TechnoServe, the Aspen Institute and the Letsema Foundation will formally inaugurate the Africa Leadership Initiative (ALI) in South Africa on Thursday, July 24, with a launch event including business, civil society and government leaders from six African countries who are participating in the Initiative. Barloworld -- the international industrial brand management company and corporate sponsor of ALI in South Africa -- is hosting the event at its corporate headquarters in Johannesburg.

The Africa Leadership Initiative is designed to foster a new generation of community-spirited business leaders in Africa and encourage them to play a more active role in promoting equitable social and economic development in their countries. Already underway in Ghana, Mozambique and East Africa (including Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda), ALI is a joint program of two U.S.-based non-profit organizations - TechnoServe and the Aspen Institute - in cooperation with in-country partners like Isaac Shongwe, Chairman of the Letsema Foundation of South Africa. The Initiative is modeled on the Aspen Institute's highly successful Henry Crown Fellowship Program, a leadership program for young executives and professionals. Seventeen leaders from South Africa have been selected to participate in ALI. (Their names will be announced at the launch event.) Over a 36-month period, a total of 75 ALI "Fellows" in six countries will take part in a series of regular meetings and seminars, and each will also commit to undertake a leadership project to address a pressing social need.

Among the guests and speakers at the July 24 launch event are: William E. Mayer, Chairman of the Aspen Institute and a TechnoServe Board member; Tony Phillips, CEO of Barloworld; Isaac Shongwe, Chairman, Letsema Foundation and local partner for ALI in South Africa, TechnoServe Member and 2002 Henry Crown Fellow; Peter A. Reiling, President and CEO of TechnoServe, co-moderator of the ALI seminars in Africa and 1998 Henry Crown Fellow; Kenneth Ofori-Atta, Executive Chairman of Databank Financial Services, Ltd., 2000 Henry Crown Fellow, TechnoServe Member and local partner for ALI in Ghana; Romeu Rodrigues, Managing Director of CETA Construção e Serviços and local partner for ALI in Mozambique; Ali A. Mufuruki, Chairman and CEO of Infotech Investment Group of Tanzania, TechnoServe Member, 2001 Henry Crown Fellow and local partner for ALI in East Africa; ALI Fellows from all six countries; and other distinguished guests.

For more information about the July 24 event in South Africa please contact:
• Pat Roberts, Blackrock Communication, pat@blackrockpr.com, 011-27-11-642-8200