CLP – Center for Public Leadership

Preparing the Political Leaders who will Change Brazil

The CLP – Center for Public Leadership is dedicated to the preparation and development of political leaders who are committed to promoting transformational changes in Brazil’s society and who seek to implement effective and innovative public policies. The CLP is a non-profit and non-partisan organization.

Objective

To turn Brazilian political leaders into true agents of transformational change.

Mission

To produce transformational leaders with the capacity to originate and implement innovative public policies in an effective, ethical, and responsible manner.

Vision

Transformational leaders challenge archaic beliefs, customs, and attitudes and mobilize society through the implementation of innovative public policies.

What We Do

The CLP organizes meetings and events designed to help public leaders develop the necessary leadership skills for implementing transformational changes.

Seminars and Workshops tailored to government officials and political leaders who are rigorously selected for participation.
Debates that stimulate the discussion of various political themes and their impact on the formulation of public policy.
Education and Exchange programs with universities and institutions focused on public leadership.
Publication of research, studies, and reports on themes and issues regarding public policy, public administration, and public leadership.
Development of leadership and management skills for the public sector.

Projects

International Debate

GLOBAL WARMING: A Political and Economic Dilemma

Environmental policy must follow the same parameters of objectivity and rationality that guide other political issues. If it does not, there is a risk of implementing policies that are expensive, inefficient, and incapable of significantly combating global warming.

The debate brought together two prominent international figures: Bjorn Lomborg and Patrick Michaels. Both present a pragmatic vision of the public policies required to confront global warming.

The major topics discussed were:

Is the reduction of carbon gas emissions enough to reverse the problem of global warming?

What impact does global warming have on the formulation of public policies?

What impact do environmental policies have on the growth of the global economy? Could they potentially magnify the socio-economic inequalities between rich and poor nations, or rather, help foster more rational and balanced development?

Speakers

Patrick Michaels is a climatologist and professor at the University of Virginia. He is a member of the United Nations International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and of the Cato Institute.

Bjorn Lomborg is a Danish political scientist and environmentalist. He is the author of two bestsellers, The Skeptical Environmentalist and Cool It. He was selected as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2004.

National Seminar

THE CHALLENGE OF MUNICIPAL LEADERSHIP: Vision, Policy, and Results

New mayors come together to share successful experiences in public and professional management.

This seminar was dedicated to 18 recently elected mayors coming from different parties and representing a new generation of political leaders.

Designed to serve as an educational program, this seminar featured classes, debates over case studies, and testimonials from figures with a record of transformational leadership. The seminar featured panel discussions focused on the preeminent issues regarding municipal governance, such as:

Budget Management

Project Development

Juridical and Constitutional Issues

Public Policy on Healthcare

Education, Infrastructure, and Security

The seminar also included panel discussions on themes concerning the public leader, such as:

Leadership

Conflict Management and Negotiation

Creating and Managing your Team

Communication, Media, and Crisis Control

Lecturers

Notable lecturers included Antonio Anastasia (vice-governor of Minas Gerais), ex-minister Pedro Parente, the entrepreneur Abílio Diniz, professors Alexandre de Moraes, Patrícia Tavares, Eugenio Mussak, Carlos Da Costa and Luiz Felipe d’Avila. McKinsey & Company contributed greatly to this seminar through its study on the effects of economic informality on municipal economies. Also central to the event’s success was the participation of INDG, Movimento Brasil Competitivo, and Fundação BRAVA – the three principal institutions involved with the “Choque de Gestão Pública” in Minas Gerais.

Participantes in the CLP National Seminar of Mayors

National Debate

BRAZIL AND THE ECONOMIC CRISIS

The real test for government leaders lies in proving their capacity to reconcile expectations and establish goals in order to promote change.

CLP brought together a select group of national figures from both the private and public sectors to discuss the impact of the international economic crisis on Brazil.Through debate, the participants sought to recommend public policies according to the following criteria:

1) Stimulate job creation as well as public and private investment

2) Produce significant results in 12 months (short term impact)

3) Implement measures of low political complexity that do not require the approval of constitutional amendments.

Debate Participants

Pedro Parente: Engineer, vice-president of Grupo RBS, ex-Chief of Staff and ex-Minister of Planning.

Luiz Paulo Vellozo Lucas: Federal Deputy (PSDB-ES) and president of the Teotônio Vilela Institute.

Abílio Diniz: Business administrator and President of the Administrative Council of Grupo Pão de Açúcar.

José Roberto Mendonça de Barros: Economist, associate of MB Associates consulting firm, and ex-Secretary of Political Economy of the Ministry of Finance.

Publication

BRAZIL’S GROWTH DIAGNOSIS

The major obstacle to vigorous economic growth in Brazil is the country’s low domestic savings rate.

The CLP commissioned a study from Ricardo Hausmann, renowned Venezuelan economist and professor, on the principal factors impeding the sustainable growth of the Brazilian economy. Hausman is internationally known for creating a method of evaluating a country’s main obstacles to rapid and sustainable economic growth.According to Hausman’s analysis of the Brazilian economy, the country’s major barrier is its low domestic savings rate. In order to raise it, reductions in government spending must be made.

Lecturer

Ricardo Hausmann holds a Ph.D in Economics from Cornell University. He is the director of the Center for International Development and a professor of Economic Development at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He formerly served as Chief Economist of the Inter-American Development Bank (1994-2000) and as Venezuela’s Minister of Planning (1992-1993). Hausmann’s work focuses on issues of economic growth, macroeconomic stability, international finance, and the social dimensions of development

National Seminar

LEADING TRANSFORMATION CHANGES IN EDUCATION

How a public leader can pave the way to improving basic education.

This seminar brought together 16 mayors from different states and party backgrounds and their respective secretaries of Education. The program sought to endow the attendees with the leadership and management tools necessary to define goals, negotiate their priorities, and mobilize their communities’ participation in the process of implementing transformational changes in the municipal educational system.

The first segment of the seminar handled the issues of:

Managing the Education System

Good Practices in Education

Innovative Curriculums

Recognizing the Value of the Teacher

In the seminar’s second segment, the debate turned to issues concerning public leadership, such as:

Constructing a Vision of the Educational System

Creating a Team

Conflict Management

Safeguarding the power to Mobilize and Communicate Transformational Change

Making Commitments to Municipal Education

Speakers

Notable lecturers included: Claudia Costin, ex-minister and current secretary of Education of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Mozart Ramos, of Todos Pela Educação, Gabriel Chalita, ex-secretary of Education of the State of Sao Paulo and current city councilor, Viviane Senna, of the Ayrton Senna Institute, and economists, André Portela (FGV-SP), Marcelo Néri (FGV-RJ) and Naércio Menezes (Ibmec-SP and FEA-USP).

Participants in CLP National Seminar of Education

CLP Testimonials

“The concept of a Center for Public Leadership represents an investment that is likely to be a significant factor in determining the potential of Brazil’s future.” Ricardo Hausmann, Professor of Economic Development and Director of the Center for International Development at Harvard Kennedy School of Government

“Truly exceptional! It was a memorable meeting.” Alberto Alves Marques Filho, Municipal Secretary of Education of São José dos Campos (SP)

“I have been to several meetings of mayors before. However, it was this one that touched my heart the most, brought me to rethink and reflect, and refreshed me.” Leandro Duarte, Mayor of Santa Maria da Boa Vista (PE)

“I accepted this invitation because I believe that the purpose of the CLP is very important: to prepare a foundation for carrying out the public cause.” Abílio Diniz, Entrepreneur, President of Grupo Pão de Açúcar

“I think that the CLP is a wonderful initiative. It is inspiring to see a group of mayors, people who are truly dedicated and wish to change that vision of the future, and move towards a vision of results.” Pedro Parente, ex-Chief of Staff

“I had been completely uninspired. This meeting was the happiest moment of my 4 years in office. I began to believe that it is worth it for us to come together face to face, go to action, and make the city proud of their politicians.” Luciano Barbosa, Mayor of Arapiraca (PE)

“This meeting with fellow mayors represents an exchange between our cities; in this context, we can share our concerns and bring together positive experiences.” Célia Regina Gonçalves da Silva Carvalho, Municipal Secretary of Education of Petrolina (PE)

“The CLP is important to the development of the public leader.” Osvaldo Franceschi Junior, Mayor of Jaú (SP)

“It is with great joy and satisfaction, that we see the private sector behind this responsible approach.” Vitor Lippi, Mayor of Sorocaba (SP)

“An important feature of the CLP is that it urges us to stop and think about what we do and what we do not want to do.” Marília Campos, Mayor of Contagem (MG)

“I believe that building contacts, forging relationships and acquiring knowledge of different experiences and practices will help us to facilitate the implementation of the necessary reforms for improving education in our city.” Eliana Godoí, Municipal Secretary of Education of Votuporanga (SP)

“The success of this experiment is the success of a fantastic initiative. I hope that you fully grasp how important this is for the country.” Cezar Schirmer, Mayor of Santa Maria, (RS)

“My greatest wish is that all 5 thousand mayors of Brazil would join us in taking part of this great opportunity.” Eugenio Zuliani, Mayor of Olímpia (SP)