INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

WHAT:           The Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) of the African Union Commission, in collaboration with the Republic of Ghana - the AU Champion for Gender and Development Issues - will convene a High-Level Breakfast Meeting on the margins of the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly. The event aims to revitalize the AU Gender Champion’s Agenda and mobilize high-level political and financial support for the Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion (WYFEI 2030) Initiative.

WHEN:          Friday, 13 February 2026 | 07:00 AM – 10:00 AM (EAT)

WHERE:        Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

WHO:             Organised by H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, AU Champion for Gender and Development Issues and Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) of the African Union Commission

Objectives:

• Reaffirm Commitment: Secure renewed political leadership for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) in line with Agenda 2063.
• Mobilize Resources: Advocate for increased financing to bridge the gender gap in economic and financial inclusion.
• Revitalize the AU Gender Champion’s Agenda: Strengthen it as a continental accountability and visibility mechanism for implementing AU gender commitments.
• Strategic Dialogue: Engage the private sector, financial institutions, and civil society as strategic partners under WYFEI 2030.

Background:

Africa’s path to Agenda 2063 is inextricably linked to the economic power of its women and youth. While the African Union has established continental and global normative frameworks such as the Maputo Protocol, the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AUCEVAWG) and the African Women’s Decade on Financial and Economic Inclusion (2020-2030), a significant implementation gap remains. Structural barriers, including limited access to credit, land, and digital innovation, continue to stall the progress of the WYFEI 2030 (Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion) initiative.

Current data reveals a troubling trend: progress on gender equality is not only stagnating but, in some regions, facing regression due to economic shocks and climate crises. To address this, the AU Champion on Gender and Development Issues, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, is revitalizing the AU Gender Champion’s Agenda. This High-Level meeting serves as a critical intervention to move beyond policy declarations and secure the high-level political and financial commitments necessary to turn the tide for Africa's women and youth.

JOURNALISTS ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT

For media inquiries, please contact: 

Mrs. Wynne Musabayana | Head, Communication Division, Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: MUSABAYANAW@africanunion.org

Ms. Adele Onguene Atangana | Communications Associate, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: AtanganaA@AfricanUnion.org