Osama salih vlp leadership profiles

Dr Osama Awad Salih Associate Professor, Nutrition Center for Training and Research Ahfad University for Women

Written by Ms Joy Elizabeth Adams

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hfad University began at the turn of the century as a school for girls. Today, it has nearly 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students and publishes the nation’s sole academic journal. The mission of the university is “dedicated to educating women, strengthening women’s roles in national and rural development, and achieving equity for women in Sudanese society.” Preparing students for the future is particularly important in the developing countries like Sudan. Education is needed concerning issues related to women, especially in the area of reproductive health.

Personal Background Dr Osama Awad Salih is Head of Nutrition Center for Training and Research at the Rural Education Extension and Development Program at Ahfad University for Women. Prior to this, he was Dean of the School of Family Sciences. He has been with Ahfad University since 1990.

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in biochemistry, and noted that coming to the Nutrition Center enabled him to work on nutritional healthrelated issues. He also received an Master in Arts degree in agricultural studies from King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He was the coordinator for the VLP program in Sudan.

LEADERSHIP WATCH

Dr Osama has been at the forefront of the vision to establish Ahfad University as the prime institution for leadership programs in Sudan. By working with two to three known leadership programs, he has helped to expand the curriculum and programs to include leadership. As an added benefit, relationships with UN, NGOs and government agencies have been strengthened.

Dr Osama Awad Salih, a professor at Ahfad, is keenly aware of the need for the dissemination of information related to health care and population.

Dr Osama, who has been at Ahfad since 1990, was the Dean of the School of Family Sciences and now heads the Nutrition Center for Training and Research at the Rural Education Extension and Development (REED).

He was the coordinator for the Visionary Leadership Program (VLP) at Ahfad University, a position he thoroughly enjoyed. The VLP program was not only an opportunity for personal growth, it helped to change the internal dynamics at the School and the external relationships between the School, aid agencies and the government.

THE VLP

EXPERIENCE

Dr Osama had the unique experience of not only being the VLP coordinator at Ahfad University but also a member of the first cohort. He recalls, “At first I just planned and coordinated”. Eventually, he began to focus on population issues and the connections that it had with nutrition and development. (a) Benefits – Institutional Aside from the personal growth that occurred from VLP, other positive changes took place. “First,” he says, “Ahfad is now recognized as an institution that cares about population issues.” Although the School has been involved in creating awareness among its female student population, the VLP publicly identified and introduced Ahfad to a broad range of organizations as a reliable institution for NGO-sponsored projects.

VISION

Credibility needs to be established for vision to be realized

STRATEGIC ALLIANCES

Work with known and recognized leadership development leaders to transfer vision and knowledge

CAPACITY BUILDING

Build organizational infrastructure and train relevant personnel for strengthening program

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VISION To establish Ahfad as a recognized national institution for leadership development

Dr Osama Awad Salih

A second benefit resulting from VLP was the networking that went on during the VLP meetings and training seminars. Relationships were forged with other organizations and the new leaders began to invite each other to events sponsored by their respective groups. During this time, a very important connection was made between Ahfad University and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH). Before the inception of VLP, the ministry considered the university an adversary rather than an ally. This was mainly due to the fact that Ahfad University had many outside contacts which caused a strain between the institution and the relatively closed government. In addition, Ahfad University has resisted the female dress codes prescribed by the government.

The VLP helped FMOH learn more about population-related issues and build trust in Ahfad. Currently, the ministry is working with the university to run a VLP-type training program for its employees.

Benefits from VLP

Recognition for Ahfad

University Networking among Fellows Stronger relationships with other organizations Helping FMOH learn more about population issues Personal development

The third benefit of the VLP training program was the ‘stronger relationships between the UN and other NGOs’ in Sudan. The ‘critical mass’ of leaders focused on population concerns have already begun to bear fruit which will nourish the future of health care in the country. (b) Personal development On a more personal level, Dr Osama began to notice how he had changed as well. He relates that since VLP began, he has learned to listen more and focus on ways to strengthen his skills. As someone who was not fond of team work, he became more aware of how to work in a group setting. Dr Osama knows the benefits of VLP because he has seen first hand how it is bringing people together as a group rather than having each organization trying to work on its own projects.

CHALLENGES

FACING THE

VLP

The VLP has been successful in many ways but Dr Osama noted that there are changes that could markedly improve the program.

First, due to funding, only Fellows from Khartoum State were involved.

“By having only Khartoum people, the problems of population in other states could not be discussed,” explains Dr Osama. Thankfully, members of the first cohort are planning on training other health care workers throughout Sudan.

A second problem concerned the limited funding available to carry out the action plans that were required as part of the program. Grant writing and fundraising were elements of the training but there were difficulties.

Dr Osama explained that many aid agencies have difficulty giving grant money due to sanctions and that few local agencies are interested in giving funds to population-related projects. It is hoped that in the future there will be ways to offer small grants to VLP Fellows so that they will be able to carry out their action plans.

FUTURE

INSTITUTIONAL GROWTH

Operational growth planning is crucial for Ahfad University. It is now a recognized and trusted leader for population and health care training in Sudan. The university has received offers from NGOs and the FMOH to run training projects. As these opportunities increase, smart growth is needed to simultaneously educate its student population and the community at large.

Photo credit: ICOMP

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Sudan