YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa Progress Report for May 1-Sept 30, 2015

The Center is located at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya, and is managed under a public/private partnership between Deloitte and USAID. The Center's purpose is to provide a hub for transformational learning and leadership development for young African leaders. The Center's programs are inclusive and cater to future leaders from diverse backgrounds, including ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender, and disability. Participants aged 18-35 engage in a 12-week program, consisting of a 3-week residential component, an 8-week virtual component, and a 1-week residential wrap-up session. The program focuses on three tracks of study: Business and Entrepreneurship, Civic Leadership, and Public Management. Deloitte and USAID signed the Cooperative Agreement for the implementation of the YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa on May 1, 2015. Due to the planned visit by President Obama, the Center's launch was accelerated, and the first cohort was launched on July 20, 2015. Deloitte's implementation team addressed seven work streams simultaneously to prepare for the visit and the launch of Cohort 1. The Center's facility was designed to encourage innovation and collaboration, with a state-of-the-art learning space. The architectural design was led by MASS Design Group, DLR Group, and Parbat Siyani Interiors Ltd, with furniture sourced from a local company, Victoria Furniture. Other Kenyan companies were contracted to handle electrical grid, network cabling, branding, and technology. The Center has a full complement of staff, including a Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Partnership Manager, Curriculum Director, and other team members. The staff were recruited and hired in advance of the award, with Deloitte using STTA resources to ensure efficient and timely implementation. The YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa has finalized the residential components of two cohorts and begun recruitment for a third. The Center has set the standard for strategic and operational excellence, and its launch was a success, with President Obama visiting the Center on July 26, 2015.