Women at the Centre of Africa’s Growth

At the margins of the 39th African Union Summit, a strategic partnership between the African Union Development Agency–NEPAD and Women for Women International signalled a structured shift in how gender policy is framed across the continent. Rather than treating women as beneficiaries of development, the initiative positions them as economic actors central to inclusive growth.

The agreement aligns directly with Agenda 2063, which calls for inclusive and sustainable development anchored in human capital. Under the leadership of AUDA-NEPAD and its partners, the roadmap for 2026–2028 targets post-conflict, fragile and climate-vulnerable contexts where women’s economic participation remains constrained.

Economic empowerment as growth strategy

The partnership outlines interventions in financial literacy, digital skills, entrepreneurship support and improved market access. These measures reflect growing evidence that women-led enterprises contribute meaningfully to productivity and household resilience. According to the World Bank, closing gender gaps in labour markets can significantly lift GDP across developing economies.

Importantly, the framework integrates survivor-centred responses to Gender-Based Violence. Economic empowerment and safety are treated as complementary pillars rather than separate agendas. The UN Women agency has consistently highlighted that addressing GBV strengthens economic participation and social stability.

Policy voice and resource mobilisation

Beyond programme delivery, the initiative seeks to elevate women’s representation in high-level policy and investment dialogues. This dimension is particularly relevant as African economies mobilise resources for infrastructure, climate adaptation and post-conflict recovery. Engagement with institutions such as African Development Bank frameworks can help embed gender-responsive investment criteria into broader financing models.

The presence of multilateral and private-sector actors, including UNDP and Absa Group, underscores that the conversation is moving from advocacy to capital allocation. Investing in women is increasingly framed as economic strategy rather than social expenditure.

Resilience, climate and peacebuilding

The 2026–2028 roadmap places emphasis on fragile and climate-exposed environments. As the United Nations notes, climate vulnerability disproportionately affects women in rural and conflict-affected settings. Integrating women into climate resilience and peacebuilding efforts therefore strengthens long-term stability.

Ultimately, investing in women in Africa is not peripheral to development. It sits at the core of economic transformation. When women-led enterprises scale, when violence declines, and when financial inclusion deepens, households strengthen and communities stabilise. If Agenda 2063 is to deliver inclusive growth, women must remain at the centre of both policy design and investment execution.

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