In the wake of the COVID pandemic and global economic crisis, Africa, more so than most parts of the world, is experiencing high inflation, increased poverty levels, and large-scale unemployment, particularly among its majority youthful populations. National budgets are severely constrained by foreign debt hampering progress on key human development indicators. More than 30 African countries currently spend more annually on serving their international debt than on health care.

This was the context of the four-day Harvard Ministerial Forum which convened invited Ministers with human development related responsibilities from across Africa. Facilitated by senior Harvard faculty with the support of distinguished adjunct faculty of former heads of government and cabinet ministers from around the world, the Harvard Ministerial Forum is designed to elevate Ministers’ ambitions for their term in office, harnessing their authority to lead transformative change in critical areas of human development.

A central tenet of the Ministerial Forum is that human development is foundational to economic growth. Under current circumstances, prospects for major new investment in human development are limited, but participating Ministers were supported in drawing up plans for increased efficiency, budget reallocation, and other cost savings in delivery of health, education, and other critical social services. Ministers also explored innovative financing ideas including public private partnerships, as well as the potential benefits of new and emerging technologies.

Ministers were encouraged to think beyond their sectors and aim for impactful reforms that could change the development trajectory of their countries. Key sessions, such as “Leading with Purpose” and “Mapping Legacy,” challenged participants to envision sustainable changes in their respective sectors. The Forum also delved into core leadership skills like political navigation, adaptive leadership, and effective communication. Critical to the success of any plan is an effective implementation strategy and strong management. The Forum emphasized on the need for government ministers to collaborate across Ministries and sectors to optimize available budget and impact. As part of their takeaway plan, Ministers also developed a delivery strategy.

In addition to input from several high-level contributors, including World Trade Organization Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Forum discussions were informed by several country-specific case studies and practical planning exercises geared to assist Ministers in translating ideas into practice. A self-assessment competency evaluation at the end of the Forum demonstrated that participating Ministers had gained substantially in how to exercise transformative leadership in government and collaborate across sectors to realize big ideas. The Ministerial Program will continue to engage with the Ministers and their senior leadership teams to support them in the implementation of the goals and the delivery plans they mapped during their time at Harvard.