Strathmore University launched the Center for Sustainability Leadership, together with its pioneering program African Sustainability Leadership Program the first of its kind in Eastern Africa, on 21^st March 2016 at Strathmore Business School.

 

The inaugural African Sustainability Leadership programme developed in partnership with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and the University of Cape Town, will focus on building long-term leadership thinking and provide operational solutions to business challenges in a sustainable way in East Africa. Its agenda is to support business leaders in shaping and adopting more environmentally-friendly and socially inclusive business practices.

“It is our responsibility to train and equip our current and future business leaders with a strong understanding of and the solutions to the challenges we face around sustainable development,” said Dr George Njenga, Dean Strathmore Business School.

 

The Strathmore Centre for Sustainability Leadership will concentrate on research, capacity building, entrepreneurship, policy, governance and stakeholder dialogue on sustainable development.

 

“We must think of the opportunities presented by the global climatic crisis the planet is currently facing to forge partnerships and build leadership capacity which will take center stage in addressing issues pertained in sustainability,” remarked Prof. Richard Calland, Director Africa Initiative at CISL

 

The flagship, African Sustainability Leadership program will offer training to business leaders from different sectors, traversing from fast moving consumer goods, banking, telecommunication, to manufacturing industries in the region.

 

The program aligned to the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations define the need for business leaders through sector-wide collaborations to achieve economic, social and environmental opportunity for all.

 

PRIVATE SECTOR

 

SDGs require the involvement of the private sector, civil society and government to facilitate successful adoption over the set target of 15 years. Countries adopted the set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda.

 

The SDGs seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what they did not achieve. They seek to realise the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental.

 

“The world as we know it is changing drastically. We as business leaders need to play a pivotal role in sustainable development and mitigate the challenges affecting us,” said Mr Geoffrey Odundo, Chief Executive Officer of the NSE who officially launched the centre.

 

The next African Sustainability Leadership training program will take place in November 2016 targeting middle and senior leaders in business, government and civil society.