INVESTING IN THOUGHT LEADERS FOR
AFRICA’S RENEWAL
Need to address:
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Serious leadership deficit on continent
Contribute towards rebuilding African political
institutions , those for commerce, trade and
investment
Address persistent problem of African
underdevelopment
Contribute towards policy development on critical
challenges facing the continent
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A public service and non-profit African
organisation
TMIAL is a partnership between Unisa and
Thabo Mbeki Foundation
Dedicated to investing in and cultivating
thought leaders for African’s renewal
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Africans must be empowered to become masters of their
own destiny and transform the world - Paolo Freire’s
Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Africa is capable of providing African solutions to African
problems
Rebuild African institutions to consolidate democracy and
create appropriate democratic systems
Africa must claim the 21st century for the reconstruction and
development of all African countries
TMIAL envisages a future when Africa , as a birth place of
all humanity, would become the place to nurture the human
spirit
1 Paradigm shift re how Africans views
themselves are viewed by others
2. Increase in high quality scholarship and
research on African issues
3. African contribution to global issues
4. African political rebirth and development
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Investing in and liberating thought
leaders for Africa’s renewal
To become the centre of choice for research,
teaching, learning and dialogue by
African thought leaders to achieve the
African Renaissance
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African ownership of policy agenda
Sustainable African resource management
Governance and responsibility to ensure African peace,
stability and development
Harnessing Science and technology for African’s
renewal
Africa (including Diaspora)’s place in the world:
working towards an agenda of integration
Gender integration and social justice for Africa’s
renewal
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Combination of leadership training with
specialized knowledge in selected areas critical
to Africa’s development
Recruiting and utilizing world renowned/
leading scholars
Becoming a unique knowledge resource
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Professionals in different fields
Members of different political parties
Civil servants and civil society activists
Women and gender activists
Students and youth
Spiritual/religious leaders and activists
Students:
Under graduate and post graduate students
• Next phase: high school pupils
• Next phase: primary school pupils
• Last phase: pre-primary/elementary level
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Community members:
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‘Learners’ without high level of formal education
CBOs, FBOs, NGOs, etc and their leadership
Youth out of school
Researchers from outside continent needing to
learn about Africa from Africa/Africans
African governments
International NGOs, etc
International organizations:
UN, AU, NEPAD Secretariat, etc
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A sense of strong African identity (afro
centrism)
Possessing the best attributes of an empowered
and authentic African leadership
Empowered to act as organizers and catalysts
for change for Africa’s renewal
Empowered to become global citizens
A commitment to serve humanity
1. Training, capacity building and knowledge
generation: short courses; and under-grad, M& D
students
2. Seminars, conferences and public events by
outstanding African personalities/scholars
3. Research and publications on important issues
facing Africa
4. Become a global think tank on African issues
5. ‘Presidential’ Library and Museum
6. Outreach programmes and
7. Development of networks of those passionate about
African Renaissance
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Finalize names and number of short
courses/modules
Secure commitment from subject matters
specialists to finalize outstanding work
Clear brief to module writers
Draft Form III for each module
Formalize date for completion of all tasks.