The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission joining the Women for Africa Foundation in celebrating 10th Anniversary

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May 19, 2022

The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission H.E. Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, addressed the 10th Anniversary celebration of the Women for Africa Foundation that took place on 19 May 2022 in Madrid, Spain.

The Theme for the celebration was: "Women Building Bridges: Proposals from the South for Global Change".

In her opening remarks, the Deputy Chairperson emphasized the importance and urgency of amplifying and coordinating actions as leaders, and more so, women leaders in addressing global challenges that often times have a disproportionate negative effect on women and girls.

H.E. Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa highlighted that Aspiration 6 of the African Union Agenda 2063 speaks about an ‘Africa, whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children.’ This aspiration calls for the holistic empowerment of African Women and youth which form 75% of its population, by addressing their equal social, political, and economic rights.

She stressed African Union’s commitment to gender parity and updated participants on the achievements so far, including a 50-50 gender representation at African Union Commission leadership level. She also reminded the audience of the commitments to achieve 35% representation for the youth.

Dr Nsanzabaganwa emphasized the deployment of women and youth inclusion policies, strategies and programs at African Union Member States level and the roles assigned to the private sector through the Africa Business Council and to the civil society through the African Union ECOSOCC, in the domestication of these programs.

She recalled progress made on women, peace and security agenda which is another area where Africa has made tremendous progress, thereby announcing ongoing institutionalization of the role of the Envoy for Women, Peace and Security.

She finally evoked the African Women’s Decade (AWD) for Financial and Economic Inclusion (FEI) 2020-2030 and the WYFEI 2030 initiative towards its implementation, thereby inviting all friends of Africa and partners to support this initiative.

She further explained that WYFEI stands for Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion. The WYFEI 2030 is a 10 Action Points framework, with three dimensions (personal, systems and environment) designed to coordinate a comprehensive effort not only for African women, but also for youth, thereby aiming to reach 75% of Africa’s 1.3 billion population with meaningful, transformative initiatives including but not limited to, employment, unlocking financial products and services, public procurement, policy and regulation, access to productive resources such as land and technology, addressing poverty through burden sharing and easing, to name but a few.

Concluding her remarks, H.E. Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission reaffirmed the commitment of the AU Commission to continue engaging and partnering with women leaders across the globe to implement the common goals of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Several African women leaders joined Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain and the President of Women for Africa Foundation Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega in the event, including Former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former First Lady Mrs. Graca Machel, Former President of the Pan African Parliament Gertrude Mongella, Chairperserson of Africa Business Council Dr Amany Asfour, the African Union Envoy on Women, Peace and Security Madame Bineta Diop and ECOWAS Vice President Finda Koroma.