Building a Solid Foundation to Transform Africa Through the Lenses of Organization Development Principles.

Africa remains of intense interest to many other continents in the world. Many are the various resources that attract other continents to Africa for their benefit at the expense of the continent (itself). However, the continent's human resources (HR) remain in a quandary. This does not result from a lack of qualifications but the inability to shake off the past that has a hold on the progression of the continent. The continent's wealth can only be tapped and turned into wealth by people on the continent. It will take a mental, heart, and physical shakeup of the peoples of Africa to build a solid foundation for nations on the continent. This current working paper argues that until Africa's HR appreciates its own/only human capital (HC) to develop this continent, takes pride in who they are, what they are capable of doing, why and how (they should do it), and know what Africa needs, this continent's foundation shall remain shaky for generations to come. Organization development (OD) principles underpin the called-upon solid foundation. These are principles that should create a compass for use and drive the values and goals of Africans. The critical and science-based process of OD has the potential to bring out the best needed to transform systems so that the process to address critical transition effectively and sustainably can be understood. It is in building a solid foundation that Africa will be liberated completely. Organization development emerges as a holistic, evidence-based, and structural process that can help people focus on those values that are the true foundation materials to build a solid foundation for the Africa we need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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