"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together" ~ African Proverb

No matter how good the Wavumbuzi content, visuals, storyline, user experience, etc. is, it only starts to generate value when it is recognised and adopted within the ecosystem as a credible product.

The image of credibility can be constructed (to an extent) through good marketing and communications, but these constructed images will often lack depth and substance. True credibility (and the subsequent support for and adoption of a product within an ecosystem) is built on the back of strong relationships with an ecosystem's key stakeholders.

The purpose of the Stakeholder Management function is to map out and better understand the behaviour and incentives of different key stakeholder groups within our ecosystem, and craft agreements or understandings which path the way for mutual value exchange.

The more effectively we do this, the stronger our network (and associated presence) within the ecosystem becomes, and the more likely we are to achieve longevity in the ecosystem's support for and adoption of our product.

Government ✅

To operate in the education ecosystem, Wavumbuzi is mandated to collaborate with the local government system. Structure for governments vary in different countries, but usually tend to follow the below structure:

1. The Ministerial Government

The Ministerial Government designs the Education Sector Strategic Plan. To help achieve this, the Ministerial Government recognizes the contribution and the key role played by NGOs and other stakeholders in the education sector.

Only when Wavumbuzi is recognised by the Ministerial Government as an approved partner can we start to deliver the programme to government owned schools. All communications with the Ministerial Government is typically channelled through the Ministry of Education.

Receiving approval from the Ministerial Government can be a long process and is typically documented as part of a formal Memorandum of Understanding, alongside several other supporting documents. Examples of such documentation can be found below:

• MOU: AGGP + MINEDUC [Draft]

• Project Charter: [View]

• Transmission Letter [View]

• Central Strategic Plan [View]

• Central Annual Operations Action Plan [View]

• District Annual Operations Action Plan [View]

2. Ministry of Education

This is the Ministry that plans and oversees all the educational policies advocated by the government. It coordinates the operations of the stakeholders in education. Therefore, any program initiated by the partners is first recommended by this Ministry before its implementation.

This is typically the highest level of direct contact that Wavumbuzi has at a government level.

3. Ministry of Local Government

This Ministry oversees all public servants, managing all the HR and professional development. All applications for the training of Wavumbuzi teachers, DEOs or DDEs or SEIs must be approved by this Ministry. All communication with this Ministry is channelled through the Education Board.

4. Governance Board

This is typically an independent organisation within the government. It does not fall under any Ministry. Its primary purpose is to ensure that there is improved government effectiveness in service delivery. Wavumbuzi works with the Governance Board for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

5. District Mayor's Office

The District Mayor's Office is administratively responsible for the organization and management of all activities taking place in the district. All the public servants in a district are answerable to the Mayor. This means that the District Director of Education, District Education Officers and the Sector Education Inspectors all report to the District Mayor, who is answerable to the Ministry of Local Government.

It is important for Wavumbuzi to develop a good relationship with the Mayor's Office to ensure that we gain support from DDEs, DEOs and SEIs, who are the gatekeepers to the school networks in each district.

6. District Education Department

The District Education Department is responsible for overseeing and monitoring the implementation of educational policies in their district on behalf of the Ministry of Education. They coordinate all issues in their district associated with education in schools. The departmental structure is composed of the District Director of Education (DDE) and District Education Officers (DEO).

Any activity we plan in a district concerning schools, teachers or headteachers must be reported to the District Education Department. DDEs and DEOs within that department will be responsible for overseeing this activity, and will often support in informing the school network of such activities.

Template: DEO Letter to Headmasters In District

7. Education Board

This Board is responsible for implementing the educational policies designed and approved by the Ministry of Education. It is composed of three departments. (i) Assessment department, responsible for National Examinations; (ii) Curriculum Development Council, designing the curriculum and overseeing its implementation in schools; and (iii) the Teacher Development and Management Department, responsible for recruiting and training teachers.

The Wavumbuzi Curriculum will require approval from the Education Board before it can be distributed to schools. The approval process is typically managed through a series of workshops.

Network Partners ✅

In order to leverage existing networks and local knowledge, Wavumbuzi partners with organisations that are already established in the secondary school ecosystem. These partnerships allow us to extend our reach and deliver our programme at scale without requiring an endless investment of resources. These relationships are typically managed by the country leads.

Examples of possible network partners in the ecosystem include (i) other NGOs that work with schools, (ii) school groups/sponsors/conglomerates (e.g. Catholic Church, Independent Schools Associations, etc.), and (iii) commercial partners who operate in schools (e.g. internet providers, stationary suppliers, etc.).

In exchange for sponsorship, co-branding, free training and collaboration on industry related activities, Wavumbuzi are able to access the school networks and local knowledge that network partners have already established in the school ecosystem. This is a much more cost effective strategy for achieving scale. Find more information here.

The process of securing relationships with such organisations is usually informal in nature (by verbal agreement), but can be formalised through signed documentation. Examples of such documentation can be found below:

• Signed MOU with Educate! Rwanda [View]

• MOUs Kenya

• [Draft] Announcement Letter to Network Partners

Ambassadors ✅

Wavumbuzi Ambassadors are individuals from across the region who are contracted to represent and implement Wavumbuzi in their location and its surrounding areas. Ambassadors are part of the recruitment team, managed and led by the School Liaison Officer in their country. Their role is viewed as support role to the School Liaison Officer, building relationships and performing tasks in their local regions on behalf of the School Liaison Officer. Such tasks might include:

• Contacting, recruiting and stewarding teachers and learners to participate in the challenge

• Facilitating group and one-on-one training sessions with teachers

• Motivating and inspiring challenge participants

• Managing teacher and learner support

• Participate in school visits to celebrate active participants

• Providing post-challenge feedback to help improve future editions

For more information on ambassadors, click here.

The process of recruiting and contracting such individuals is usually overseen by the School Liaison Officer. As part of their contract, Ambassadors complete an intensive training course and are provided with all the material required to effectively carry out their role. Examples of such resources can be found below:

• Ambassador Contracts [Roz/Aline to add]

• Ambassador Job Description (Kenya 2021)

• Ambassador Recruitment Process (Kenya 2021)

• Recruitment Schedule (Rwanda (Ed 2)

• Interview Scoring Sheet (Rwanda Ed 2)

• Ambassador Merchandise (Kenya 2021)

• Ambassador Training Schedule (Rwanda 2021)

• Onboarding/Resource Pack

• Ambassador Information Pack (Rwanda 2021)

• Training Session Recordings (Rwanda 2021)

• Training Slideset (Rwanda 2021)

• Ambassador Avatars (Kenya 2021)

Innovation Experts (Featured Entrepreneurs) ✅

Critical to the success of Wavumbuzi across Africa is the partnerships we forge with local stakeholders to develop content & case studies that relate to the context of local learners.

Our Innovation Experts form a group of academics, business founders, investors, working professionals and policymakers who sit at the forefront of innovation and entrepreneurial activity in their respective communities. They are usually considered to be leaders in their field and have an extensive network of local partners. They share a vision for Africa where entrepreneurship and innovative thinking is widely celebrated, and they draw a sense of purpose from supporting the activities required to see this vision lived out.

Their position affords them access to engage with Africa’s top young entrepreneurial talent, as well as a diverse network of experts and local stakeholders across the continent.

The Innovation Expert Role

Wavumbuzi Innovation Experts are committed to supporting Wavumbuzi in the following ways:

1. Entrepreneurial Role Model

As credible role models in the African entrepreneurial ecosystem, each Wavumbuzi Innovation Expert has a profile and bio featured in the challenge. Students are encouraged to look to these individuals and take inspiration from their stories and how their businesses are solving problems within Africa.

2. Coaching + Mentorship

Through publishing exclusive Wavumbuzi leadership blog articles and video logs, Wavumbuzi Innovation Experts provide coaching and mentorship support to learners throughout the challenge. In addition, Wavumbuzi Innovation Experts offer coaching sessions to the top performers of our pitch challenge.

3. Promoting Wavumbuzi

Wavumbuzi Innovation Experts also serve as honorary Wavumbuzi Ambassadors, providing Wavumbuzi with a credible voice in the ecosystem to promote the challenge.

Why Are Innovation Experts Important?

Having a number of business professionals like CEO’s, Managing Directors and Founders endorsing the Wavumbuzi Entrepreneurship Challenge indicates that they believe in the challenge and what it aims to achieve - offering the brand credibility.

This is something that can positively impact our cause when promoting the challenge, negotiating network partnerships and recruiting teachers and learners to participate in the challenge.

Innovation Experts are also positive role models who can inspire learners, and help guide those they get to interact with. This is a unique opportunity for learners to be exposed to real-world entrepreneurial stories, scenarios and opportunities that bring their theoretical knowledge to life.

Leadership blogs, video logs, quotes and words of wisdom shared by Innovation Experts also form valuable content that can be shared in order to encourage and inspire participation in the challenge.

The process of building relationships with such individuals is usually informal in nature (by verbal agreement), but can be formalised by signed pledges. Examples of such documentation can be found below:

• IE Application Form (Kenya 2020)

• IE Tracking Form (Kenya 2020)

• IE Tracking Form (Rwanda 2021)

• IE Information Pack

• Shared Folder (Rwanda 2021 Ed 1)

School Stakeholders ✅

Key stakeholders within schools include learners, teachers, heads/principals and parents. More details on our school stakeholders and how we build relationships with them can be found in the Marketing and Communications section of this playbook.

Internal Talent ✅

Developing expertise in relationship management and building team 'EQ' is key to the stakeholder management function. More details on how we manage and develop internal talent can be found in the Strategy & Leadership section of this playbook.