Leadership for Change program starts in eight Bolivian cities

CAF -development bank of Latin America-, inaugurated the X version of its Leadership for Change program, with the participation of over 400 natural leaders from eight cities in the country, which come from base, community, and civil society organizations, universities, public institutions (municipalities and governmental bodies), and private institutions. 

The course is carried out in Bolivia, in alliance with the IDEA Foundation, and its objective is to develop the skills of leaders so that they can change the political and social realities of the national, local, or regional spaces where they act. From the start, nine years ago, the program has trained 6,000 local leaders. 

During the inauguration of the program, Emilio Uquillas, CAF´s Director Representative in Bolivia, asked participants to consider the financial institution as a strategic ally to support future initiatives and projects they seek to develop in their regions. 

Speaking for all participants, Felipe  Sandoval, student from El Alto, highlighted the importance that training in leadership issues has for all those who lead all types of civil organizations, social or of another nature. He stated, "I am sure that by the end of the course we will be more competitive and will be able to contribute to the development of Bolivia". 

At the same time, Christian Asinelli, the financial institution's Director for Institutional Development, highlighted the effort made by the participants of the course. He stated, "At CAF we are convinced that it is the way to change Latin America, each small effort that we can make from the role we play, to change the reality and improve everyone's quality of life". 

IDEA's Executive Director, Karen Longaric, said the program is emblematic, especially because "it trained leaders that have positively influenced their regions, in their neighborhoods or municipalities, and many at a governmental level".  

The course

Leadership for Change is carried out in the cities of Cochabamba, La Paz, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija and Uyuni, and the curriculum includes 12 subject matters, among them: state, public management and decentralization, competitiveness, entrepreneurship and technological innovation, basic knowledge for the development of projects, negotiations and conflict resolution, project evaluation and financing, and sustainable development.  

The program lasts six months, divided into 12 modules agoverned according to the academic regulation. Teachers have Master's and Doctorate Degrees, experts in leadership, public management, economic and social policies and processes, fiscal-financial policies, governance, citizen participation, building consensus, negotitations and conflict resolution, citizenship, human rights, and democracy.  

The diploma is granted by the Universidad Católica Boliviana (Bolivian Catholic University). If participants do not have a Higher Technical Degree or Academic Degree, they receive a Participation Degree supported by CAF and the IDEA Foundation. 

With an approach focused on sustainable development, equity, and gender, the program is organized in a modality that includes 50 percent on-site classes and 50 percent of the classes as videoconferences where participants are provided with the tools that enable them to identify the most relevant needs of their communities and contribute to the change of their immediate context. .