The Leadership 20:20 Commission has called on funders and commissioners to include management and leadership development components in funding agreements.

Its one of a series of recommendations, aimed at supporting emerging civil society leaders, which the Commission has launched this week.

The Commission was established in 2010 following an NCVO-led leadership enquiry. Over the year it has consulted with more than 500 stakeholders on the subject. It has released a new report which includes a series of recommendations for leadership going forward, including a call to open up pathways to improve diversity amongst leaders. It also calls for those who fund or commission the sector to include management and leadership development components in funding agreements, and include reporting requirements against these.

The Commission’s president, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, who launched the recommendations at an NCVO parliamentary reception yesterday, said: “It has never been more important to challenge civil society organisations, as well as government and business, to do more to engage and inspire future civil society leaders. They will be the leaders who will tackle the fall-out from today’s challenges, as well as address the challenges of tomorrow.”

NCVO chief executive Sir Stuart Etherington added: “I welcome the Leadership 20:20 Commission’s recommendations as a foundation for how we will develop the support and empowerment we offer emerging leaders in civil society. I look forward to the discussions and changes these recommendations will encourage.”

Acevo and the Chartered Management Institute, who have been supporting the Commission, also welcomed the report.