10TH AFRICAN WOMEN CONFERENCE: A RENEWED CALL TO SERVICE

The 10th Africa Women Conference (AWC) in Accra, Ghana, is more than a decade-long celebration; it represents a call to action for African women and girls. The conference unites leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, civil society, traditional institutions, and young people to develop practical solutions for women's advancement in Africa.

AWC has established the AWC Leadership Development Centre for Women and Girls, providing mentorship and training to emerging female leaders. Through AWC-Next, the conference expanded engagement to students, young professionals, youth leaders, and girls at the grassroots level. By partnering with DataCamp, AWC secured 100 AI and data science training licenses for women and girls across Africa, culminating in advanced certification for 37 participants.

Past editions of AWC have addressed critical issues such as digital inclusion, financial access, agritech, entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, sustainable development, and women's participation in decision-making. The 10th Anniversary Edition, themed "A Decade of Impact: From Commitments to Action—Advancing Justice, Economic Power and Leadership for African Women and Girls," calls for moving beyond policy declarations to enforce existing laws, demand accountability, and measure progress.

This edition highlights the need for economic empowerment beyond survival assistance, urging African women to own productive assets, access finance and technology, participate in regional and international trade, and build competitive enterprises. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of transforming restrictive institutions and social norms that hinder women's leadership, advocating for equitable representation in decision-making bodies across various sectors.

AWC participants are urged to return to their respective communities as agents of change, mentoring young women, supporting girls' education, challenging discriminatory practices, patronising women-owned businesses, and transforming policies into tangible outcomes. The success of this conference will be measured by the lasting impact it has on African women and girls in the years to come.