President Paul Kagame is expected today to honor accomplishments of the first 100 graduates, of the Academy for Leadership in Competitiveness and Prosperity (ALCP), an initiative under the OTF Group’s Rwanda Accelerated Competitiveness and Execution (RACE) Programme. 

The development was confirmed yesterday by the OTF Group.

The ALCP programme was created in September 2007 at the request of President Kagame with the purpose of building the capacity of Rwanda’s future leaders by teaching the concepts of competitiveness and strategy development that underpin OTF’s work in Rwanda.

The 100 graduates represent a select group of dynamic young Rwandan professionals who have been given the skills necessary to shape the strategies that will help guide Rwanda’s economic development, help ensure that Rwanda meets its Vision 2020 goals and create prosperity.

Working closely with Vincent Karega, Minister of State for Minerals and Natural Resources who has been a contributor to the ALCP programme, OTF developed a three-part curriculum that focuses on; introducing the theory of competitiveness and competitive strategy; teaching the practical aspects of strategy development such as: strategic decision-making and implementation, industry upgrading, competitive positioning and effective professional communication; and integrating the theory and practical elements of the curriculum through the completion of a capstone project. 

In March 2009, the ALCP graduates formed an alumni network to consolidate the gains made thus far and expand the programme’s reach beyond the individual classes.

The alumni network will serve as a forum to share ideas and best practices from across the spectrum of Rwanda’s ministries, institutions and businesses, discuss challenges individuals are facing in their work and ultimately, it is hoped, become a trusted resource for government leaders on issues of competitiveness.

ALCP alumni have already begun researching on the socio-economic challenges Rwanda faces and are developing a set of recommendations and priority actions to address them. 

During the event today, according to OTF, the group will share some of its findings with the President while at the same time identifying other strategic areas where it can contribute its enthusiasm, expertise and new insights.

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