On 12 February 2018, the Executive Director of Algerian Project Management Association passed away in Algiers. Many of you remember him when he presented together with the President of APMA Samira Babaaissa the application of APMA at the Council of Delegates meeting in March 2016 in Riga to join IPMA. Some remember him from the first Pan-African conference on project management in Yaoundé (Cameroon) in 2017 where he delivered an unforgettable speech.
APMA organised a special general assembly on 10 March 2018 in Algiers with over sixty attendees, to which Djamal’s family, his friends, the sponsor of APMA ELSECOM, the Executive Director of IPMA, all members of APMA in Algeria and some external guests were invited.

Djamal contributed a lot to the dynamics of the association and although 74 years old he remained young in his mind and his actions. Last year he also started a PhD with the Institut Supérieur de Gestion et de Planification in Algiers. Djamel understood quickly what project management was about: common sense, a lot of working discipline and the pleasure to share knowledge, experience and behaviour  to realise an idea with a team. Djamal led by example, promoting the project management profession in a difficult environment. He  very well represented the human values of IPMA and leaves behind him a heritage that his successors will now take over.

This means resilience for the new board and all APMA members as Djamal shaped the vision and strategic plan of APM very strongly. The special general assembly was the occasion to recall his heritage and enumerate the many realisations of APMA over the past years in membership developement, certification, training  and events. In this context, APMA under the leadership of Vice-President Farouk Moukah is organising its 4th national conference on project management on 28th April 2018 at the Sofitel in Algiers with the title: « Project management as a leverage in times of crisis » , to which President Jesus Matinez-Almela and IPMA Executive Director were invited as speakers.

A lot still needs to be done at APMA and the Key Account Management for Members (KAMM) concept developed by IPMA-Board and that was presented by the IPMA Executive Director during the assembly was appreciated in that particular context.

Resilience after the death of Djamal was also shown with a presentation on the development of regional offices under responsibility of Vice-President of APMA Khaled Meriem.  As Algeria is the largest country in Africa, decentralisation is key for the promotion of the the project management profession.

All the commissions (Young Crew, Certification, Training, Finances) contributed through their Vice-Presidents very actively to the event.
Newly elected Executive Director Mohammed Benbraika and his substitute Newfel Ouennouri are confirming APMA’s resilience capability  and both persons have now the opportunity to move APMA forward with all their dedication.

In the Algerian tradition and after the prayer to the person that passed away, a big couscous (the traditional national Algerian dish) was offered by the association to all the guests.
This shows again how important the respect for cultural traditions are in IPMA project management approach and beliefs  and how it differentiates from other PM approaches and concepts. IPMA can be proud of APMA, its fourth member on the African continent.
Bon courage à APMA et un grand merci au nom de la direction d’International Project Management Association.