Building the Africa of the future

08 March 2016

Beatrice Muliahela is Farm Africa's Project Coordinator - Natural Resource Specialist in Tanzania.

"I love this quote by one of the greatest men, Mahatma Gandhi - 'Be the change you want to see in the world'. Successful leadership is about more than being listened to or followed. It is about leading by example, having a passion and purpose, taking risks and being committed to your cause.

Leadership is something I have been thinking about a lot since being selected to take part in the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), a programme launched by US President Barack Obama to empower the next generation of Africans to lead the continent forward.

Throughout the world Africa has often been portrayed as stuck in a cycle of poverty, but coming together with young people from 13 African countries* on a three-week leadership course at the YALI East Africa Regional Leadership Center in Nairobi (pictured above), I was struck by the incredible opportunities that lie ahead. Sharing our thoughts and experiences, we proudly painted a picture of OUR Africa – one that is full of potential, where positive things are happening every day, and where change for the better rests on the shoulders of each and every one of us.

In order for Africa to reach its full potential we need to adjust our mindset – and this is particularly true of women, who have a huge role to play in leading the continent forward through civic engagement. African women have their own voices but many don’t feel confident to share their opinions in the public arena. Women need to overcome this by encouraging and connecting to one another, and men must give us the respect and space we need to express our views.

To be successful leaders we also need to be passionate about what we are doing and have the courage to see things through. Ever since I was a little girl at school I’ve loved nature and my career has been dedicated to protecting the environment.

Today I am a natural resource specialist working with Farm Africa in Tanzania’s Nou Forest. Many people there are reliant on the forest to survive but deforestation is a growing problem as trees are chopped down for timber, firewood and to clear grazing land for animals. My role is to help communities identify ways to earn a living from the forest while protecting its resources for future generations.

Crucial to success is understanding and valuing the views of the people I work with. Sometimes you can come up with a solution to a problem but when you go into the field, it might not work as well as you had hoped. Only through taking into account the perspectives and needs of community members can sustainable, long term solutions be achieved.

Finally, to be good leaders we must make our own decisions and take responsibility for the results. Through YALI I realised that to be a Young African Leader, I mustn’t be afraid to try new things, to embrace innovative ways of thinking and to stand by my convictions. Rather than thinking outside the box, we should all be reinventing our boxes to bring about the change we want to see for the Africa of the future."

*YALI is open to 14 countries - Eritrea was not represented on this occasion.