As a continent, Africa represents some of the greatest potential in the world for future growth. Natural resources are abundant, and the population is young and fast-growing – what they need are project managers.
The Need
Many low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa, such as Cameroon and The Gambia, are working hard to transform themselves into thriving modern nations with robust middle-income economies. These countries need to revitalize in many key areas, such as infrastructure, human capital, and IT. There are long lists of projects that need doing, from port facilities to high-speed internet to paved roads. In order to succeed, however, these projects all need managers.
What is a Project Manager?
The Project Management Institute (PMI)® website tells us that Project Management is the use of specific knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to deliver something of value to people.[1] This could mean the construction of a facility, such as a new Government building in Banjul, which is just one of 21 high-priority projects The Gambia has identified, or disaster relief in countries such as Nigeria, who experience recurring floods that displace thousands and destroy fields, homes, and villages. It takes experience and skill to drive these sophisticated projects to successful conclusions, and certifications, such as certified Project Management Professional (PMP)®, demonstrate that an individual has the knowledge and training to do so.
Project Managers are responsible for ensuring the timely completion of projects. They manage and track not only tasks, but a project’s budget and timeline. These professional leaders require an intimate understanding of their organization and the skills to ensure that parties from multiple departments work together smoothly to produce a successful project. They interact with mid-and high-level management, subject experts as well as external parties.
African Managers for African Projects
One oft-overlooked aspect of successful project management is the ability of a manager to understand the culture and environment in which a project is taking place. A lack of understanding the community an organization operates in and interacts with can cause project failure as decisively as misunderstanding an organization’s internal culture. And yet, many countries such as The Gambia are having to hire foreign project managers for projects intended to steer them into a brighter future.
Want to Know More?
Check out This PMI® Article!
Human capital is a major concern throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. With 75% of the region’s population under 25, the challenge is in educating and training rather than numbers.[2] A further concern is the lure of foreign opportunity. An example is Dr. Emmanuel Yao Voado, M.D., a talented neurosurgeon from a poor Ghanaian family. He received a scholarship to study in Cuba, where he eventually trained to be a neurosurgeon. He remained abroad to practice for 20 years before returning home and today is a key proponent for a new ultra-modern teaching hospital being built in Accra, Ghana. Although Dr. Voado has brought his considerable talent back, many Africans who receive foreign education remain abroad due to infrastructure challenges at home or for considerably better pay. Ghana, The Gambia, and other African countries need their best talent to remain at home for modernization efforts to be successful, whether they are brain surgeons, engineers, or project managers.
You Can Help!
Like Dr. Voado, Blackbird Global recognizes the need for robust local education that nurtures local talent in order to grow. We have teamed with PMI® to organize quarterly PMP® training in The Gambia and other West African countries to provide these modernizing nations with the trained, local experts they need to succeed – and African youth with a promising career that will steer them and their families out of poverty.
Every donation helps – Donate Now to help Blackbird develop more PMP® training programs throughout West Africa!
[1] https://www.pmi.org/about/learn-about-pmi/what-is-project-management
[2] https://www.pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/pmo-success-in-sub-saharan-africa