urged leaders to act boldly:
“Gender equality is not a goal—it is the foundation of economic and social transformation.”
By Baboloki Semele: As leaders, advocates, and changemakers converged for the Gender Forum Pre-Event ahead of the 11th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11), one message stood above all: Gender equality is not only a human right—it is the key to unlocking Africa’s economic potential. In his keynote address, Aboubakri Diaw, Chief of Staff and Officer-in-Charge of the Gender, Poverty, and Social Policy Division at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), issued a challenge to the continent:
“Take a few seconds to imagine an Africa where every woman has the same access to opportunity, technology, and leadership as her male counterpart. That is not just a dream—it is an economic imperative.”
His call comes at a critical time. With only five years left to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Africa is lagging behind—particularly on Goal 5: Gender Equality. The 2023 Africa Gender Index, co-published by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and ECA, places the continent at just 50.3% in achieving gender equality. Diaw warned that, at this rate, Africa may not reach SDG 5 until the year 2094.
Seven Bold Priorities to Accelerate Equality
During the Forum, ECA outlined seven strategic priorities for inclusion in the forthcoming Kampala Declaration, a transformative blueprint for regional and national governments:
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Legal Empowerment: Enact and enforce laws that secure women’s access to land, finance, and justice.
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Valuing Unpaid Care Work: Build care infrastructure, with the potential to create 300 million jobs—90% for women.
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Gender-Responsive Social Protection: Increase public investment in care, health, and education services.
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Digital Inclusion: Tackle the gender digital divide—women remain 27.6% less likely to access the internet.
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Data-Driven Policy: Improve gender-disaggregated data to ensure women are counted in governance.
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Inclusive Leadership: Raise women’s political participation—currently only 26% of African parliamentarians are women.
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Financing Equality: Mobilize gender-responsive budgeting and reform tax systems to close equity gaps.
Diaw’s address was not just a critique—it was a rallying cry.
“Let us walk out of this Forum not only with declarations—but with deadlines. Let each institution here commit to three measurable, transformative actions—before we meet again.”
Private Sector Called to the Frontlines
In a separate session held under the banner Forward Faster Now Africa, attention turned to the private sector—underscoring its critical role in realizing the continent’s sustainable development vision.Antonio Pedro, ECA’s Deputy Executive Secretary, opened the session by acknowledging both the urgency and opportunity that define this moment.
“Africa is off track on nearly all SDG targets. Less than 6% are expected to be achieved by 2030 if we maintain the current pace. GDP growth is averaging 3%—far below the 7% target.”
Still, Pedro was optimistic. With Africa’s youthful population, vast natural resources, and the promise of the $3.4 trillion AfCFTA market, the continent has what it takes to leap forward. But, as he noted,
“Potential is not progress.”
Unleashing the Private Sector Engine
Pedro laid out the systemic barriers holding back private sector growth: inconsistent regulations, macroeconomic instability, limited protections for investors, and high capital costs driven by credit rating biases.
“De-risking investment must be a holistic effort,” he emphasized, calling for:
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Harmonized business regulations,
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Support for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises),
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Swift ratification of AfCFTA protocols on investment and labor mobility.
Pedro urged African businesses to innovate and take action:
“Digitize. Invest in renewables. Practice lean management. Tap into blended finance. We cannot afford to wait.”
The private sector, he said, must be more than just an observer, but must be a co-architect of Africa’s transformation.
The twin pre-events the Gender Forum and the Private Sector Dialogue reinforced a central truth: inclusion and innovation must go hand in hand, with overarching message that gender equality and private sector dynamism are not separate priorities but interdependent engines that, if aligned and fueled properly, can propel the continent toward a prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future.
delegates were warned that As Africa inches closer to 2030, one truth is clear: the time for good intentions is over and now the time for bold action, measurable results, and shared accountability.
“What legacy will you leave for African women and girls?” Diaw asked, leaving delegates with a question that will echo far beyond Kampala’s conference halls.