Politicians’ actions and decisions impact us all, yet the role of a political leader is often undefined and unsupported. Without attention, training and research, passionate, well-meaning political leaders may be set up to fail.
Identify the cross-cutting leadership competencies and attributes needed to respond to emerging challenges.
Help more young people gain effective political power through political leadership training that equips them with critical policy- and decision-making skills.
Bring together experts to answer the big questions surrounding 21st-century political leadership.
Increase healthier, constructive dialogue about expectations between politicians and citizens.
Help rebuild trust in political leadership.
“People will remember you not by your rise to leadership, but by the quality of your leadership.”
Kofi Annan
About the Leadership Excellence in Politics initiative (LEiP)
The Leadership Excellence in Politics (LEiP) initiative seeks to understand the gap between what citizens expect from their leaders and what their leaders actually deliver, and to identify solutions to bridge this gap. Together with our partners, we will run political leadership training, coordinate research and launch advocacy campaigns.
Political Leadership Training
LEiP holds multi-partisan political leadership training to equip a new generation of diverse leaders with the skills and knowledge they need to uphold ethical standards, reject authoritarianism and respond to the world’s increasingly complex challenges.
The one-week in-person programme involves a select group of 20 aspiring or newly elected political leaders between the ages of 20 and 35. Participants are from around the world and have the networks and creativity to influence other young people in their communities.
The LEiP Young Leaders training course will cover themes including:
Why democratic leadership must be anchored in ethics and values;
How democratic leaders engage with multilateral institutions;
What key challenges emerging technologies will present to democratic leadership;
How can leaders foster citizen engagement;
How to lead across social and political divides.
Participating leaders will become part of a global alumni network, within which they can continue exchanging ideas and practices. The network is a rare space within which leaders of different political leanings can safely interact, fostering cross-party cooperation and reducing polarization among the next generation of leaders.
Discover more about the Leadership Excellence in Politics Initiative in our LEiP Training video
Expert Research Council
Political leadership has an outsized impact on the world, yet little research exists on what skills and attributes politicians need to serve us well. The first-of-its-kind Leadership Excellence in Politics Expert Council brings together a select group of politicians, academics, researchers, practitioners, and media thought-leaders from around the world to share their expertise and help fill the knowledge gap on political leadership.
At a time when many, particularly women and young people, are being turned off politics as a viable career path, our vision is a Council that can help reignite trust and interest in political leadership through greater knowledge, insights and improved practice.
The LEiP Expert Council will:
Connect cross-sectoral leaders on political leadership from around the globe;
Share research or practical insights on political leadership;
Produce position statements and research questions to fill the knowledge gaps on political leadership;
Help reignite trust and interest in political leadership through improved knowledge, insights and practice;
Amplify the need for more evidence and training on political leadership.
“Many leaders today no longer seem to know how to deliver, or even what is necessary. This crisis of political leadership goes a long way to explaining the crisis of democracy itself.”
Corinne Momal-Vanian
At a Glance
Leadership Excellence in Politics
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Organisations have joined forces to understand the gap between what citizens expect from their leaders and what their leaders do – and to find solutions to reduce it.
Young leaders from all five continents are invited to participate in an annual political training course on democratic leadership and multilateralism designed for aspiring political leaders.
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Research Council of academics and practitioners has been set up to identify cross-cutting leadership competencies needed to respond to the world’s biggest issues.
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The Geneva Centre for Security Policy’s (GCSP) mission is to advance peace, security and international cooperation by providing the knowledge, skills and network for effective and inclusive decision-making through executive education, diplomatic dialogue, research and policy advice.
The Better Politics Foundation is restoring hope in political leadership when we need it the most. Its mission is to update representative political leadership for the 21st century through a worldwide non-partisan movement.
NexusVesting creates and promotes new ideas for positive social change. We are working to strengthen responsible leadership, constructive dialogue, ethical investment approaches, and artful solutions for recycling.
On 2 October 2025, the Kofi Annan Foundation and the Graduate Institute’s Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, in partnership with the Centre for Trade and Economic Integration (CTEI), convened the fifth in a series of thematic roundtables exploring the intersections of democracy and multilateralism. The session was held as part of the…
On 2 October 2025, the Kofi Annan Foundation and the Graduate Institute’s Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, in partnership with the Centre for Trade and Economic Integration (CTEI), convened the fifth in a series of thematic roundtables exploring the intersections of democracy and multilateralism. The session was held as part of the Athens Democracy Forum, […]
The existing trade order is unravelling at a breathtaking pace. The World Trade Organization and the rule-based trade system that promoted economic integration and globalization for much of the last 80 years is under extreme pressure from trade wars and increasing geopolitical frictions. Yet, rising protectionism and isolationism are also symptoms of…
The existing trade order is unravelling at a breathtaking pace. The World Trade Organization and the rule-based trade system that promoted economic integration and globalization for much of the last 80 years is under extreme pressure from trade wars and increasing geopolitical frictions. Yet, rising protectionism and isolationism are also symptoms of a broader public […]
Strengthening Democratic Resilience in a Changing European and Transatlantic Security Landscape The Kofi Annan Foundation, the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy | Geneva Graduate Institute, International IDEA and the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) will host a high-level Policy Dialogue in Brussels on 20 June. Learn more about our 20 June event…
Strengthening Democratic Resilience in a Changing European and Transatlantic Security Landscape The Kofi Annan Foundation, the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy | Geneva Graduate Institute, International IDEA and the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) will host a high-level Policy Dialogue in Brussels on 20 June. Learn more about our 20 June event in Brussels in […]
In episode 9, podcast host Ahmad Fawzi welcomes special guest Mohamed Ibn Chambas. Together, they explore trends, challenges, and opportunities for democracy in Africa. What are noteworthy examples of democratic governance on the continent? How can we restore trust in democracy, as the system best able to ensure that the voices of…
In episode 9, podcast host Ahmad Fawzi welcomes special guest Mohamed Ibn Chambas. Together, they explore trends, challenges, and opportunities for democracy in Africa. What are noteworthy examples of democratic governance on the continent? How can we restore trust in democracy, as the system best able to ensure that the voices of the people are […]
In episode 5 of Kofi Time, host Ahmad Fawzi interviews diplomat Michael Møller on Kofi Annan’s special kind of leadership. A respected leader among his peers and the public, Kofi Annan served the people of the world with courage, vision and empathy. Embodying moral steadfastness and an acute political acumen, his leadership…
In episode 5 of Kofi Time, host Ahmad Fawzi interviews diplomat Michael Møller on Kofi Annan’s special kind of leadership. A respected leader among his peers and the public, Kofi Annan served the people of the world with courage, vision and empathy. Embodying moral steadfastness and an acute political acumen, his leadership was one of […]
The following is a transcript of the speech given by Corinne Momal-Vanian at the 16TH EISA ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM in Nairobi, 11 December 2024. Navigating political transitions in Africa It is an honour to be asked to deliver this opening speech on behalf of the Kofi Annan Foundation. For most of my career,…
The following is a transcript of the speech given by Corinne Momal-Vanian at the 16TH EISA ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM in Nairobi, 11 December 2024. Navigating political transitions in Africa It is an honour to be asked to deliver this opening speech on behalf of the Kofi Annan Foundation. For most of my career, the term “transition” […]
An open letter by the international Leadership Excellence in Politics (LEiP) Initiative We, the undersigned, unite with a shared commitment to restore trust in political leadership and enhance its practice to meet the unique demands of the 21st-century. In an era where trust in political institutions is waning, now is the time…
An open letter by the international Leadership Excellence in Politics (LEiP) Initiative We, the undersigned, unite with a shared commitment to restore trust in political leadership and enhance its practice to meet the unique demands of the 21st-century. In an era where trust in political institutions is waning, now is the time for leaders across […]
Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders, delivered the Kofi Annan Peace Address during Geneva Peace Week 2024. Reflecting on Kofi Annan’s legacy and the current global leadership crisis in peace efforts, she called for greater respect for humanitarian law, and advocated for gender parity in leadership, emphasising the need for women’s inclusion in peacebuilding. Full Remarks…
Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders, delivered the Kofi Annan Peace Address during Geneva Peace Week 2024. Reflecting on Kofi Annan’s legacy and the current global leadership crisis in peace efforts, she called for greater respect for humanitarian law, and advocated for gender parity in leadership, emphasising the need for women’s inclusion in peacebuilding. Full Remarks from Mary Robinson […]
On 2 October 2025, the Kofi Annan Foundation and the Graduate Institute’s Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, in partnership with the Centre for Trade and Economic Integration (CTEI), convened the fifth in a series of thematic roundtables exploring the intersections of democracy and multilateralism. The session was held as part of the…
On 2 October 2025, the Kofi Annan Foundation and the Graduate Institute’s Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, in partnership with the Centre for Trade and Economic Integration (CTEI), convened the fifth in a series of thematic roundtables exploring the intersections of democracy and multilateralism. The session was held as part of the Athens Democracy Forum, […]
The existing trade order is unravelling at a breathtaking pace. The World Trade Organization and the rule-based trade system that promoted economic integration and globalization for much of the last 80 years is under extreme pressure from trade wars and increasing geopolitical frictions. Yet, rising protectionism and isolationism are also symptoms of…
The existing trade order is unravelling at a breathtaking pace. The World Trade Organization and the rule-based trade system that promoted economic integration and globalization for much of the last 80 years is under extreme pressure from trade wars and increasing geopolitical frictions. Yet, rising protectionism and isolationism are also symptoms of a broader public […]
Strengthening Democratic Resilience in a Changing European and Transatlantic Security Landscape The Kofi Annan Foundation, the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy | Geneva Graduate Institute, International IDEA and the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) will host a high-level Policy Dialogue in Brussels on 20 June. Learn more about our 20 June event…
Strengthening Democratic Resilience in a Changing European and Transatlantic Security Landscape The Kofi Annan Foundation, the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy | Geneva Graduate Institute, International IDEA and the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) will host a high-level Policy Dialogue in Brussels on 20 June. Learn more about our 20 June event in Brussels in […]
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is expected to hold elections in December this year – a vote many see as pivotal for the country’s future. It follows a series of troubled elections which raised questions about the integrity of electoral processes and highlighted the need for various reforms. “The Catholic…
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is expected to hold elections in December this year – a vote many see as pivotal for the country’s future. It follows a series of troubled elections which raised questions about the integrity of electoral processes and highlighted the need for various reforms. “The Catholic and Protestant churches […]
Dakar, 8 September 2022 – The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Open Society Initiative – West Africa (OSIWA), the Kofi Annan Foundation (KAF), and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) organized, on 6 and 7 September 2022, a colloquium on the…
Dakar, 8 September 2022 – The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Open Society Initiative – West Africa (OSIWA), the Kofi Annan Foundation (KAF), and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) organized, on 6 and 7 September 2022, a colloquium on the enhancement of democracy […]
Sadly, principled statesmen and women who can forge bold, morally consistent responses to today’s global problems are in short supply. We must therefore safeguard and promote the virtues that the former UN secretary-general embodied. This article originally appeared in Project Syndicate on May 13, 2022. GENEVA – The world is facing a…
Sadly, principled statesmen and women who can forge bold, morally consistent responses to today’s global problems are in short supply. We must therefore safeguard and promote the virtues that the former UN secretary-general embodied. This article originally appeared in Project Syndicate on May 13, 2022. GENEVA – The world is facing a set of acute […]
A global network that convenes election stakeholders around a shared vision: to inspire and inform action to advance electoral integrity in the face of critical threats to democracy. During a time when democratic elections around the world face an evolving and increasingly complex set of threats and challenges, sustained cooperation among global…
A global network that convenes election stakeholders around a shared vision: to inspire and inform action to advance electoral integrity in the face of critical threats to democracy. During a time when democratic elections around the world face an evolving and increasingly complex set of threats and challenges, sustained cooperation among global electoral integrity stakeholders […]
We are delighted to join the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) and excited to work with its members to reinforce the impact of European actions to promote and defend democracy worldwide. These are trying times for supporters of democracy. Still, the Foundation and the EPD share the conviction that democracy is the…
We are delighted to join the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) and excited to work with its members to reinforce the impact of European actions to promote and defend democracy worldwide. These are trying times for supporters of democracy. Still, the Foundation and the EPD share the conviction that democracy is the system best suited […]
The Kofi Annan Foundation is delighted to announce the launch of a new project entitled Securing the Digital Environment for the 2022 Election in Kenya, funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund. Building on the findings of the Kofi Annan Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age, the project will…
The Kofi Annan Foundation is delighted to announce the launch of a new project entitled Securing the Digital Environment for the 2022 Election in Kenya, funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund. Building on the findings of the Kofi Annan Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age, the project will address the potential […]
