When Daniel Naftal Lema arrived at the African School of Governance (ASG), he carried with him a question that had been sitting with him for years. Growing up in Tanzania, he observed governments and institutions investing significant resources into addressing the continent’s challenges, only to see many of the same issues re-emerge years later. He wanted to better understand why, and more importantly, to gain the tools to contribute meaningfully to long-term solutions.
His experience reflects a broader conversation taking place across the continent. Many employers continue to highlight gaps between the skills graduates possess and the evolving needs of African institutions and economies. Beyond technical expertise, there is also growing recognition of the need for leadership education that is deeply connected to Africa’s governance realities and development priorities.
In 2022, H.E. Paul Kagame and H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn came together around this challenge and founded the African School of Governance. The institution was established to help shape a new generation of African leaders equipped to navigate complex public challenges with both academic rigor and practical experience.
One of ASG’s flagship programmes is the Master of Public Administration (MPA), which currently brings together 48 students from 14 African countries. Each student contributes perspectives shaped by their own country’s governance realities, policy environments, and institutional experiences.
The programme is built on the conviction that effective public leadership is best developed at the intersection of theory and practice. Through ASG’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programme, students engage directly with policymakers and institutions to explore issues such as public sector reform, system leadership, policy implementation, and governance in complex political environments.
Throughout the programme, students visit leading organisations to observe how policy is shaped and implemented in practice. Policymakers and practitioners from across the continent also engage directly with students in the classroom, sharing insights drawn from real leadership experience.
ASG’s faculty bring experience from African governments, regional institutions, and international development organizations. Guest practitioners include leaders actively shaping public institutions across the continent today, ensuring that classroom learning remains closely connected to contemporary governance realities.
The programme is designed for mid-career civil servants moving toward senior leadership, emerging graduates preparing for careers in public service, and professionals from the private and development sectors seeking to contribute more directly to governance and public leadership. Students arrive from across Africa, bringing with them a wide range of political systems, institutional cultures, and lived experiences.
Through ASG’s partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, merit-based and needs-based scholarships are available to help ensure that talented and promising candidates can access the programme regardless of economic background. ASG believes the next generation of African public leaders should be identified and supported based on their potential and commitment to public impact.
“For Africa to rise, we must build institutions, not just individuals,” H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda and Co-Founder, African School of Governance.
Africa’s future will depend in part on institutions capable of preparing leaders with the depth, context, and practical grounding required to navigate increasingly complex public challenges. ASG was founded as part of that effort.