Emerging Security Sector Leaders Seminar: Leadership in the Time of Uncertainty

Virtual Academic Program

June 8–30, 2021

English | Français | Português | عربي

Session 1  |  June 8, 2021

Keynote Address: Adaptive Leadership: Why It Matters in Times of Uncertainty

Presented by:

  1. H. E. Olusegun Obasanjo
  1. Ms. Michelle Ndiaye

Objectives:

  • Examine the role of adaptive leadership in volatile and uncertain security environment and crisis.
  • Discuss the core institutional and personal attributes that would make leaders in security sector to effectively adapt to uncertain security environment and respond proactively and iteratively, e.g., anticipation, articulation, adaptation, accountability.
  • Share how such attributes of adaptive leadership could be acquired by security sector leaders.

Discussion Questions:

  • In what ways are the principles of adaptive leadership relevant to African security sector actors and the complex environment in which they operate?
  • What are some of the examples where African security sector leaders have incorporated the concept of adaptive leadership in how their organizations and / or countries operate?
  • In an environment of state fragility or vulnerability, which faces many African countries, how can the concept of adaptive leadership help in the building effective security organizations?
  • Are there acquired skills that make leaders more effective in deploying adaptive leadership style in performance of their responsibilities?

Recommended Reading:

Session 2  |  June 15 2021

Anticipating Unexpected Security Challenges and Crises

Presented by:

  1. H.E. Ms. Kamissa Camara
  1. Dr. Mehari Taddele Maru

Objectives:

  • Examine how institutions and leaders anticipate trends (e.g., megatrends such as climate change, population growth, technological innovation, migration, urbanization, pandemics etc.) and patterns that may result in dynamic changes to the security landscape.
  • Discuss ways in which the development of the National Security Strategy can serve as a tool for anticipating the unexpected threats in the security sector.
  • Discuss the need for developing inclusive and centralized foresight capabilities that are guided by a proactive forward-looking approach to anticipate the unexpected crises in security sector.

Discussion Questions:

  • What major security crises have faced your country recently? Do you think these crises were adequately anticipated and proactively planned for?
  • How are security challenges identified, anticipated, and prioritized by your government?
  • What kinds of unexpected security threats do you think would be likely to face your country?
  • Is there a foresight capabilities system developed to anticipate the unexpected crises in security sector in your country?
  • How can a national security strategy help to anticipate and prioritize future security threats in your country?

Recommended Reading:

Session 3  |  June 22, 2021

Responding to Unexpected Security Challenges and Crises

Presented by:

  1. Lieutenant General Birame Diop
  1. Dr. Fairlie Chappuis

Objectives:

  • Examine why some leaders succeed in responding effectively to volatile and uncertain security environments.
  • Examine challenges and opportunities that adaptive leadership can offer to proactively confront unknown and unexpected security threats.
  • Discuss how National Security Strategy development can serve as a practical tool for addressing unexpected threats.
  • Share lessons learned from leaders’ past responses to unexpected security challenges like terrorist attacks, economic shocks, riots, and popular protests and pandemics.

Discussion Questions:

  • What is the experience of your country in approving and adopting the NSS
  • Can you share your experience of an unexpected security crisis that recently faced your country? How it was responded to and what was the role of government leaders?
  • What do you think could have been done differently in responding to and addressing this unexpected security crisis?
  • What elements of adaptive leadership can you identify in the response, or do you think could have helped to better respond to this challenge?
  • How might having a national security strategy give leaders an advantage in dealing effectively with unforeseen security challenges?

Recommended Reading:

Session 4  |  June 29, 2021

Leveraging Partnerships in Responding to Unexpected Security Challenges

Presented by:

  1. Ambassador Fatima K. Mohammed
  1. Ambassador (ret.). Phillip Carter III

Objectives:

  • Examine the importance of partnership and collective action in mobilizing and coordinating responses to unexpected security challenges and crises.
  • Share lessons learned from Ebola and COVID-19, as well as more traditional security challenges such as the exponential rise of violent extremism, transnational organized crime and climate change, for leaders to leverage partnership and improve aid coordination in response to unexpected security threats and crisis.
  • Discuss why some countries and regions were more successful than others in leveraging partnerships and external assistance to mitigate these complex challenges.

Discussion Questions:

  • Can you share the experience of an unexpected security crisis faced by your country; what was the role of external actors (African and non-African actors) in supporting the national response to this crisis? How important was the role of external actors and why?
  • Can you identify an example of an externally sponsored security engagement or exercise that did not align with your country’s needs at that time? What was the result? How might that opportunity for partnership have been better used to meet national priorities?
  • How can African countries make the best out of their partnerships with external actors to respond to unanticipated security challenges? How can adaptive leaders leverage partnership, mobilize and align external support to national strategic security interests and vision?

Recommended Reading: