African School of Governance (ASG)

The African School of Governance (ASG) was launched on October 16, 2024, as an advanced graduate university offering courses in leadership, governance, management, and policy drafting and implementation.

After years of groundwork and brainstorming led by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, and other prominent African voices, the African School of Governance was formally launched in Kigali.

History of ASG

For years, Africa has faced major challenges such as poor leadership, lack of policy continuity, and ineffective management of the continent’s resources.

To address these issues, the leaders initially established the African School of Governance Foundation as a platform for discussing solutions to Africa’s leadership crises. This foundation also partnered with the MasterCard Foundation.

In 2022, Kagame and Desalegn conceptualized the African School of Governance as an advanced institution focused on world-class public policy, management, and governance education for current and aspiring leaders across Africa.

Objectives

To equip emerging African leaders with purpose-driven governance skills that align with 21st-century problem-solving.

To develop solutions tailored to the unique challenges of the African continent.

To prepare Africans to create thought-provoking policies that drive impactful change on both the continent and the global stage.

To collaborate with global institutions recognized for governance and management education and adapt these insights to Africa’s unique context.

The African School of Governance also aims to serve as a training ground for African leaders, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to global discussions and problem-solving efforts.

Founders

Paul Kagame

Paul Kagame has served as the president of Rwanda since April 22, 2000. Formerly the leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), an armed group that led a guerrilla campaign in Rwanda, Kagame has held the office of vice president post-genocide and won four presidential elections (2003, 2010, 2017, and 2024).

Though a controversial figure due to his rise to power, Kagame has significantly increased Rwanda’s per capita GDP (purchasing power parity) from $631 in 2000 to an estimated $2,214 in 2020, with forecasts of between $3,242 and $4,454 by the end of 2024, according to data from the World Bank.

His reforms in health, education, and security have yielded substantial results. Kagame has also held multiple regional and global leadership positions, including Rwandan Minister of Defence (July 19, 1994 – April 22, 2000) and Chairperson of the African Union (January 28, 2018 – February 10, 2019).

An advocate for Singapore’s economic model, Kagame promotes similar reforms for Africa. The African School of Governance has partnered with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

Hailemariam Dessalegn

Hailemariam Dessalegn served as Ethiopia’s Prime Minister from 2012 to 2018. He is an advocate for regional integration, conflict resolution, and economic reform. Under Dessalegn’s leadership, Ethiopia grew rapidly and became one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies.

Before his political career, Dessalegn was an academic leader, serving as Dean at Arba Minch University (formerly Arba Minch Water Technology Institute).

Governing Council

The management of ASG includes:

Visitors: Hailemariam Dessalegn and Paul Kagame

Chair: Makhtar Diop

President (Vice-Chancellor): Prof. Kingsley Moghalu

Members: Donald Kaberuka, Hajer Gueldich, Kishore Mahbubani, and Francis Gatare

Programmes

ASG currently offers five academic programs tailored to key sectors shaping global economics and power:

1) Master’s in Public Administration (MPA): A full-time, two-year program.

2) Executive Master’s in Public Administration (EMPA): A part-time, hybrid program completed over three years.

3) Executive Education Programs: Short-term courses for senior executives lasting 2-3 weeks.

4) Senior Leadership Fellowship (SLP): A six-month residency program.

5) Young Leaders Programme (YLP): A six-week program for recent African graduates.

For accreditation, ASG will adhere to existing regulations, with the Higher Education Council (HEC) responsible for accrediting and overseeing academic programs in Rwanda, where ASG is based. This ensures ASG’s certificates and degrees are recognized both within and beyond Africa.

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