Forging a Pan-African Partnership for Leadership Development: CORAT Africa and Kingdom Equip Network (KEN) Sign Landmark MoU

On November 14, 2024, CORAT Africa and the Kingdom Equip Network (KEN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a transformative partnership aimed at equipping church leaders across Africa. This collaboration seeks to enhance governance, leadership skills, and operational effectiveness within churches and related organizations. Both organizations share a commitment to Christian values, including faith in Christ, servant leadership, stewardship, unity, accountability, and professionalism. These principles will underpin all joint activities, fostering a partnership that promotes excellence, transparency, and ethical leadership.

CORAT Africa, a Pan-African organization headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, has been a cornerstone for leadership and management capacity building since 1975. It focuses on strengthening the accountability and effectiveness of Christian organizations to address social and evangelistic needs. Similarly, KEN, based in Accra, Ghana, works to promote good governance, accountability, and sustainability within churches and para-church organizations. Together, they aim to address critical challenges such as governance instability, poor resource mobilization, and lack of accountability, ensuring church leaders are well-equipped to fulfill their divine mandates.

The MOU outlines several areas of collaboration, including organizing training programmes, marketing and recruitment, and faculty exchanges. Some of the joint courses to be offered include:

• Corporate Governance;
• Gender and Disability analysis and mainstreaming;
• Succession Planning and Implementation;
• Grant Writing and Report Writing;
• Management Course for Development Coordinators.

Others courses under consideration includes:

• Management Course for Senior Church Administrators/Executives;
• Civil Awareness and Social Audit;
• Sign Language Essentials;
• Management Course for Administrative Secretaries;
• Management Course for Women in Leadership;
• Professional Mediation;
• Strategic Negotiation Skills, and many more.

These programmes are tailored to address contemporary challenges faced by church leaders while fostering innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability within Christian organizations.

KEN will take responsibility for logistical arrangements, such as securing venues, recruiting participants, and managing tuition and accommodation payments, while CORAT Africa will deliver high-quality training, provide materials, and certify participants upon successful completion of programmes. Both organizations will also collaborate on research projects and publications, further contributing to the knowledge base for church leadership in Africa.

The signing of the MOU was facilitated by key representatives from both organizations. Representing KEN were Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Ansah, Convener/Executive Director, and Mr. Henry Prempeh-Eck Esq., Advisor & Fellow for Legal and Educational Priorities. Representing CORAT Africa were Dr. Oliver Kisaka Simiyu, Managing Director, and Dr. Fred Olweny, Programmes Manager. Their collective efforts and expertise were instrumental in formalizing this significant partnership.

This agreement, effective for an initial three-year period, represents a significant step toward strengthening church governance and leadership across the continent. By pooling their expertise, CORAT Africa and KEN aim to empower church leaders to address contemporary challenges and uphold the transformative mission of the Church. This partnership heralds a brighter future for the African church, fostering unity, professionalism, and resilience in fulfilling its mission to serve communities and advance the Gospel.