Middle East and North Africa

Common Purpose is an international, not-for-profit organisation that has been running leadership courses and workshops for over 21 years. We currently operate in 12 countries and are now beginning to offer leadership development solutions in the Middle East and North Africa.

We believe passionately in developing the ability of leaders to work together to help organisations, cities and countries to succeed.

"There are no easy answers - and Common Purpose is no easy ride. It challenges every personal and professional prejudice you have. It's unsettling. It's also the best learning I've ever done."

Lady Susan Rice CBE, Managing Director, Lloyds Banking Group Scotland

Learn more about:

• Itijah Venture
  Unique opportunity for leaders from Europe and the Arab world to work on a shared challenge.
• Frontrunner
  Leadership development courses for emerging leaders in universities and higher education.
• Customised
  Bespoke solutions to meet the needs of your organisation, partnership or region.

For more information about Common Purpose courses in the Middle East and North Africa, contact us.

The second Itijah Venture took place in Amman in January 2013 drawing together future leaders from:

• Alexandria
• Amman
• Amsterdam
• Benghazi
• Budapest
• Dubai
• Frankfurt
• Istanbul
• Jeddah
• Manchester

Learn more about Itijah >

"There is tremendous untapped potential amongst the young population of the Arab world, and infinite opportunities to develop leaders who can lead collaboratively and internationally. Developing the skills of emerging leaders now will be one of the most effective ways of channeling their energy into building strong and supportive societies."

Sir Graham Boyce, Chairman, MEC International

This programme financed by the European Union's Instrument for Stability was set up to respond to early Libyan requests for support with training on leadership, organisational and other management skills.

Twenty eight courses and workshops have been run over the first twelve months of this programme and over 1,000 people have participated. Of the people who attended the courses 58% were men and 42% women. Courses have been run in Benghazi, Derna, Tripoli, Al Bayda and most recently Misrata.

For the most recent update on the programme, please download the report.

For more information about the project, please email Alison Coburn, CEO of Common Purpose International.

For press enquiries, please email Isabella Betkowski or call +447958560943.

"Undertaking the course has enabled me to communicate with greater confidence. It has helped me to reduce the distance separating leaders from their teams and see how more participants should be responsible in the decision-making process.

I have also learned of the power of persuasion and how teamwork makes a group more effective.

Since the course I have begun conducting joint research with a professor at the University of Benghazi, helped children in Torghae by sending 2 convoys of aid to Omar Al-Mukhtar University Forum and started working on setting up a botanical garden in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar."

Huda Mohamed Bossef, participant, AL Bayda Young Leaders

"I thought the course was extremely beneficial. The main skills may have already been within me but I could never understand how to find them until after taking part in the three day course - it taught me a lot.

Since Common Purpose, I have participated in many public events as well as being a spokesperson in an event where I was the youngest in attendance."

Nardeen Tatanaki, participant, Benghazi Young Leaders

Participants have a track record of leadership and active citizenship and Frontrunner helps set their sights higher as they look at their career ahead.

Participants visit a wide range of organisations and interact with social and business leaders from many different walks of life. They will deal with real-life leadership dilemmas and learn from the experiences of leaders from all sectors of society. Participants will be challenged personally through goal-setting, diversity exercises and working in teams.

Frontrunner gives university students the opportunity to test their ability to lead diverse teams, collaborate with multiple stakeholders and build skills to support future employment.

Learn more about Frontrunner >

"The investment in each participant is an investment in community, society and country for these are the fields that are ploughed and planted by leaders and these are where the harvest of good is reaped."

Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland at launch of Common Purpose Frontrunner in Dublin, 3 October 2011

What are the benefits?

For universities:

• Build links with private sector organisations
• A means of engaging and raising the profile of your students locally
• Access to the expertise and networks of Common Purpose

For students:

• Build employability skills
• Expand their networks
• Better understand their cities and local communities - how they work and thrive
• Develop their cross-cultural understanding and leadership
• Test their leadership skills with real-life challenges.

"This initiative represents a unique opportunity for talented students to learn from each other and further their journey to major leadership positions."

Professor Eric Thomas, Vice President of Universities UK

Alison Coburn
Chief Executive, Common Purpose International

Common Purpose International
Discovery House
28-42 Banner Street
London EC1Y 8QE, UK

+44 (0)20 7608 8104
+44 7852 914670
alison.coburn@commonpurpose.org