AfLIA, the continent-wide association for the strategic growth of the library and information profession in Africa, has partnered with the Global Libraries (GL) Programme of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to deliver leadership training for public librarians. This training referred to as the International Network of Emerging Library Innovators (INELI) is an initiative of the GL programme. It was established to support the transformation of public libraries into engines of development and does this by supporting upcoming public librarians to develop innovative services for the benefit of their communities. This is premised on their belief that

INELI has become a network of library leaders around the world who have learnt from each other and worked online to acquire skills and share experiences in developing innovative services for their communities. As a matter of strategy, the BMGF GL initiatives work with governments and other public and private funders to expand technology access in public libraries, foster innovation in libraries, train library leaders, and advocate for policy changes that benefit public libraries. In recognition of the centrality of appropriate human capital development to the success of this programme, the BMGF uses the INELI as a platform to support the strengthening and the equiping of leadership of public libraries world-wide. This is to enable them to manage modern innovative public library systems.

NELI started as a Global network and it has now been taken up in different regions of the world. At present, INELI-Sub-Saharan Africa (INELI SSAf) is among the existing INELI initiatives, which include INELI-ASEAN, INELI-Balkans, INELI-India, INELI-Latin America, INELI-MENA, and INELI-Oceania.

INELI SSAf Governance Structure

The programme is managed by the AfLIA Training and Capacity Building Committee made up of nine members that oversee the programme.

There are eight mentors who guide and support the Innovators. Five of them were on the Global INELI and the other three have also undergone some Leadership training at various times.

At the library level, Innovators are supported by their supervisors or line managers, who have signed agreements with AfLIA to support and nurture the Innovators in their work.

The Participants

From April 2016, with support from the GL, AfLIA has been running the INELI programme for the SSAf region.

A cohort of 32 public librarians, drawn from 14 African countries, started its online learning by introducing themselves to each other. They then met at a Convening in Entebbe, Uganda at the end of June/beginning of July 2016. This involved a presentation by each Innovator about themselves and their libraries, as well as site visits to two libraries, one in Kampala, an urban area and one in Nakaseke, a rural area. There were also in-depth group discussions on various topics.