The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), in partnership with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), University of Pretoria, announce the Africa Sustainability Leadership Programme (ASLP), now open for applications. The ASLP is a flagship international programme designed to equip senior leaders with the capabilities required to drive sustainable transformation across Africa and beyond.
The programme responds to Africa’s rapidly evolving socio-economic landscape, which increasingly requires leaders who can operate across systems, sectors, and scales. The ASLP is a four-month leadership journey that combines online, in-person, and applied learning, enabling senior executives to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations, sustainable finance, and systems thinking into strategic decision-making.
Co-delivered by CISL and GIBS, the programme aims to move leaders from awareness to agency in sustainability, empowering them to lead resilient growth within African contexts while remaining globally relevant. The ASLP offers a unique hybrid format that combines virtual learning with in-person modules. Participants will engage in sessions at the GIBS campus in South Africa and at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, creating a rich, immersive, and globally informed learning experience.
Developing Transformational Leadership for Africa’s Future
The Africa Sustainability Leadership Programme is specifically designed for senior decision-makers from the corporate, public, and development sectors who influence capital allocation, policy direction, governance, and long-term strategy at national and continental levels.
Through a diverse cohort of experienced participants, the programme fosters peer learning, collaboration, and cross-sector engagement, ensuring that leaders are equipped to address complex sustainability challenges collectively.
Key developmental outcomes of the programme include:
- Building systems thinking and contextual intelligence to navigate sustainability complexity
- Strengthening the integration of ESG, finance, and organisational culture into strategy
- Enhancing reflective and ethical leadership capacity
- Enabling collaborative, cross-sector problem-solving
- Fostering long-term commitment to sustainability impact within and beyond organisations
Driving Sustainable Impact at Scale
The programme places strong emphasis on reflective practice, collaborative intelligence, contextual relevance, and systems thinking—ensuring that participants not only gain technical knowledge but also deepen their leadership purpose and ability to influence transformation ethically.
By bringing together leaders from business, finance, policy, and civil society, the ASLP creates enduring networks that extend beyond the programme, supporting ongoing collaboration and collective action on sustainability challenges.
Applications for the Africa Sustainability Leadership Programme are open on a rolling basis, with candidates encouraged to apply early. For full programme details, fees and to apply, visit the Africa Sustainability Leadership Programme (ASLP) website or email Sibusiso Nkomo.