CAWLRA Online Programme 2026
Four-Week Online Women Leadership Capacity Development Programme
Equipping Transformational Women Leaders for Church and Society in Africa
Twelve focused sessions. Four weeks. One practical journey from leadership formation to measurable transformative change.
About the programme
Why this programme?
CAWLRA’s 2026 programme builds on the experience of the 2025 capacity-development programme. Participants valued the combination of spiritual formation, leadership and management skills, and contemporary ministry competencies, while asking for training that is more practical, participatory, contextualized and progressively deeper.
The 2026 learning journey therefore moves beyond knowledge acquisition. It equips women leaders with biblical foundations, leadership competencies, practical tools and structured opportunities to apply learning in churches, institutions and communities.
Before the programme: a 30–45 minute online technical orientation is proposed for Friday, 2 October 2026 to help participants confidently use the platform, breakout rooms and online participation protocols.
From learning to action
Every session includes 30 minutes of practical application, and the programme culminates in an individual 90-Day Transformative Leadership Action Plan.
Focus areas
The learning journey
Four progressive weeks move from personal and institutional leadership, to transformation of Church and society, and finally to sustaining change through stewardship, ethics and action planning.
WEEK ONE
Transforming the Leader & the Institution
Who am I as a leader, how do I lead change, and how do I strengthen the institutions in which I serve?
WEEK TWO
Transforming Church & Society
How do I mobilize resources, address contemporary challenges, build peace and influence society?
WEEKS THREE & FOUR
Sustaining Transformational Leadership
How do I advance justice, lead ethically, develop others and turn learning into sustainable change?
A consistent 2½-hour session format
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 2:00–2:10 | Welcome, biblical/spiritual reflection and recap |
| 2:10–3:00 | Facilitator input / masterclass |
| 3:10–4:00 | Interactive learning: case studies, breakout groups, simulations, peer learning and Q&A |
| 4:00–4:30 | Practical Application — From Learning to Action |
Programme
Twelve-session curriculum
Open a week to see sessions, facilitators and practical outputs.
Pre-training session
Opening, assessment and orientation
- Opening Remarks — Bishop Emily on behalf of CAWLRA Founding Bishops
- Pre-Training Assessment — Sheillah Kowino
- Orientation Session and Introduction of Facilitators — Prof. William Ogara
- Goodwill Message — Rev. Truphie Sakwa on behalf of USPG
Weekly sessions
Sessions 1–5 dates to be confirmed by CAWLRA where not specified.
Week One: Transforming the Leader & the InstitutionSessions 1–3
Biblical Foundations, Spiritual Formation & Transformational Women’s Leadership
Identity & calling · spiritual formation · servant and transformational leadership
Output: Personal leadership priorities
Leading Transformative Change in Church and Society
Change · resistance · personal growth · work and life balance · crisis leadership and planning
Output: Change leadership challenge
Hygiene in Leadership
Accountability and transparency · professional ethics · safeguarding and safety · personal and institutional integrity · governance and compliance
Output: Institutional improvement priorities
Week Two: Transforming Church & SocietySessions 4–6 · to 16 Oct
Women Leaders in the Bible
Biblical women leaders · leadership lessons from Scripture · faith, courage and service · women’s calling in ministry · contemporary application
Output: Biblical leadership reflection
Peacebuilding, Mediation & Consensus Building
Conflict analysis · mediation · reconciliation · consensus building
Output: Conflict-transformation approach
Entrepreneurship, Resource Mobilization & Financial Stewardship
Budgeting · controls · stewardship · resource mobilisation · sustainability
Output: Resource mobilization concept
Week Three: Sustaining Transformational LeadershipSessions 7–9 · 19–23 Oct
Leadership for Community Transformation
Poverty · inequality · climate justice · food security · community development
Output: Community transformation initiative
Ethical, Resilient & Digitally Responsible Leadership
Integrity · self-care · data privacy · responsible AI · mentoring
Output: Ethical leadership commitment
Leading Transformative Change in Church and Society (Continued)
Influence · leading highly effective teams · performance review and mentorship
Output: Change leadership challenge
Week Four: Sustaining Transformational LeadershipSessions 10–12 · 26–28 Oct
Women Leaders, Law, Gender Justice & Advocacy
Legal literacy · gender justice · GBV · child protection · advocacy
Output: Advocacy action idea
Women Leaders in the Bible (Continued)
Biblical women leaders · leadership lessons from Scripture · faith, courage and service · women’s calling in ministry · contemporary application
Output: Biblical leadership reflection
From Learning to Transformative Change, Theology of Work
Integration · goals · implementation · stakeholder engagement · measuring change
Output: 90-Day Action Plan
Every session ends with practical application — so participants leave with a concrete leadership output, not only new knowledge.
Post-training & graduation
Post-Training Session
- Vote of Thanks — CAWLRA Executive Team
- Post-training assessment — Sheillah Kowino
- Q&A Session — Prof. William Ogara
Graduation and Certificate Conferment Ceremony for Cohorts I & II
- Presided over by the CAWLRA Founding Bishops and Advisory Council
- Goodwill Message — Prof. Esther Mombo, Vice-Chancellor, St. Paul’s University
Final session
From training to transformative change
The final session brings the full four-week learning journey together. Each participant will develop and peer-review an individual 90-Day Transformative Leadership Action Plan — a practical bridge between the intensive training and CAWLRA’s subsequent mentoring, coaching, peer learning and accompaniment.
1
Define the change
What transformation do I want to achieve?
2
Set priorities
Three practical actions and milestones
3
Engage people
Stakeholders, mentor and accountability partner
4
Mobilize support
Resources, partnerships and support required
5
Anticipate barriers
Resistance, risks and how they will be addressed
6
Measure progress
30-, 60- and 90-day indicators of change
7
Act
Begin implementation in the leadership context
8
Review
Peer/mentor check-in and 90-day review
9
Sustain
Use learning to deepen long-term transformation
Expected outcomes
By the end of the programme, participants should be able to
- Strengthen biblical, spiritual and personal foundations for leadership.
- Strengthen financial stewardship, entrepreneurship and resource mobilization.
- Lead transformational and organizational change with greater confidence.
- Practice ethical, resilient and digitally responsible leadership.
- Apply stronger governance, strategic planning, accountability and decision-making practices.
- Develop mentoring and peer-accountability relationships.
- Advocate more effectively on gender justice and issues affecting vulnerable communities.
- Implement a practical 90-Day Transformative Leadership Action Plan.
- Contribute to peacebuilding, mediation and community transformation.
- Demonstrate measurable change within church, institution or community.
Follow-up that focuses on impact
30-day peer/mentor check-in · 90-day action-plan review · 3–6 month impact assessment
Team
Facilitators and contributors
Bishop Emily
On behalf of CAWLRA Founding Bishops
Opening RemarksBishop Dalcy
Facilitator
Session 1Rev. Truphie Kwaka / Sakwa
Facilitator · USPG representative
Sessions 2 & 3 · Pre-training GoodwillDr. Cathy George
Facilitator
Sessions 4 & 11Dr. Teressia Wachira
Facilitator
Session 5Prof. William Ogara
Orientation & Facilitator
Orientation · Session 6 · Post Q&ADr. Lesmore
AACC
Session 7Dr. Ndavula
Facilitator
Session 8Winnie Njenga
Facilitator
Session 9Dr. Lydia Mwaniki
Facilitator
Session 10Dr. Kevin Mureithi
Facilitator
Session 12Prof. Esther Mombo
Vice-Chancellor, St. Paul’s University
Graduation Goodwill MessageSheillah Kowino
Assessment Lead
Pre- & post-assessmentsJoin the CAWLRA Programme
For registration enquiries, contact CAWLRA directly.
Email info@cawlra.orgSt Paul’s University, Limuru, Kenya · info@cawlra.org
Tel: +254 716 123 123 | +254 736 424 440 | Cell: +254 701 076 406
