Dr. Soumana Sako (right), ACBF Executive Secretary, and Prof. Rukudzo Murapa (left), Vice-Chancellor of the Africa University, exchanging instruments of the grant agreement.

On 30 November 2007, the ACBF signed a grant agreement of USD 800,000 with the Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance (IPLG) at the Africa University, in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Created in 2003, the Institute represents a response to the need for an African-led initiative that will systematically tap into the tacit and explicit knowledge of former and current African eminent personalities with leadership positions in the political, economic and social spheres. In this regard, the IPLG's Project of Lectures and Workshops in Peace, Leadership and Governance in Africa by Eminent Persons (PEARL) will provide the opportunity for these leaders to share their experiences through public lectures and discussions, and thus make meaningful contributions to the development of future African leaders. The PEARL project aims to provide quality training and research as well as a forum for debates on topical issues, particularly in the areas of peace building, conflict transformation, leadership development and responsive governance.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Soumana Sako, ACBF Executive Secretary, stressed the importance of launching the PEARL project, an African-owned and -led initiative that would bring together former African Heads of State, policy-makers, civil society leaders, and captains of industries, to share their experiences and views on the development of the continent. He indicated that the PEARL project was based on the fourth annual African Presidential Roundtable, organized in April 2006 by Boston University and hosted by the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and which saw the participation of 10 former African Heads of State. He pointed out that, while African countries could learn from lessons of other countries, it was crucial to tap into and effectively utilize the wealth of experience of former and current African leaders. Finally, he added that home-grown solutions were best-suited to address Africa's developmental problems, as was the case of Malaysia and other emerging countries. In this regard, he noted the planned collaboration between the Foundation and the World Bank to design a program to tap into Malaysia's development experience.

Prof. Rukudzo Murapa, Vice-Chancellor of Africa University, on his part, expressed his gratitude for ACBF's support to the PEARL project. He indicated that the project, which was unique in its approach, was conceived in the context of the University's strategy to create opportunities for debate and analysis of topical issues in the areas of peace building, conflict management, leadership development, social and economic transformation, and responsive governance in Africa. He underscored the importance of documenting wisdom, experiences and ideas of the expanding pool of former African national leaders through the writing of memoirs for the benefit of the young and upcoming generation. He expressed his hope that the program would be decentralized across Africa with a view to reaching all potential candidates for the program.

The four-year grant will strengthen IPLGs capacity to implement the PEARL project; harness and utilize a wide range of inputs from African past and present political and opinion leaders in the methods of training future leaders and development managers; and, help achieve IPGL's vision of becoming a Pan-African Center of Excellence on issues relating to peace building, leadership and development strategies in Africa.