ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the motivations and drivers for women attending the leadership programme and determines the benefits women participants derived from attending the program. It investigates how the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) leadership programme has contributed in enhancing women's capacities in agricultural research and development organisations using qualitative and quantitative data gathered from 32 women who attended the programme in its ten years in operation. Briefly, research on women's leadership barriers has been classified into two groups: individual/perceptual perspective and structural perspective. Leadership theory suggests that technical competence and interpersonal effectiveness are leader's sources in influencing their follower's behaviour. The chapter shows that the training programme provided attendees with opportunities to improve their skills in both areas. For example attendees declared that their ability to deal with conflicts and complicated situations, their understanding of different cultures and their self-confidence and exposure to the professional community have been increased after participating in the training program.
