INTL IDEA: Women’s representation in African parliaments rises to 25% in 2024

Women's political participation in African parliaments has seen a slight increase from 24 percent in 2021 to 25 percent in 2024, according to the recently released Women in Political Participation Barometer. Despite these gains, the journey towards gender parity in African political representation remains slow, with projections suggesting it may take until the year 2100 to achieve equality. The Regional Director for Africa and West Asia at the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Roba Sharamo, discussed the progress and challenges ahead in a recent interview with CNBC Africa. Sharamo highlighted that while there has been a one percentage point increase in women's political participation from 2021 to 2024, the pace of change is insufficient. He noted that some regions in Africa are performing better than others, with the overall representation of women in political leadership positions still below optimal levels. The data reveals a need for more concerted efforts to accelerate progress towards gender equality in parliaments and other decision-making bodies. One of the critical areas that require immediate attention is the promotion of women in political party leadership positions. Sharamo emphasized the importance of having more women influence policies within political parties to create a more conducive environment for female candidates. He recommended implementing gender-targeted funding and penalties for parties that do not prioritize women's representation, as well as encouraging seasoned female political leaders to form parties that champion gender equality. Looking ahead, Sharamo cited countries like Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, and Namibia as positive examples of high female representation in parliaments, owing in part to proportional representation electoral systems. However, he expressed concerns about the low levels of women's participation in West African countries like Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, and Gambia. With upcoming elections in countries like Ghana, Sharamo urged for increased investments in promoting women's political participation and dismantling structural barriers. As the world works towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, including Goal 5 on gender equality and women's empowerment, the need for enhanced efforts to boost women's representation in African parliaments has never been more critical. By addressing key challenges and implementing targeted strategies, African countries can expedite the path towards gender parity and create a more inclusive and representative political landscape.