The unique Strategic Leaders Programme by the British Council is transforming Africa's leaders through inspirational approaches to learning and extensive international and cross-continental networking.

If you are looking for a leadership programme that really delivers in its ability to bring about not just change but real transformation, the Strategic Leadership Programme offers all this and more.

Designed for leaders at or near the top of an organisation in the private, public or NGO sector in Sub-Saharan Africa or the UK, the British Council's Strategic Leaders Programme (SLP) offers fresh, inspiring and effective leadership knowledge.

Each Strategic Leadership Programme is made up of two learning modules in the UK and sub-Saharan Africa, separated by a two-month period where participants put into practice what they have learned.

The SLP facilitators are highly respected practitioners from Africa and the UK and the aim of the programme is to offer a fresh and creative way to approach key issues in Africa and the UK.

In the first module, participants are introduced to the 3Ps concept, hearing from African and British leaders who have successfully applied the Profit, Planet and People principle. Participants also get the opportunity to discover how the Foundation Tools of Deep Intent, Ubuntu or 'humanity towards others', Appreciative Inquiry, Storytelling and Take a Stand can help transform their approach to leadership.

A key outcome for those on the programme is choosing a Breakthrough Initiative (see inset box below). Described as "a positive change" that the participant will personally introduce to their organisation as a result of being part of the SLP, the Breakthrough Initiative evolves out of what each person most wants to achieve.

The first module also includes a Discovery Event, with an introduction to the inspiring work of young leaders from the UK who are making a difference to their community.

As a residential programme, participants are given the opportunity to form strong and lasting relationships with, and to absorb fresh ideas from, people who face similar professional challenges. To further foster relationships, there is also a Networking Event where key British Council staff and their contacts from public, private and NGO sectors give those on the programme an opportunity to further expand their networks.

What differentiates the SLP, says Tom Hinton, the British Council's Director for Professional Development for sub-Saharan Africa, is that the programme "recognises that the starting point for leaders is the passion they have for creating change."

"SLP works with powerful tools, inspiring guest speakers, and the support from fellow participants to help the leader focus this passion on a breakthrough initiative," he adds.

Putting these tools and concepts to work is integral to the programme and the period between modules gives the participants a chance to see how well they work in practice. With the network of leaders that they have built, as well as ongoing access to the British Council faculty, individuals are able to benefit from immediate support and help as they focus on bringing their Breakthrough Initiatives to life.

The second module, which takes place in either Nairobi or Cape Town, focuses on how the principles of Transformational Management can work for the individual personally, for their organisation, and even beyond. Participants are taken through an understanding of how innovative advanced leadership tools that include Organisational Transformation, Whole System Shifting and the Tipping Point can flow down through their organisation.

Practical illustrations of how these tools have been successfully applied will be provided through exposure to CEOs and SLP alumni from Africa and the UK, reinforcing the concept of building a community of leaders. Another Discovery Event, conducted with young leaders from either Kenya or South Africa, as well as a networking event in-country is also part of the module. At the core of this module, however, will be the opportunity for the individual, with the help of both the facilitators and their peers, to develop their Breakthrough Initiative to Full Spectrum and Large Scale status.

The SLP offers its participants transformational leadership skills and entry into a wider pool of leaders who have discovered how to bring out the best in themselves and their organisations.

For participants, their leadership journey doesn't end with the Programme. As an alumnus of SLP, they will be expected to continue with the process of making sure that their Breakthrough Initiative succeeds.

In so doing, they also play their part to bring the benefits of SLP and transformational leadership to their organisation and networks. As an SLP champion, each alumnus will continue the process of helping to build an inspiring global community of leaders with a new vision.

The SLP is an exciting programme, says Hinton.

"It has shown that it can help leaders refresh their vision for their organisations, and it gives them the skills, network and inspiration to make the vision happen."

The eight-day Strategic Leaders Programme is an innovative programme that focuses the skills of professionals. The programme has been run for four years in the UK and in 20 African countries including Malawi, Botswana, Cameroon and Mauritius.

It is suited to many kinds of individuals across a variety of industries and today over 3,500 leaders use the tools they learned through the SLP and its knowledge sharing networks to understand better their own role as leaders, and to bring out the best in their teams.

For the British Council, ideal participants include experienced and successful leaders of organisations; professionals looking to give themselves and their organisation an edge; professionals wanting to widen their network of senior business contacts in Africa and the UK; those who would like to enhance corporate social responsibility in their country or organisation; and those professionals who prefer an interactive and lively style to trainer-driven lectures.

According to John Payne, the British Council's Director of Education, Science and Society, SLP offers the chance to 'be the pebble which is thrown into the water and starts the ripples - and this is very exciting.'

As a robust programme that delivers tangible outcomes, the SLP provides participants with skills to help them understand and motivate their work force, to accelerate sustainable change inside and outside their organisations, and provides tools that show how to achieve the new triple bottom line: people, plant and profit.

The senior level networking opportunities afforded by the programme encourage engagement with and learning from others within and across multi-cultural environments, teaching participants to lead change with a new focus, energy and understanding and to generate new leadership for the future.