JDC Institute for Leadership and Governance- Snapshot of 2012 Activities

The JDC Institute for Leadership and Governance works with the top leaders of Israel – philanthropists, lay leaders, senior government officials, mayors and municipal leaders. Its vision is to bring leaders together to achieve wide, measurable, and sustainable social impact in Israel; this includes improving the quality of life of the most vulnerable populations, and closing social gaps. The Institute offers learning programs for senior leaders from the government, municipal and nonprofit sectors; creates networks of leaders; and supports cross-sector collaborative initiatives

Center for Lay Leadership and Civil Society

The new Center for Lay Leadership and Civil Society’s vision is to provide a strong and fertile foundation to strengthen Israel’s civil society, in partnership with the government. The Center, launched in December 2012, will work with leaders and organizations of the nonprofit sector, and serve as a bridge between civil society, the government, and the private sector.

The new Center will continue and expand the Institute’s current programs which seek to promote Israel’s civil society.

Current flagship programs include:
1.    The Penni and Stephen Weinberg Center for Lay Leadership
The Center works to develop lay leadership in Israel, through the following programs:

 Synergy – integrates senior business managers into boards of non-profits. The program started with Microsoft, where it is now in its second cycle, and recently expanded to include Intel. There are 20 participants in the program, which has an impact on 20 Boards of Directors (approximately 100 lay leaders)

  Senior lay-leadership forums – the first Conference for Chairs of Non-Profit Organizations, attended by more than 60 Chairs, was held in September 2012. Additional Forums for Chairs focus on specific topics, and currently reach an additional 15 participants.

 Board consultations – the Center is currently working closely with 22 organizations. An additional 60 organizations were exposed to the work of the Center through personal meetings with professional staff, lectures and workshops.

  Resource materials – the development and distribution of materials aimed at advancing lay leadership. Materials produced in 2012 include the Lay Leadership Handbook and the Self-Assessment Tool, used to rate organizations’ performance.

2.      The “Mashmaut” program
This program trains executive directors of non-profit organizations and facilitates the development of reciprocal learning and cooperation among them. This 200-hour program lasts 12 months. The eight cycle of the program, with 16 participants, was concluded in 2012; a new cycle is scheduled to begin in 2013.

3.      The Alliance of Nonprofit Infrastructural Organizations
This program facilitates enhanced coordination and performance of the non-profit sector through a collation of 20 infrastructural nonprofit organizations. These organizations are focused on developing and reinforcing the abilities of non-profit organizations. Among their central areas of specialization are: resource development, volunteerism promotion and management, data collection, evaluation and estimation, organizational development and strategic planning. The Institute initiated the Forum to ensure the services they offer non-profit organizations are well coordinated.

Future Directions of the new Center for Lay Leadership and Civil Society:

Ø  Further develop senior lay leaders and professionals in the nonprofit sector

Ø  Further develop networks of lay leaders, nonprofit professionals, and leaders from other sectors

Ø  Foster partnerships within the nonprofit sector, and cross-sector collaborations

Ø  Increase the effectiveness and excellence of nonprofit organizations

Ø  Promote best practices and tools for strengthening lay leadership and supporting social impact processes

Ø  Develop knowledge and methods of evaluation

Ø  Strengthen senior civil servants’ ability to interface with the nonprofit sector

Ø  Develop a working ground and common language between the nonprofit sector and the government

The partners in the new Center include Penni and Stephen Weinberg, UJA-Federation of New York, and six government ministries (Social Affairs and Social Services, Finance, Education, Health, Justice and Absorption).

Center for Mayors and Regional Development

The Institute’s Center for Mayors and Regional Development works to create beneficial partnerships among mayors and senior municipal professionals, so that they can effectively collaborate with one another. These partnerships increase the capacity of local leaders to execute regional development projects, acquire increased budgets, and gain greater access to national resources.

The Center has helped to create a model for effective regional cooperation across Israel, Regional Clusters. The JDC Institute for Leadership and Governance signed a new partnership contract with the Government of Israel in December 2012, which will introduce Regional Clusters to five areas in Israel’s economic periphery. 

Current flagship programs:

1.      Regional Clusters Program
The Regional Clusters connect municipal leaders to one another through voluntary associations of local municipalities, in order to collectively create long-term development strategies. In Northern Israel, the program forges cooperation through two clusters, Western Galilee and Eastern Galilee, by gathering local leaders and resources needed to enhance the quality of services in the region.

A.      Eastern Galilee Cluster
The Eastern Galilee Regional Cluster is comprised of leaders from the following local authorities – Jish (Gush Halav), Hatzor Haglilit, Katzrin, Kiryat Shmona, Metulla, Rosh Pina, Tzfat, Tiberias, Tuba Zangria, and the Golan, Jordan Valley, Merom Galil, Mevout Hermon and Upper Galilee regional councils. In the Eastern Galilee, the Cluster decided to focus on improving education in the region. A Steering Committee of mayors and professionals was formed, and three task forces were established, charged with promoting excellence in science, music and sports. Each of these task forces is comprised of representatives from the government, region, national experts and local professionals. 

B.      Western Galilee Cluster
The Western Galilee Cluster is comprised of leaders from the following municipalities and local councils: Beit Jan, Horfish, Kfar Vradim, Kissrah- Sammiah, Maale Yosef, Maalot Tarshisha, Shlomi, Mateh Asher, Migdal Tefen, and Pekiin. The Cluster operates using task forces in economic development, employment, education, culture and industry. Significant results of the cluster’s work to date include the Regional Employment Center, the industrial ‘incubator’, cooperation in employment bids, coordinating transport for schools, Waste Treatment Center, and the establishment of a regional culture, arts and heritage center.

2.      Negev Circles
The IDF is planning to move major army bases to the Negev, which offers an extraordinary opportunity to improve the quality of life for thousands of residents in the region. This unique project holds the potential to become a turning point for the southern Israeli periphery, affecting key areas such as employment, housing, education, and transportation. The Center for Mayors and Regional Development is leading a collaborative effort, together with approximately 30 leaders from the local municipalities, the IDF, and the nonprofit sector, designed to enhance cooperation and create long-term regional development strategies in the Negev. The focus over recent weeks has been on establishing the first project: developing economic opportunities for small and medium sized businesses.

3.      Mayors’ Forum
In order to improve the quality of services and leadership on a local level, the Center has established the Mayors’ Forum, in partnership with the Ministry of Interior. Often mayors work alone without a meaningful network of peers. Therefore, the Center created a platform for mayors to share resources, learn from one another, and to receive essential training about high impact strategies in public management. To date, the Center has worked with over 100 mayors. The Forum conducted a learning trip to Canada in October 2012, with 26 participating mayors, to learn about municipalities in Canada, their structure, budgets, educational systems, and collaborations with the central government.

Future Programs:

Central Galilee Cluster: The Cluster includes leaders from Carmiel, Misgav,Majdal Krum, B’yene and Nachef.

Western Negev Cluster: The Cluster includes leaders from Ofakim, Sderot, Netivot, Rahat, Shaa’ar Hanegev Regional Council, Bnei Shimon Regional Council, and Merhavim Regional Council.

Eastern Negev Cluster: The Cluster includes leaders from Dimona, Arad, Yeruham, Mitzpe Ramon, Ramat Negev Regional Council, and Arara Banegev.

The partners in the Center include the Russell Berrie Foundation, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Finance.

Center for Public Leadership and Management

The Center for Public Leadership and Management offers innovative learning programs for senior government officials, establishes networks among leaders from the government sector, and supports collaborative initiatives within the government. These efforts enhance the governments’ capacity to meet the needs of the country’s populations.

Current flagship programs:

 Program for Senior Civil Servants
This program trains senior leaders of the civil service to become more effective leaders of social policy. Participants include top-level civil servants, who are in key positions to make systemic changes. The current Program for Senior Civil Servants includes 29 participants, and is a year-long, 400-hour program.

Program for Executives in Israel’s Ministry of Finance
Participants of this program are responsible for making major allocation decisions, and often play an entrepreneurial role in leading social change through their planning and decision-making. The program seeks to help them gain a comprehensive understanding of Israel’s needs, empower them to be active agents of social change, and help them form partnerships and collaborations. There are 15 participants in the program.

Forums for Regional Directors of Ministries
The Forums facilitate cooperation on a regional level by convening key government officials who represent various Ministries in the same region, and by providing a platform for cooperation between the central government and the municipalities in order to create local impact. There are approximately 80 Regional Directors active in five different Forums – North, Center, Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem and South. Each Forum meets approximately every six weeks, and a National Forum for Regional Directors was established in 2012.

4.      Forum for Deputy Directors of Government Ministries, in charge of Administration and Personnel
Together with the Civil Service Commissioner, the Institute launched this program in 2012. Ninety senior managers are working in seven task forces which focus on various topics aimed at improving the level of public service in Israel.

5.      Programs for Graduates
The first conference of the new Graduates Unit was held in October 2012, with 35 graduates from the Program for Senior Civil Servants. The Unit is developing programs for Institute graduates, and forming networks that will enhance cooperation among leaders.

Future Programs:

1. Strategic Seminar for National Planning
Aimed at promoting collaborative long-term planning between the different ministries, this new initiative of the Institute involves three partners: the National Economic Council, the Civil Service Commission, and the Policy Planning Department in the Prime Minister’ Office. The goal is to establish a senior forum of approximately 20 civil servants from various ministries, who are in charge of the strategic planning of their ministries. The Forum will bring these officials together to create a common language, develop a network of senior planners, and work together on the strategic planning of critical issues on a national level.

2. Learning Programs for senior executives in the Ministry of Finance
The center is currently developing tailored programming for several executive and management levels within the Ministry of Finance, in addition to the existing program.

3. Professional Workshops for Senior Civil Servants
This program is expected to reach 240 Civil Servants in 2013

The Center’s partners include the Civil Service Commission through the Prime Minister’s office, and the Ministry of Finance.
The Institute receives support from The Wohl Legacy for Institute-wide

 The JDC Institute for Leadership and Governance: 2012 in numbers

In 2012, the Institute ran 33 programs:

7 Learning Programs
6 Forums and Networks
15 Collaborative Initiatives
5 Conferences

In 2012,
1329 leaders participated
in the Institute’s programs:

167 in Learning Programs
452 in Forums and Networks
365 in Collaborative Initiatives
345 in Conferences

Center for Mayors and Regional Development

 The Center works with more than 50 Mayors through the Regional Clusters Program
The Mayors’ Forum includes more than 40 mayors
The Center accompanies 3 municipalities (Sderot, Ofakim, Migdal Ha’emek).

Center for Lay Leadership and Civil Society

 The Center reaches over 200 non-profit organizations
The Center’s Synergy Program works with 20 participants and reaches 100 lay leaders
The Alliance of Non-Profit Infrastructural Organizations includes 20 leading organizations

Center for Public Leadership and Management
In 2012, the Center reached 240 out of Israel’s 1,300 senior civil servants
The Center accompanied 3 out of the 4 major strategic initiatives in the government: Reform of the Civil Service Commission, the Governance Committee, and the Strategic Seminar for National Planning

Total hours of the Institute’s Learning Programs

In 2012: 360
Planned for 2013: 2120