Namibia’s First Lady Monica Geingos on closing the gender gap

Namibia’s First Lady Monica Geingos is at the forefront of a global movement to close the gender gap and promote gender equality. In a recent interview with CNBC Africa, Geingos highlighted the urgent need for action as the World Economic Forum predicts it will take another 136 years to achieve gender parity. As the President of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development, Geingos is championing a year-long campaign to address gender disparities and empower women across the continent. One of the key areas of focus in the gender equality conversation is the persistent gender pay gap. Geingos expressed her frustration at the slow progress in closing this gap, citing statistics that show women continue to earn only 84 cents for every dollar earned by men. Despite global efforts, including numerous initiatives and organizations dedicated to gender equality, the pace of change remains alarmingly slow. Geingos emphasized the importance of data-driven strategies to measure progress in achieving gender equity. Geingos highlighted the positive strides made by African countries in advancing gender equality. Namibia and Rwanda, in particular, have emerged as global leaders in gender parity, ranking sixth and seventh respectively in achieving gender equity. Geingos underscored that gender inequality is a global issue that requires collective action and a shift in attitudes towards women's empowerment. Another critical area of concern raised by Geingos is the underrepresentation of women in political leadership roles. Despite some progress, such as Namibia's implementation of quotas that led to a significant increase in female parliamentary representation, there is still a long road ahead. Geingos emphasized the need for structural reforms, quotas, and changes in societal attitudes to enable more women to participate in politics and ascend to leadership positions. Turning to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, Geingos expressed optimism about its potential to empower women entrepreneurs and boost economic growth. She commended the African leaders for prioritizing the acceleration of AfCFTA implementation and highlighted the importance of ensuring women's representation in decision-making processes. Geingos stressed the need to address issues like human trafficking that disproportionately affect women in the context of trade and movement of goods. In conclusion, Geingos's advocacy for gender equality and women's empowerment serves as a rallying cry for leaders and policymakers to take urgent action in closing the gender gap. With a steadfast commitment to driving progress and advocating for meaningful change, Geingos is leading the charge towards a more inclusive and equitable society.