From Cohort to Community: CAG Concludes Fourth SNFAP in Singapore
July 10, 2026
The 2026 cohort of the Strong Nations for Africa Programme.
SINGAPORE, 10 July 2026 — The Chandler Academy of Governance (CAG), the Learning and Development division of the Chandler Governance Group (CGG), in partnership with the African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM), has successfully concluded the third and final segment of the 2026 Strong Nations for Africa Programme (SNFAP).
Held from 6 to 10 July 2026, the Singapore segment brought together 23 senior public sector leaders from nine African countries for the final leg of the programme, which opened in Kigali, Rwanda in June this year. Themed “Building Wise, Prosperous and Unified Nations”, the week examined how Singapore built a capable public service, a competitive economy and a cohesive society, and explored what participants could adapt back home.
Mr Ho Wei Jiang, Dean, Chandler Academy of Governance, Chandler Governance Group, delivers the opening remarks, welcoming the cohort to Singapore for the final segment of the programme.
"The exchanges across countries, sectors, and professional backgrounds have enriched the discussions and reinforced the value of learning from one another's experiences."
said Ho Wei Jiang, Dean, Chandler Academy of Governance, Chandler Governance Group during his opening remarks.
The week paired expert-led sessions with learning journeys — immersive site visits that let participants see policy and practice up close, organised around the segment's three themes: a wise and trusted public service, a prosperous economy, and a unified society.
A wise and trusted public service
At the National Museum of Singapore, a walk through the country's history — from its pre-independence roots through to the institutions of today — grounded the discussions that followed. Mr Derek Tan, an expert with CAG, led a session on how recruitment, training and values-based practices build an accountable civil service, while Prof Soh Kee Hean, former Director of Singapore's Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), shared how Singapore built and maintains its system of corruption control. Together, the sessions traced what it takes for a public service to govern well.
Participants trace Singapore’s history and nation-building story at the National Museum of Singapore.
Mr Derek Tan (left) leads a session on human resource management in the Singapore public sector. Prof Soh Kee Hean (right) shares how Singapore sustains a culture of integrity.
A prosperous economy
Mr Terence Ho, former Director (Economic Programmes) at Singapore’s Ministry of Finance, traced the policy choices behind Singapore’s sustained economic growth. A learning journey to Changi Airport showed those choices in action – how disciplined planning and a strong service culture continue to shape the airport as a driver of national competitiveness.
Mr Terence Ho (top), shares on the evolution of Singapore’s economy. Participants examine how foresight, long-term planning and service excellence converge at Changi Airport (bottom).
A unified society
A self-directed exploration of Singapore's heartlands gave participants the opportunity to experience first-hand how integrated urban planning brings housing, healthcare, childcare, schools and public transport together, while creating shared spaces that encourage everyday interactions across diverse communities. Dr Jared Poon, an expert with CAG, then unpacked the experience in a facilitated session on the government’s role in building social cohesion in diverse societies.
In the heartlands, participants see how public housing and community services are planned around residents. Dr Jared Poon (bottom) leads a session on promoting national unity in diverse societies.
A community that endures
The programme closed with the cohort reflecting on the week and writing letters of encouragement to their peers, cheering one another on in the work ahead. With this cohort, the SNFAP alumni network now numbers close to 90 senior public sector leaders across 15 African countries, building an enduring community that continues to grow with each edition of the programme.
The programme closed with the cohort reflecting on the week and writing letters of encouragement to their peers, cheering one another on in the work ahead. With this cohort, the SNFAP alumni network now numbers close to 90 senior public sector leaders across 15 African countries, building an enduring community that continues to grow with each edition of the programme.
As participants return to their ministries and agencies, they will carry back with them not only new ideas and insights, but also a trusted network of peers. These enduring relationships provide support and encouragement as they work to strengthen institutions, improve public service delivery, and build stronger nations at home.
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About the Strong Nations for Africa Programme
The Strong Nations for Africa Programme is a senior management programme for senior African public sector leaders, co-designed and co-delivered by the Chandler Academy of Governance (CAG) and the African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM). It aims to build a community of African public sector leaders committed to improving the quality of national governance in their respective countries, and to provide a platform for sharing good practices in governance drawn from Africa and around the world.
About the Chandler Governance Group (CGG)
The Chandler Governance Group (CGG) is an international organisation focusing on public sector effectiveness and capability development. We work with national and local governments to train and develop leaders, strengthen public institutions and systems, benchmark government capabilities, and share good practices.
For more news and information, visit www.chandlergovernance.com or follow CGG on Facebook, X and LinkedIn @ChandlerGOV.
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