Deadline: 20 February, 2020

Do you want to be a part of an international network of emerging leaders focused on responsible and sustainable business practices? Join the Swedish Institute Management Programme (SIMP) Africa.

Sweden is considered one of the leading countries in sustainable business practice. Swedish companies play a prominent role in finding new, innovative ways to integrate social, environmental and ethical concerns into their core business models. But the challenges are global and humanity has a common need for sustainable development.

The programme curriculum revolves around advanced business-related problem solving, seminars and meetings with leading figures in commercial, political and cultural fields. The training also offers on-site company visits. By providing the platform for knowledge sharing, experience exchange and quality networking, the programme aims to challenge traditional approaches, reinforce professional skills, deepen cross-cultural perspectives and unite the participants in a long-lasting and active global network.

The programme, spread over seven months, comprises three weeks of intensive training divided into an introductory module at the Swedish Embassy in each country (Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda or Zambia), a two-week module in Sweden and a concluding five-day module in each of the six countries.

Module 1 (3–5 June, 2020): this module introduces the programme curriculum and topics of focus. Regional business cases create the framework for learning.

Module 2 (12–24 October, 2020): this module offers a deep dive into how sustainable business contributes to innovation, production and increased trust in business on the global market. Topics such as leadership, stakeholder engagement and climate change are explored, and company visits are made. Trainees also have the opportunity to initiate their own business case and receive coaching and peer-feedback.

Module 3 (February 2021): the focus of this module is reconnection with the network and harvesting learnings from the first module. Trainees are given the opportunity to visit and analyse a real business case.

All parts of the programme are mandatory. The programme is intense and includes evening activities.

Benefits

Costs covered and arranged by SIMP include:

• Training and content
• Accommodation, food and domestic transport during the programme
• Flight tickets to and from Sweden
• Insurance covering acute illness and accident when in Sweden

Costs covered and arranged by participants:

• Travel to and from the first and last modules
• Visas costs, when necessary, to all programme modules
• Occasional meals
• Occasional airport transfers
• Insurance when modules are held outside of Sweden

Eligibility

• Applicants should aspire to make sustainability an integral part of their business strategy
• Applicants should be in a leading position within trade, industry or the public sector
• Applicants should have a mandate to influence the business strategy for their organisations
• Applicants should be between 25–45 years old (born 1975–1995)
• Applicants should have a good working knowledge of both written and spoken English
• Applicants should be citizens and residents of Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda or Zambia
• Applicants should be able to take part in all aspects of the programme
• Applicants should be willing to pass on competencies and knowledge they gain from the programme

The applications will be evaluated according to the following selection criteria:

• The relevance and quality of personal motivation and commitment, and the applicant’s answers in the application form.
• An assessment of the applicant’s CV
• The general qualifications of the applicant

To apply and for more information, click here.