NEW YORK, 26 September 2026 - The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), in partnership with the African Union (AU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and UN Women, convened the AWLN Global Forum on Women’s Leadership in New York on 26 September 2026, on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81). The high-level gathering bro

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AWLN GLOBAL WOMEN LEADERSHIP FORUM 2026 Reimagining Global Governance: Championing Women’s Leadership for Lasting Impact INVITATION TO MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES What: NEW YORK, 26 SEPTEMBER 2026 - As world leaders converge on New York for the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), in partnership with the African Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will convene the second AWLN Glob

A bold new chapter in Africa's leadership journey was written in Kigali, Rwanda, with the official launch of the African Academy for Women in Political Leadership, a landmark continental initiative designed to prepare and empower the next generation of women political leaders. Developed through a strategic partnership between the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the African Union (AU) and the African School of Governance (

12-14 August, 2026 Dakar, Senegal The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development opened its 2026 Amujae forum there. It has brought together 70 accomplished women leaders drawn from 29 African countries. Former heads of state, royalty, government officials and champions joined them. Organizers deliberately framed the meeting as a working session, not a celebration. The Center wants to build a durable pipeline into Africa’s highest public offices. Spea

On the margins of the 2026 World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings, the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), in partnership with key stakeholders, convened a High-Level Roundtable titled “Advancing Africa’s Transformation Agenda: The Strategic Role of Women’s Leadership.” The event was aligned with this year’s Spring Meetings theme, “Building Prosperity through Policy,” and focused on the urgent need to place women in decision-making roles of economi

At the invitation of Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, two Elders of the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) visited Tanzania from 19 -21 April. The delegation was composed of the Patron, former President of the Republic of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, accompanied by the Executive Director, Ms. Joyce Mends-Cole. AWLN is a mobilizing p

AWLN Convenes High-Level Meetings to Advance Women’s Leadership on the Margins of the 39th African Union Summit ADDIS ABABA, 24 February 2026 - On the margins of the 39th African Union (AU) Heads of State Summit, the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) convened a High-Level Meeting including a Closed Session and the Ninth Edition of the EWA Breakfast in Addis Ababa on 13 February 2026. These strategic gatherings served as a vital milestone as the Network prepares for its lan

The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), in partnership with Empowering Women in Agriculture (EWA), will co-convene the 9th EWA-AWLN High-Level Breakfast Meeting on Friday, 13 February 2026, on the margins of the 39th African Union Heads of State and Government Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Scheduled from 07:30 to 11:30 EAT at the Hilton Hotel, this high-level convening will bring together Heads of State, senior policymakers, African women leaders, development partners, p

The African Women Leaders Network 7th Intergenerational Retreat (AWLN IGR 7) Elevates Women’s Leadership for Africa’s Digital...

AWLN Convenes High-Level Forum on Women’s Political Leadership on the margins of UNGA 80 September 27th, 2025, New York | NY - On the...

African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) High-Level Side Event On the margins of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for...

16 national chapters selected for funding We would like to extend our hearty congratulations to the chapters selected after a rigorous...

Women's Leadership at the Heart of Economic Development: AWLN-PSC Charts Its 2025–2026 Roadmap in Abidjan Group photo at the Sofitel...

AWLN and UNITAR Partner to Break Knowledge Barriers in Leadership: A Global Step Forward as to Expand Knowledge Resources for Women...

Djibouti Makes History as First Member State to Sign the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls AWLN delegation led by...

AWLN Elders' Advocacies Towards the Historic Adoption of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU...

The Republic of Congo hosts the African Women Leaders Network 5th Intergenerational Retreat The African Women Leaders Network (herein...

Positioning women’s voices & aspirations in development priorities: African Women Leaders Network's Solidarity Mission to The Gambia AWLN...

African Young Women Lead-Mobilizing Partnerships and pathways for Economic Empowerment, Sustainability and Financial Inclusion