The Caribbean Leadership Project (CLP) is pleased to launch a Bright Spot Competition among the National Chapters of the Continuous Learning and Development Network. Each national network is invited to submit an entry for this competition to the CLP via email at info@caribbeanleadership.org by October 31, 2016. Competition issued: August 26, 2016
BACKGROUND As part of the Caribbean Leadership Project s overall focus, one of the six strategic pillars of the Project is the development of networks that will enable continuous learning and development in the Caribbean region, and in particular, for participants and alumni of the CLP s Leadership Development Programme (LDP). In this regard, the CLP will support and facilitate the establishment of Continuous Learning and Development Networks (CLDN) to provide for public sector leaders to address current and on-going challenges, foster international collaboration and strengthen regional resilience. In addition, the CLDN will aim to: Address the identification and execution of senior leader learning goals associated with transformation, cross-jurisdictional collaboration, and innovation; Provide insights on evolving themes, topical research and economic trends; Identify solutions to individual and organisational leadership challenges; Leverage peer learning opportunities in a trust-based set of relationships; Provide opportunities to develop coaching and mentoring skills; Promote inter-governmental collaboration; Assist in overcoming organisation silos, knowledge hoarding and not invented here resistance; and Take advantage of emerging technologies and mobile devices to build networks and share knowledge 1. CLDN S PURPOSE The CLDN aims to provide a space for Caribbean public sector leaders (CLP Alumni and others) to address current and on-going challenges, foster regional and international collaboration, and strengthen regional resilience. As a result, our Caribbean will be seen as that part of the world where the population enjoys a good quality of life with the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, health care and employment being all virtually satisfied; and where the environment provides clean air and water, unpolluted seas and healthy communities - an environment that has not been destroyed by the development process. COMPETITION OVERVIEW The development of local, national branches of the CLDN is critical to our regional growth. This Bright Spot Competition is aimed at supporting the sustained growth of local chapters of the CLDN in each of the 12 participating countries, through the application of leadership development tools to facilitate innovation and improve public service delivery at the national level. Every organisation and public service has policies and practices that either support or inhibit leadership development. We also know that building on what works well is a powerful change driver. The bright spot approach begins with the assumption that most answers to 1 http://www.caribbeanleadership.org/en/about-clp/clp-pillars/continuous-learning-and-development-network 1
complex problems, such as leadership development in emerging economies, already reside in the community to be developed. Furthermore, it is only the people inside the complex system who actually know what will work for them and why. The bright spot approach is based on the principle of authentic ownership, not buy-in. It involves learning by doing. In other words, together with the community, we find out what is working well in a particular context, understand why it is working well, and then, working with people in their own contexts and with what they found works well, apply their successes more broadly. It is against this background that we invite each national network to create a bright spot in their local jurisdiction by: 1) Identifying a service to citizens at the public sector, community level and/or nongovernmental sector in need of improvement and/or development. 2) Developing an intervention to improve or develop the service identified using the Bright Sport 4 D Approach, as outlined in the text box below: Bright Spot 4 D Approach Define the problem s perceived causes and current practices using appreciative inquiry. Problem identification, ownership and action must begin and remain with the community. Determine collaboratively if anyone in the community already exhibits the desired performance or state. Discover what policies or practices enable this desired performance or result. Discern what various elements could be combined to foster achievement. Design activities to expand the bright spot solutions focus on actively doing rather than passive knowledge transfer. Jim Armstrong, 2013 3) Submitting your entry, using the template in Appendix 1, by October 31, 2016 to the CLP at info@caribbeanleadership.org 4) Submitting progress reports using the template in Appendix 2, to the CLP at info@caribbenaleadership.org by the following deadlines: a. December 31, 2016 b. March 31, 2017 c. June 30, 2017 5) Submitting a final report (page limit of 20) and short video (not exceeding 10 minutes) by October 31, 2017 at info@caribbeanleadership.org, documenting: a. The journey b. The leadership tools used c. The challenges encountered and strategies used to overcome them d. The leadership and other lessons learnt e. The improvement in the service delivery achieved 2
ELIGIBILTY In order to be eligible for entry, each national network must meet the minimum operating standards as outlined below: 1) Meet at least once per quarter 2) Organise at least one sharing/learning activity targeted at CLP LDP alumni and others once per quarter 3) Contribute at least two blog/newsletter articles (one by January 31, 2017 and the other by May 30, 2017) 4) Participate in the Regional CLDN quarterly planning meetings and provide a brief update on activities undertaken by the chapter in that quarter Note: For the purpose of this competition, quarters run from October December, January- March, April- June, July September. REVIEW PROCESS: A sub-committee of the CLP s Project Steering Committee will judge each entry based on the following criteria: 1) Evidence of meeting of the minimum operating standards mentioned above by the national network (20 marks) 2) Submission of entry, progress and final reports and video (10 marks) 3) Level of improvement or development of the service to citizens (50 marks) 4) Effective communication of the project and the leadership journey and lessons (20 marks) AWARD: The first place winner will receive the following: An all-expenses paid trip for two members of the national alumni to the CLP s Symposium in February 2018 (if the Symposium is held in a different country from the winners), to receive the winning trophy and to make a presentation on their Bright Spot A sum of USD$10,000 towards a leadership development intervention for the national network (terms and conditions will apply) Trophies will be awarded to the first and second place runners-up The winner and first and second place national networks will be announced mid-november 2017. Direct questions to lois.parkes@caribbeanleadership.org 3
APPENDIX 1: ENTRY FORM Bright Spot Title Country/CLDN National Chapter Contact Persons for Competition 1. 2. Define and describe the problem: (up to 250 words) a) The Symptoms what is it about the current situation that is the basis of dissatisfaction? b) The Root Causes - there are various root causes of the current situation; there is never a single cause of a problem. c) The Consequences of the problem how has the problem/situation directly and indirectly affected current operations at the department/organisation and or national level (s)? Who are the internal stakeholders? Who are the external stakeholders? 4
APPENDIX 2: PROGRESS REPORT TEMPLATE Please use the template below for your first progress report. Bright Spot Title Country/CLDN National Chapter Contact Persons for Competition 1. Goal What will the ideal future or great success of the Bright Spot look like? Objectives Please make sure that your objectives are SMART, i.e. specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound. Key Milestones What are the key activities to be accomplished and by when? 2. Risks What are the risks involved? Strategies What approaches will be taken in order to accomplish your goal and objectives? 5
APPENDIX 3: PROGRESS REPORT TEMPLATE Please use the template below for your second and third progress reports. Bright Spot Title Country/CLDN National Chapter Contact Persons for Competition 1. Update on key milestones? What are the highlights of actions taken to date? What is the current state of affairs? The Way Forward What are the next steps? 2. 6