About the Women Empowerment Sector.

Women empowerment is one of the key sectors of practice for AEFID, as it reflects the organization’s commitment to promote gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights for Africa and its people. AEFID recognizes that women empowerment is essential for enhancing the human development, poverty reduction, and sustainable growth of the continent, as well as for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). AEFID also acknowledges the challenges and opportunities that Africa faces in the women empowerment sector, such as the gaps in access, quality, and equity of education, health, and economic opportunities, the impacts of violence, discrimination, and harmful practices, the need for reform and transformation, and the potential for innovation and partnership.

According to the United Nations, Africa has made remarkable progress in women empowerment in recent years, but still faces significant barriers in achieving the international standards and best practices of gender equality. The continent has an estimated 256 million women and girls who are undernourished, 59 million who are out of school, and 35% who have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. The main factors that hinder the women empowerment are poverty, gender norms, conflict, and weak governance. Moreover, Africa is the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated the existing gender inequalities and vulnerabilities.

However, Africa also has many opportunities and potentials to improve its women empowerment and achieve the SDGs related to gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights. The continent has a large and diverse population, with more than 50% of its people being women and girls, and a growing demand for their participation and leadership in all spheres of life. Africa also has the potential to harness the power of innovation and technology, such as digital platforms, mobile applications, and social media, to improve its women empowerment and create solutions that are relevant, inclusive, and adaptive to its context and needs. Furthermore, Africa can benefit from the increased collaboration and partnership among its countries, regions, and stakeholders, as well as with the international community, to share best practices, mobilize resources, and coordinate actions.

AEFID aims to support and complement these efforts by conducting and promoting research, education, and advocacy on women empowerment issues in Africa. AEFID also strives to foster a dialogue and collaboration among various stakeholders, including state authorities, civil society, private sector, media, academia, and international and regional organizations. AEFID believes that by working together, we can enhance the women empowerment, gender equality, and women’s and girls’ rights of Africa and its people.