Context and Challenges
The African Development Bank (AfDB) wanted its Executive Board Members, senior leaders and staff to strengthen their professional presence on social media. They needed to engage strategically, communicate in a crisis and manage risks such as misinformation, negative comments and cyber threats, in line with the Bank’s communication policies.
Our Role
Research for Purpose designed a tailored programme of nine sessions in 2025 across more than hundred staff divided by level of seniority and team focus. Trainings were delivered by Dante Licona, a senior communications executive who has advised global leaders on social media, including the WHO Director General. The programme had separate tracks for senior leadership, for the communications team and for general staff. The communications team session trained its members to become trainers for their colleagues. Sessions took place online, with recordings for later viewing.
Max Terzini then developed an online learning platform to host the training. It organises the recorded videos into modules with quizzes and knowledge checks, and was designed to be integrated into the Bank’s website.
Results
The Bank now has trained staff, internal trainers and a permanent learning resource that new staff can use at their own pace. Trainings are often thought as a one-off exercise for internal capabilities. Instead, this project and other capability building initiatives with other partners, especially around AI.