African countries align with the vision of African Union Agenda 2063 (Agenda 2063) and Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) whereby natural, financial and human resources are managed with integrity, transparency and accountability for efficient and effective service delivery, sustainable economic growth and development. Evidence of this ambition is seen in the investments that have gone into the building of the institutions and processes to advance good governance at all levels of government. Transformed leadership and effective and efficient management of Africa’s resources is reflected as key success factors of the African Union’s Agenda 2063and the Sustainable Development Goals. Agenda 2063 in particular singles out, as one of the key focus areas, the need for capable development states, effective,accountable and development oriented institutions, efficient and strong bureaucracy, among others, as critical for the realization its goals.

Effective management of national resources is what defines successful leadership. The 2008 global financial crisis has sharply raised leadership stakes in the management of national resources with a focus shifting to prudence and economic deployment of resources (Cossinet al, 2013). This significant management crisis also brought into sharp focus the nexus between leadership and resources management. The once highly regarded and respected leadership in the financial sector were widely discredited after the global financial meltdown. The spectacular failure of leadership in the financial sector set the stage for changes in thinking about organisation and leadership within the financial services industry, and it became an important component in broader transitions in reflecting about leadership and resource management in general. This conversation continuum on public administration and management transformation will focus on effective and efficient management of national resources for the realization of the vision set in Agenda 2063 and the SDGs.