It will combine Common Purpose’s innovative approach to leadership development with the unique experience and expertise of the World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid’s Members. The collaboration was announced this week at the World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid’s Annual Conference and Policy Dialogue, where Alison Coburn, Chief Executive, Common Purpose International and Carlos Westendorp, Secretary General of World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations.
Through focused, personal, privileged and generous interaction between the rising generation of leaders and former Heads of State from the World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid, the programme will develop emerging leaders from countries – big and small, developed and developing, struggling and thriving, established and in transition – across the world; equipping them with the inspiration, skills and connections to lead at a global level. Through focused, personal, privileged and generous interaction between the rising generation of leaders and former Heads of State from the World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid, the programme will develop emerging leaders from countries – big and small, developed and developing, struggling and thriving, established and in transition – across the world; equipping them with the inspiration, skills and connections to lead at a global level. The initiative is in line with UN Secretary General recent call to action, to the WLA- Club de Madrid during the ‘Democracy and Human Rights in Decline?’ Policy Dialogue recently held in Florence: “I urge you to look at ways, to seek for space for young people to engage”, Ban Ki-moon said to the 40 former Presidents, Primer Ministers and 100 experts gathered in Florence to analyze the quality of democracy worldwide. In his message he also underlined that today’s young generation “is connected and committed like no generation before”. Check out here the full UN Secretary General video message
The World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid is an international non-profit organisation, the world´s largest assembly of independent political leaders. Over 100 democratic former Presidents and Prime Ministers from more than 60 countries – who act globally by voluntarily bringing their unparalleled political insight, experience and unswerving commitment to democracy to support current leaders as they address the challenges of today and tomorrow. WLA-CdM Secretary General Carlos Westerndorp said after the signature of the memorandum of understanding between the two organizations: “We are very excited and grateful to announce the launch of the new leadership programme. This initiative puts intergenerational learning and innovation for leadership development to work in order to develop powerful policy ideas for addressing local and global challenges to democracy promotion efforts. It will involve global emerging leadership and the skills and first-hand political experience of the Members of the World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid. Its purpose is to create long-lasting relationships and exchanges between leaders of different generations from transitional and transitioned contexts”
Alison Coburn, Chief Executive of Common Purpose International spoke too about the programme:“We are delighted to collaborate with the World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid to launch a leadership programme for emerging leaders – it is a rare opportunity to transfer ideas, know-how and experience across the generations. It will give the participants a chance to explore their thinking and plans with highly experienced and independent political leaders. The aim is to support the next generation to produce new ideas and solutions to tackle both local and global problems”. In delivering the programme, Common Purpose will draw upon its local and global experience developed over 25 years and its unrivalled ability to convene leaders across divides (both old and new), geographies, beliefs and generations.
