Transform the learning dynamics in the impact space
A global initiative that aims to facilitate South-south learning and amplify the unheard voices of leaders in the Global South. It combines unlearning, relearning, and exploring to contribute to better, more localised solutions to respond to SDG gaps in the Global South.
Amplify the local wisdom
There are many leaders in the Global South with local knowledge and wisdom who contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but their voices continue to be untapped and unheard, especially those of women, leaders working on a grassroots level, and leaders with disabilities.
Funders have limited access, visibility, and connections to local impact leaders whose knowledge and insights are valuable. This leads to suboptimal solutions for the communities, resulting in inequitable and unsustainable development and growth.
The GLA was created in response to these perpetuating issues.
The Global Leadership Academy aims to
Establish a South-south learning dynamic
Amplify unheard voices of local leaders in the Global South
COmponents
What the Global Leadership Academy is about
South-south platform
Inclusion of unheard voices
Immersive learning experience
Relationship building
Designed serendipity
Ownership and power-sharing
Unlearning
Model
Prototype of the Global Leadership Academy
The Global Leadership Academy (GLA) prototype outlines the process of running the GLA initiative, based on AVPN’s experience of designing and developing it for over 12 months.
In sharing our prototype, we aim to offer a first glimpse of a new model that allows greater access to deeper and locally-rooted insights and wisdom from the Global South. If this resonates with you, we invite you to connect with us to explore the next steps.
On the Ground
The Global Leadership Academy Journey
AVPN has worked with 70+ impact leaders from 17 countries mainly from grassroots communities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to pilot learning spaces that could facilitate relationship-building and learning among them.
(Click on the dots to learn more about our pilots in Istanbul and Lucknow; and our workshops in Abu Dhabi, Bangkok and Mombasa)
Pilot 1: Istanbul, Turkey
25 impact leaders from Indonesia, South Africa,
Brazil, Japan, Germany, Singapore, Turkey and India.
Pilot 2: Lucknow, India
12 impact leaders from India, Kenya,
and Japan – including leaders with disabilities.
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Workshop and sharing by
GLA leaders on an immersive session
South-south Learning Reimagined:
Transforming Knowledge Sharing Among
Impact Leaders.
GLA Workshop #1 in
Bangkok, Thailand
20 impact leaders from Thailand,
Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia,
Philippines, Kenya, Taiwan and Indonesia.
GLA Workshop #2,
Bangkok, Thailand
13 impact leaders from Thailand, Myanmar, Hong Kong, India, Nepal, Sweden, Belgium, Australia and the USA
GLA Workshop in
Mombasa, Kenya
Upcoming GLA workshop from November 06 - 08, 2025
12 impact leaders from India, Kenya, and Japan – including leaders with disabilities.
GLA Workshop #1 in Bangkok, Thailand
20 impact leaders from Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Kenya, Taiwan and Indonesia.
GLA Workshop #2, Bangkok, Thailand
Upcoming GLA workshop from 17 March – 19 March 2025
25 impact leaders from Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil, Japan, Germany, Singapore, Turkey and India.
12 impact leaders from India, Kenya, and Japan – including leaders with disabilities.
GLA at the AVPN Global Conference 2024
The AVPN Global Conference 2024 invited global leadership impact leaders to explore barriers and opportunities in amplifying the voices of hyperlocal impact leaders. Participants engaged in open spaces technology to collaboratively design innovative solutions to bridge the gap of local knowledge in the Global South. GLA impact leaders also shared their experiences and insights from the pilots of the Global Leadership Academy by AVPN, highlighting the significance of facilitating South-south peer learning and amplifying the unheard voices of leaders in the Global South.
GLA NAVIGATORS
Meet the impact leaders
Ivan Vaalbooi
Co-founder, Elsie Vaalbooi Development Organisation
Marlize Swanepoel
Founding Director, sp(i)eel arts therapies collective
Leody Rama Putra Sarmanella
Strategist, Pijar Foundation
Fungi Vuyolwethu Jaxa
Deputy Senior Traditional Leader, Jalamba Traditional Council
Pumza Ndamase
Training and Content Development Manager, Pumza Ndamase
Siphelele Chirwa
Chief Executive Officer, Activate
Jose Kaete
Community Relationship and Sustainable Sourcing Analyst/Indigenous Storyteller and moviemaker, O Território
Aline Odara
Founder, Fundo Agbara
Anna Penido
Executive Director, Centro Lemann
Senzo Hlophe
Director: Partnerships & Impact, iLifa Labantwana
Maritta Rastuti
Chief of Staff, 1000 Days Fund
Rodrigo Ribeiro
Founder, Tecnogueto
Standy Christianto
Program Manager, Borneo Institute
Elsye Suryawan
Chairman, Yayasan Peduli Kemanusiaan Bali (YPK Bali)
Thuane Nascimento
Executive Director, PerifaConnection
Rukmana Suharta
Co-Founder, Partnership, Rumah Bahari Gemilang
Lilly Nitzke
Program Manager, BMW Foundation
Merve Carglar
Executive Director, Vuslat Foundation
Anupama Anand
Program officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Roshini Prakash
Chief Knowledge Officer, AVPN
Rudi Putra
Founder, Conservation Advisor. Forum Konservasi Leuser / The Leuser Ecosystem
Faith Kipkemboi
Founder, Cactus Mama
Christine Kandie
Director, Endorois Indigenous Women Empowerment Network (EIWEN)
Stephen Machua
Director, Founder, Piquant Spices
Ekta Shekhar
Director, The Climate Agenda
Satya Kumar Singh
VP, All India confederation of the Blind
Meera Shenoy
Founder, Youth4Jobs
Aishwarya Rastogi
Manager, ShikshaLokam
Sneha Philip
Director, India Development Review (IDR)
Ikumi Kawamata
Program Officer, Nippon Foundation
Yosuke Ishikawa
Program Officer, Nippon Foundation
Shikha Singh
Program Manager, Study Hall Educational Foundation
Ling Houng
Lower Mekong Officer, Samdhana Institute
Puja Marwaha
CEO, CRY - Child Rights and You
Thanh Trinh Thi Thu
Executive Consultant, Perkins School for the Blind
Hiền Trần Phương
Young student, Perkins School for the Blind
Pasiree Thongsak
Assistant PSP Officer (Donor Development and Retention), UNHCR
Tien Hoo Woon
Porticus
Debbie Thys
Business Development Manager, Close the gap
Varistha Nakornthap
Sustainability Advisor, Bangkok Prep
Myint (Eric) Maung Maung
Ethical Supply Chains Manager, Issara Institute
Jenifer Lasimbang
Executive Director, IPAS
Dini Indrawati Septiani
Southeast Asia Regional Director, AVPN
Scheherazaide Yoradyl Pahm
Head of capacity building, Samdhana Institute (Philippines)
Ora-orn Poocharoen
Director at School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University
Hassan Al Hilou
Social entrepreneur, Capital
Yunus Yumte
Project Leader, Samdhana Institute
Ke Jung
Deputy Secretary General, Asia Indigeous People Pact
Tawee Impoolsup
Central Operations Manager, Scholars of Sustenance Foundation
Kate Chen
Founder & CEO, Smart Capital
Pia Wong
CEO & Founder, Purpose Impact
Funding Partners
We work with the best partners
For their unwavering support in this journey of experimentation, unlearning, and reflection
Resources
Voices of leaders in the Global South
The GLA journey
From the ecosystem
Amplifying unheard voices
