The African Union Commission (AUC), through its Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD), supported the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) in convening the Seventh Intergenerational Retreat (IGR) from 5-7 September 2025 in Harare, Zimbabwe. While the retreat's overarching theme was “Accelerating the Preparedness of African Women Leaders to Harness Emerging Technologies for Africa’s Development,” a key panel discussion on “Intergenerational Leadership for Africa’s Transformation - Financing Women’s Leadership, Digital Inclusion and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG)” brought forth essential outcomes. These conclusions are particularly significant as they align with the Directorate’s current campaign to promote the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AUCEVAWG).
A key outcome of the panel discussion was the strong reaffirmation of the urgency for AU Member states to ratify and implement the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (CEVAWG). Delegates highlighted that financing remains the greatest barrier to women’s political participation and called for gender-responsive financing mechanisms, parity laws and quotas. Zimbabwe was recognized for its progressive reforms, including outlawing child marriage, strengthening women’s property rights and establishing a women’s bank.
Hosting the retreat, H.E. Dr. Constantino Chiwenga, First Vice-President and Acting President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to protecting women’s rights and creating inclusive opportunities for all. He announced that Zimbabwe will become the seventh AU Member State to sign the AU-CEVAWG, following Djibouti, The Gambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Liberia and Burundi. Zimbabwe also called upon all AU Member States to urgently sign and ratify the Convention to reach the 15 ratifications required for its entry into force.
The retreat also welcomed the commitment of H.E. Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, to join the Circle of Champions on Positive Masculinity and to ensure Zimbabwe’s signature and ratification of the AU-CEVAWG as part of the country’s broader pledge to eliminate violence against women and girls across the continent.
The three-day retreat brought together Heads of State and Government, former Presidents, AU leadership, United Nations officials, development partners, civil society and young women leaders. Participants engaged in a dynamic dialogue, reflecting on progress and charting new strategies for advancing women’s leadership, peace and security, economic empowerment and intergenerational solidarity across Africa.
In his remarks, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, underscored the centrality of women’s leadership to Africa’s development agenda, stressing that it is “not an option, but a prerequisite for achieving peace, security and sustainable development on the continent.”
H.E. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, commended the spirit of the retreat, describing the intergenerational solidarity as “a beacon of hope, with Africa’s women and youth central to delivering the 2030 Agenda and ensuring that no one is left behind.”
Participants also emphasized the need to expand women’s access to land, credit, markets and innovation hubs, particularly in agriculture and digital spaces. Elders and young women leaders stressed the importance of mentorship, with testimonies highlighting how AWLN retreats have accelerated pathways to leadership. H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia and Patron of AWLN, noted that AWLN continues to nurture the next generation of African women leaders, reflected on the retreat's impact, noting that “when elders and youth walk together, Africa moves forward.”
The retreat concluded with a strong call on AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities, the private sector, civil society and development partners to:
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Ratify and domesticate the CEVAWG.
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Institutionalize intergenerational mentorship.
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Guarantee women’s participation in peacebuilding, governance and digital transformation.
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Expand financing for women-led enterprises.
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Elevate women’s economic inclusion to the agenda of the AU Summit of Heads of State and Government.
Since its launch in 2017 under the patronage of H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and with the support of the AUC and UN Women, AWLN has served as a continental platform for dialogue, mentorship and solidarity among women across generations. The Seventh Intergenerational Retreat in Harare reaffirmed this mission and produced actionable recommendations to advance women’s leadership and Africa’s transformation.
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Ilwad Elmi Mohamed | Ag Head of the Youth Division / Senior Policy Officer-Women’s Rights, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: ElmiMohamedI@africanunion.org
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Adele Atangana | Communications Associate, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: AtanganaA@africanunion.org
