‘Leadership is a privilege’

The Joint Chief Executive Officers (CEO) Forum of the World Federation of Development Finance Institutions (WFDFI) kicked off in earnest on Tuesday with a special interest session on leadership, titled: “The role of leadership in shaping the future of DFIs.”

The session was chaired by Mr. Octavio Peralta, Secretary General of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP). However, it was Ms. Loyiso Ndlovu, Executive Manager-Strategy, Policy and Marketing at the Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa, who delivered thought provoking lessons on leadership.

She kicked off her lecture with a popular Xhosa saying: “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabanye abantu” which means we are who we are because of other people.

“We achieve greatness only because we stand on the shoulders of others. Those stories become our shoulders, our lessons and packages of support. They are our gifts to each other,” she said.

Ms. Ndlovu told delegates that it is a privilege to hold a leadership position in a DFI as DFIs occupy unique positions of power to create and influence change. She added that DFIs require a special kind of leader who can deal with the unique and complex task of balancing multiple and often ambiguous goals. Even with these challenges, DFIs have to be catalytic to facilitate accelerated industrialisation, economic growth and human resource development. They are required to be game changers because their interventions should have an impact and dramatically scale up growth. They also have to be supportive and transformative because their role is all about changing the lives of ordinary people for the better.

“As leaders you must always remember that your role is to effect change, have significant impact and be relevant to the needs of society,” she said.

She further urged DFI leaders to remain true to their catalytic role by rebuilding distressed countries, facilitating better use of natural resources and supporting drought stricken countries.

“Our role as a catalyst is embedded deeply our ability to do what we believe to be right. That is the very nature of a DFI. We must fight to retain that catalytic role,” said Ms. Ndlovu.

She reminded DFI leaders that in playing the role of agents of change they will have to contend with policy and political imperatives. This, she said, will at times compel DFI leaders to address policy incongruence and critically challenge the policy environment within which they work through deep seated analysis and technical capability. She further challenged DFIs to come up with creatively ambitious ideas that will enable them to lead with significance.

“We must be brave and catalytic. We must go beyond ourselves and stretch our own boundaries to find relevance. It is important for us to challenge the status quo in order to leave behind long lasting legacies that we can be proud of. As DFI leaders, I challenge you, over the next few days, to reflect on what role you are playing in responding to the clarion call for leadership in the face of these disruptive headwinds,” said Ms. Ndlovu.

For further clarity or enquiries on the recently held WFDFI Conference kindly contact:

Mr. Leatile G. Bakwena

Communications Manager

Tel: +267 3170895

Cell: +267 72323286

Email: lbakwena@ceda.co.bw