AU promotes women’s participation in African economies

The African Union (AU) has been making significant strides in promoting women's participation in African economies and society. Despite the high levels of female labor force participation in certain parts of the continent, most women face vulnerable employment conditions, working in adverse conditions as family workers in agriculture or small low-productivity businesses. To address these challenges and empower African women, Commissioner Bineta Diop, AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace, and Security, has been leading efforts to ensure women are at the core of the AU's development agenda. Commissioner Diop's mandate focuses on bringing women's voices to the table of mediation and negotiation. The AU has been advocating for member states to develop national action plans on women, peace, and security to protect and support women's participation. Since 2014, the number of African countries with such plans has grown from 17 to 36, showing progress in institutionalizing women's empowerment within the AU framework for peace, security, and development. The COVID-19 crisis posed significant challenges to women in Africa, with reports indicating that it could set back a generation of progress. The pandemic highlighted the pervasive issue of violence against women, not just in conflict zones but also in households. In response, the AU, under the leadership of the Africa Women Leaders Network, initiated efforts to engage men and boys in promoting gender equality and combatting violence against women. One key outcome of these efforts is the development of a convention to fight against violence targeting women and girls, currently in the drafting stage. To further support the economic empowerment of women, the AU and Standard Bank have collaborated to create the Africa Women Impact Fund. This fund aims to increase the presence of women in the business community, provide financial training and capital to women entrepreneurs, and promote gender perspective in economic transformation. By mobilizing resources and expertise, the fund seeks to address the underrepresentation of women in finance and business leadership roles in Africa. Looking ahead, Commissioner Diop highlighted the importance of assessing member states' progress in implementing women, peace, and security action plans. Additionally, she outlined priorities for 2024 and emphasized the need to continue building on the achievements made thus far. The AU's commitment to empowering African women in both the economy and society remains steadfast, with ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable future for women across the continent.