New initiative supports African mayors to transform their cities

31 January 2023 – The African Mayoral Leadership Initiative (AMALI) has unveiled its plans to catalyze the transformation of cities across Africa. The initiative will provide tailored support to African city leaders, drawing on the experience of a distinguished group of coaches including former heads of state, government ministers, and mayors with a legacy of transformation.

The first cohort of mayors taking part in the AMALI City Leadership Program recently gathered for an intensive, four-day leadership forum held at the University of Cape Town, among them GPM Executive Committee member Mayor Manuel de Araujo of Quelimane, Mozambique. The forum marked the start of a year-long program that will support the participating mayors to develop their visions for their cities and identify the teams and tools needed to realize them.

The initiative was created by the African Centre for Cities (ACC) at the University of Cape Town and Big Win Philanthropy and has since been joined by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide African mayors participating in AMALI with data support including technical assistance, access to data experts, and workshops. The goal is to enhance their use of data to deliver better results to residents. AMALI aims to ensure African cities become vibrant, productive, and liveable hubs that drive economic growth.

For more information, please refer to the Youtube film reflecting the discussion at the end of the inaugural AMALI City Leadership Forum including AMALI Co-Chair and Founding Director of the African Centre for Cities (ACC) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), Edgar Pieterse; AMALI Co-Chair and Founder and President of Big Win Philanthropy, Jamie Cooper; Head of Government Innovation Programs at Bloomberg Philanthropies, James Anderson; Former Prime Minister of Mozambique, Luísa Dias Diogo; Mayor of Lusaka, Zambia, Chilando Chitangala; and Mayor of Quelimane, Mozambique, Manuel de Araújo, member of the Executive Committee of the Global Parliament of Mayors. 

Click here to read the press release of AMALI.