ACSL’s Approach to Mapping School Leadership Initiatives

This document outlines the African Centre for School Leadership (ACSL)’s standardized approach to mapping school leadership initiatives across Africa at both continental and national levels. It presents the objectives, conceptual framework, and a phased mixed-methods methodology combining desk reviews, research mapping, stakeholder consultations, and validation processes.

The approach enables identification of policies, professional development initiatives, research, and key actors shaping school leadership systems. It emphasizes generating evidence-based insights, strengthening coordination, and ensuring contextual relevance.

By integrating continental trends with country-specific diagnostics, the methodology supports informed policy reform, improved leadership development systems, and more coherent, data-driven strategies to enhance education quality across Africa.