the Technical University of Lisbon.
She has programme management expertise, having led development projects in Guinea-Bissau in areas such as food security and youth and civic leadership.
Ms Namulinda is an international trade lawyer and an enrolled advocate working with Uganda's ministry of foreign affairs.
She has been a negotiator in Geneva, Switzerland, representing Uganda in trade negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
For his part, Mr Lemaron boasts extensive experience in leading strategies in digital transformation, programme management, policy innovation, capacity strengthening, corporate communications and building impactful partnerships.
He becomes only the second Kenyan to be part of the fellowship, in the footsteps of Maureen Were, who was part of the 2013 cohort and trained at the WTO.
“I’m thrilled to welcome the 2022 Ibrahim Fellows to the Foundation family. Through this programme, they will develop their expertise and gain first-hand experience in working on critical issues facing Africa today.
I wish them all the best for what is set to be a transformative year," said Mo Ibrahim, founder and chairperson of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.
Jendayi Frazer, head of the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships programme, said: “Many congratulations to our new cohort of Fellows, who have been selected from a shortlist of exceptional candidates. I look forward to engaging with Joe, Ilsa and Tabitha, and indeed learning from their expertise over the next year."
Some 31 fellows from across Africa, including this year’s cohort, have participated in the programme since 2012.
Upon completing their placements, fellows become members of the foundation’s Now Generation Network (NGN), a coalition of young and mid-career Africans from all 54 countries on the continent who are committed to moving its development agenda forward.
The foundation was established in 2006 with a focus on the critical importance of political leadership and public governance in Africa.
By providing tools to support progress in leadership and governance, the foundation aims to promote meaningful change through defining, assessing and enhancing governance and leadership through five main initiatives.
They include the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, Ibrahim Governance Weekend, Ibrahim Fellowships and Scholarships and Now Generation Network.
Applications for the 2023 fellowships will open in August. BY DAILY NATION

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