Breakout 2G: Investing in emerging leaders on MSD/PSD programmes

Staffing, including leadership, is critical to the success of programmes that use a systemic approach because these programmes require a different skillset such as critical thinking, innovation, relationship building and the ability to influence. However, investment in leadership development across our industry is missing in two places: (1) investment in current leaders and (2) sustained, intentional and coordinated investment in future leaders.

Recent research shows many of the actions needed to strengthen the leadership pipeline lie with implementing agencies. This session will explore implementer initiatives that have invested their own resources in cultivating future MSD leaders across their organisation. Given the importance of budgeting and resource allocation for such initiatives, the session will also explore donor views on how leadership initiatives can be encouraged and justified.

Holly Krueger and Mike Klassen will summarise insights from recent research on the career pathways of MSD practitioners including the ‘Catalyzing Careers’ study by The Canopy Lab

Ailsa Buckley, Alison Hemberger and Hayden Aaronson will share experiences as champions of internal leadership development initiatives at an organisational level, including the tactics, challenges and results of this work in their respective implementation agencies.