Nairobi, Kenya, 18, August 2019; To give new impetus to the commitments made at the global and regional levels to advance the realization of gender equality, women and youth empowerment in Africa, African women have concluded the first African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) inter-generational leadership retreat in Nairobi, Kenya. The retreat focused on pathways to advance women’s leadership through intergenerational dialogue and empowerment of young women leaders, as part of the delivery of commitments in Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the global Agenda 2030. The three-day meeting developed concrete and specific responses to Africa's development gaps and untapped opportunities, particularly on how the continent can create models that harness the demographic dividend of African women, across generations, to enhance the leadership capacity.
Speaking at the official opening of the retreat, Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya and the Global Champion for Youth Empowerment, lauded the meeting as a platform for African women to develop recommendations that can feed into the Africa’s common position during the review of the Beijing Declaration and the implementation of other key decisions aimed at women and youth empowerment. The President acknowledged that women still face many barriers in contributing to, and benefiting from development, emphasizing the need for the continent to enhance inclusion of women in more leadership positions. He observed that globally, societies that respect women rights, promote gender equality and include women in developmental aspects, have vibrant economies and stable communities. “This retreat is happening against the backdrop of critical initiatives in the gender equality space. The global community is preparing to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. It is my hope that the outcome of this meeting will feed into the African Union member states common position on the review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, 25 years after its adoption”, President Kenyatta stated.
African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, in a speech delivered on his behalf by the AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, Bineta Diop, reflected on women's movement and efforts that began in the 90s and the initiatives deployed by governments, international and regional institutions, women's rights organizations and civil societies, which shaped the issue of gender equality and the empowerment of women, placing it in the heart of the global agenda. The chairperson reaffirmed the African Union’s commitment to the women and youth agenda, observing that the political will is gradually translating into concrete actions. The appointment, in 2018, of the AU Youth Envoy and the Advisory Council to serve as a link between the African Union and the thousands of young people on the Continent, demonstrates the actions towards a people-centred continent. “This thirst for concrete action also led me, to launch the one million by 2021 initiative this year to reach millions of young people through concrete actions on education, employment, entrepreneurship and engagement. Further, the African Union’s efforts are reflected in ensuring that violence against women and girls is eradicated, and that leadership and participation of women in decision-making processes is enhanced to ensure women enjoy all their fundamental rights, for the economic and financial empowerment of women”, he stated.
While lauding the efforts to foster empowering and meaningful inter-generational dialogue, the United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed, observed that Africa, more that the developed countries, has set a trend in recent years in having a 50/50 representation of women in the leadership positions. She however noted that the continent needs to do more to attain the goals set out in Africa’s Agenda 2063. “Research shows that gender inequality is costing sub-Saharan Africa alone $95 billion each year. Gender inequality is also costing Africa sustainable peace. From northern Nigeria to Sudan, women, including young women, take on visible and critical roles to prevent conflict and to advocate for sustainable peace. But when negotiations formalize, or transitions begin, too often women are simply pushed out of the picture, their voices stifled, and their contributions diminished”, Amina stated. She also expressed optimism that year 2020 would be an opportunity to advance the women and youth agenda in the commemorating of the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, and the 5th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 2250 on youth, peace and security.
In recognizing that gender equality is a fundamental human right and an integral part of regional integration, economic growth and social development of the continent, Joyce Banda, former President of the Republic of Malawi highlighted the challenges women face in leadership positions and called for more political commitment to address the existing challenges, she further underscored the need to create space for young women in leadership positions and advocated for what she termed as a “zebra” leadership model where whenever a man is in a leadership position, a woman is appointed to shadow him and vice versa. Dr. Banda urged the leaders to implement laws on quota for women or gender parity and youth to ensure an all-inclusive transformation agenda in the continent. While understating the importance of mentorship for the youth, she former president counselled the youth to “learn to listen. Remember you cannot know everything and that is why mentorship is powerful. Leadership is about wisdom, you cannot find that in any text book”, she concluded.
In committing to mobilize, establish and strengthen young women participation to advance the implementation of the activities of AWLN pillars in peace and security, governance, finance, social mobilization agriculture, and young women leadership, Dr. Joannie Marlene Bewa, the AWLN Young Women Leaders Caucus representative noted that the inter-generational dialogue was an opportunity for the youth to develop a roadmap for meaningful young women engagement and participation for a mutually beneficial mentoring program, capacity building and intergenerational dialogue. “We recognize that mentoring and intergenerational dialogue and partnerships are crucial to support women’s advocacy, participation and activism from grassroots to global levels. As we are preparing to tap into inter-generational partnerships and mentorship, our core message is that we must ensure we leave no one behind and show support and solidarity to all women especially those in fragile settings and in countries under government transition”, she concluded.
Discussions and sessions during the meeting were also and facilitated by other key leaders, notably, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, former President of Mauritius; Catherine Samba-Panza, former interim President of the Central African Republic; Monica Juma, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Prof. Margaret Kobia Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs; Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive Director; Hannah Tetteh, UNOAU Special Representative of the UN Secretary General; Vera Songwe, the Executive Director UN-ECA; Ms. Aya Chebbi, the AU Special Envoy on Youth and African Union Commission Heads of division from the departments of Women, Gender and Development and Human Resources, Science and Technology.
The outcome of the retreat reflects actionable plans to ensure strong women’s leadership across generations driven by principles and values that advance the delivery of commitments made for Africa’s transformation. The retreat also developed a guide for the design and delivery of solution-oriented “Plan of Action 2020-2022” as part of the African Women Leaders Network’s young women leadership pillar, to be implemented by emerging and senior AWLN women leaders and with the support of the guiding institutions – the African Union and the United Nations.
Note to editors.
The African Women Leaders Network is a women’s led movement, launched in 2017 with the support of the African Union Commission and the United Nations, through the Office of the AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security and UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, and with the support of the Federal Republic of Germany, to enhance the leadership of women in the transformation of Africa with a focus on peace, security, governance and sustainable development.
Among others, the initiative seeks to;
- Establish and nurture an inclusive network comprising a diversity of women and young women in leadership from all sectors of society, including political, public, and private sectors; civil society, grassroots women, and traditional women leaders;
- Enhance ownership of the network at national level through AWLN National Chapters amongst the women leaders through membership and mobilization of women from all sectors to advance women’s rights at the community and society levels;
- Promote solidarity amongst African women and cultivate strategic partnerships amongst existing and emerging networks, including global Networks with similar objectives to encourage women to make Africa’s transformation their agenda;
- Nurture women’s leadership through exchange and documenting of lessons learnt and experiences and mentoring of young women leaders, through intergenerational dialogues and platforms.
For media inquiries, contact;
Samrawit Tassew Mekuria (title) | E-mail: samrawittm@africa-union.org|Tel +251937937664
Edda Zekarias (title) | E-mail: zekarias2@un.org | Tel: +251 930 011 085
Ms. Verlaine-Diane Soobroydoo, Policy Adviser on Women, Peace and Security and Focal Person of the African Women Leaders Network | E-mail: Verlaine.soobroydoo@unwomen.org
