International Development CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Integrated Disaster Management

Sub Saharan Africa has an optimistic forecast for its economic future—all current analyses suggest that the availability of resources, emerging young and educated populations and the abundance of uncultivated agricultural land mean the region could enjoy excellent economic growth. However regional Governments are voicing one increasingly important challenge: how do we ensure the region maximises the benefits that the emerging economic opportunities present for states, communities and individuals? Private sector organisations operating in the region have an aligned challenge: “talent localisation”—how do we get local people managing our local operations; how do we get regional people leading our regional operations? This has become an increasingly repeated and pressing strategic concern. Corporates can no longer accept the lack of sustainability and cost of having to use ex-pats to lead their regional operations. At the same time they do very much want the reputational and cost benefits of building skills in their local employees.

The solution to these challenges lies in talent development—but there is little or no institutional leadership, management or professional development outside of South Africa. Indeed the SA Business Schools—as a result of their traditional business model—find it financially non-viable to be designing and delivering learning for these emerging economies. But we have to address the emerging professional middle management—the backbone of any emerging economy—if the region is going to benefit from these opportunities. DFID can play a role in this essential development opportunity through the support of public and private sector leadership, management and professional education.

IDM’s ambition is to help shape the future generation of leadership and management capability and so realise the economic opportunities in the region. IDM is establishing a new educational institution targeted to respond exactly to these challenges.

1 June 2012