Namibia former 3rd first lady attends second Global first ladies Academy in New York

Mrs Monica Geingos, the 3rd First Lady of Namibia and past President of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), was invited to attend the second convening of the Global First Ladies Academy, an executive leadership program curated by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and the Global First Ladies Alliance. Global First Ladies Alliance recognised the instrumental role Mrs Geingos played in co-curating the inaugural Academy by inviting her to be an attendee, and lead-presenter for one of the three Academy workshops.

The Academy was held in New York, USA and brought together First Ladies, Former First Ladies and their technical advisors in partnership with OAFLAD, Alliance of Spouses of Heads of State and Representatives of Latin America (ALMA), Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Action Network (SCLAN), and the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen.

Sixteen countries were represented from across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Participating First Ladies, Former First Ladies, or their representatives from Angola, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Burundi, Congo, Ecuador, Guatemala, Iraq, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Suriname were awarded certificates for the graduate-level Executive Leadership Program.

The second convening of the Academy built on the foundations laid last year and expanded its scope to address the evolving challenges and opportunities faced by First Ladies globally. The Academy emphasized the importance of strategic planning for sustained impact, ensuring that initiatives spearheaded by First Ladies continue to thrive beyond their tenure. Mrs Geingos’ contributions were consequential in framing this year’s Academy and were referenced throughout the Program by First Ladies as having an intrinsic impact in how they frame their work in their respective countries.

Serving as a lead speaker for the Legacy Workshop, Mrs Geingos delivered what was described as a “powerful and pragmatic lecture” on the realities faced by First Ladies and her personal experience on wielding influence and leadership both before, during and after being a First Lady. She shared her work as the founder of the One Economy Foundation as a case study for building a lasting legacy, illustrating how strategic foresight can be used to maintain the efficacy of First Ladies’ initiatives. By highlighting her foundation’s impactful projects and sustainable approach, she provided a blueprint for future First Ladies to ensure their contributions continue to thrive beyond their tenure. Mrs Geingos further highlighted the incredible support she received from both Former First Lady Madame Penehupifo Pohamba, and the incumbent First Lady, Madame Sustjie Mbumba and noted the need for First Ladies to build strong learning networks both within and outside of their countries. She highlighted Madame Mbumba’s personal and continuous support as a critical enabler of her very difficult and traumatic transition.

Attendees commended Namibia for being an example of how smooth transition is handled at all levels and for honouring the value of continuity in leadership.

Over three days, the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health faculty and GFLA experts led interactive sessions, covering topics from effective leadership, addressing the intersection of power, politics, and innovation, strategic policymaking to public health system-strengthening, the burden of non-communicable diseases, program intervention, HIV/AIDS, women’s cancers, and HPV. Further, sessions comprised roundtable discussions on leveraging learning networks and national capacity building.

The symposium was co-sponsored by the Ford Foundation, Merck & Co, PepsiCo, Prosper Africa, and GE HealthCare.