PRESS RELEASE

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

Harare, Zimbabwe - 7 September 2025 The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) held its 7th Intergenerational Retreat (IGR7) in Harare, Zimbabwe, under the theme “Accelerating African Women’s Leadership in Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Continental Development.” From 6-7 September 2025, the Retreat convened over 250 seasoned and emerging women leaders from across Africa and the diaspora alongside senior government officials, representatives of the African Union and the United Nations, development partners, the private sector, academia, and the diplomatic corps, to reinforce intergenerational solidarity and to shape concrete actions that place women’s leadership at the center of our development trajectory, peace and prosperity, including Africa’s digital transformation agenda. 

The Intergenerational Retreat is a flagship initiative of the African Women Leaders Network hosted annually in an African country to strengthen women’s leadership and advance intergenerational solidarity on the continent. It is firmly aligned with the goals of the  AU’s 

Agenda 2063 and the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aiming to drive gender equality as a cornerstone of inclusive growth and promote sustained peace.

The official high-level opening was hosted by H.E. Dr. Constantino G.D.N. Chiwenga, Acting President and Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, on behalf of H.E. Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe, and took place under the patronage of H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, AWLN Patron and former President of Liberia, alongside AWLN Co-Conveners H.E. Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and H.E. Mme Bineta Diop. Distinguished leaders participating included H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, former President of Ethiopia, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, former Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Women’s Affairs, H.E. Amb. Liberata Rutageruka Mulamula, AU Special Envoy on Women and Peace and Security,, andCristina Duarte, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa, among others.

In his opening remarks, Hon. Vice President Constantino G.D.N. Chiwenga underscored the spirit of the gathering, noting that “Intergenerational engagement does not simply pass the torch of leadership, it illuminates and fortifies it as it moves from one generation to the next.” Reflecting the movement’s DNA, H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, AWLN Patron and former President of Liberia, affirmed that “Since its beginning, the African Women Leaders Network has been about building generations between women leaders. I salute the young women leaders. To you the time has come, lead, claim it, take it, lead it.” 

H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, Former President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and AWLN Elder, echoed that collective ethos: “The regularity of our retreats is proof of our unwavering determination. The success of one of us strengthens us all. Let all AWLN members remain united, focused, and committed to collaboration and cooperation. In our movement, competition has no place. We must rise together, for only together will we achieve our vision.”

Adding the AU’s perspective, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, reaffirmed the continental commitment to women’s leadership in the digital era: “We will continue to support initiatives that prepare and empower African women leaders to thrive in the era of emerging technologies. Let us use this dialogue not only to exchange ideas, but to forge lasting partnerships and actionable commitments. Together we can shape a future where African women lead in innovation, in governance and in building the Africa We Want.” 

In a video statement, H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, emphasized the stakes of the moment: “Let us ensure that African women and girls are not left behind in the digital age. Let us build a continent where technology serves equality, because when every woman and girl can rise, societies will thrive. The United Nations stands firmly with you.”

Over two intensive days, participants worked across AWLN’s six pillars: peace and security; governance and political participation; financial inclusion and economic development; agriculture, land, and the blue economy; social mobilization; and youth and emerging leaders, focusing on inclusive innovation, equitable technology access, and ethical digital governance. 

Participants addressed barriers to women’s political leadership, urged gender equality to be embedded in AI and ICT policy, and advanced practical steps to boost digital literacy, online safety, and women-led innovation. Deliberations underscored the returns of expanding access to credit, land, markets, and innovation hubs, and affirmed rural women’s central role in climate-smart agriculture. They also strengthened intergenerational mentorship reaching grassroots women, including women with disabilities. Youth leaders showed measurable impact, most notably Project Ignite, which was launched in Zimbabwe and has trained over 100,000 young women in digital skills and entrepreneurship, confirming young women as co-architects of solutions.

On Day 2, during the Fireside Chat on the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, H.E. Mme Bineta Diop, AWLN Co-Convener and former AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (2014-2025) noted how the African Union mobilized heads of state, jurists, civil society, the private sector, youth and UN partners to shape the Convention. AWLN is proud of its contribution to this important process, including through the leadership of its Patron, H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, whose early call for action on the crisis of violence against women and girls helped galvanize momentum and ensure the Convention becomes a continental priority. The Network will continue to advocate for adoption and ratification of the Convention.

IGR 7 delivered tangible outcomes that consolidate AWLN’s dual identity as a platform for advocacy and a catalyst for action. The Government of Zimbabwe announced its commitment to sign the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (CEVAWG), marking a critical step toward the Convention’s entry into force and a foundation for domestication and implementation with adequate resourcing. In recognition of the importance of allyship, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa was acknowledged as AWLN Champion on Positive Masculinity, reinforcing the engagement of male leaders as partners in preventing violence and advancing gender equality. 

AWLN also launched the Women in Public Sector Collective under the leadership of Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa, Zimbabwe Minister of Women's Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and Marie Louise Mwange,  AWLN Global Co-Chair.

The new platform is designed to strengthen the visibility, influence, and leadership of women across public institutions and civil service structures, complementing broader efforts to embed ethical and accountable governance. 

The Under the Palava Hut session created intimate spaces inspired by community dialogue traditions where elders, pioneers, and young leaders sat in open circles to speak frankly, listen deeply, and co-design solutions. Without podiums or titles, these conversations surfaced lived realities from the grassroots to the cabinet level, translated lessons into mentorship pairings, and refined priorities on digital safety, political financing, and service delivery. The insights generated in these circles fed directly into the Outcome Statement and the intergenerational mentorship architecture that AWLN will carry forward, ensuring that the values shared across generations are embedded in practical follow-up and accountable leadership.

The statement also commits AWLN to institutionalize intergenerational mentorship across national, regional, and continental levels and to establish an African Academy for Women in Political Leadership, including a dedicated youth stream for women under 35 to build capacity, resilience, and influence across governance systems. 

The Call to Action also states, the priority is to “sign, ratify, domesticate and enforce the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls,” supported by monitoring frameworks that translate pledges into practice. 

As AWLN looks ahead, the momentum from Harare will guide forthcoming milestones, including the rollout of the Women in Public Sector Collective and continued programming across the six pillars to embed women’s leadership in Africa’s digital, economic, and governance 

transitions. By convening diverse generations around an action-oriented agenda, IGR7 has elevated AWLN’s position as a movement for accountability and a driver of Africa’s transformation through the leadership of its women. 

About AWLN

The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), established in 2017 under the auspices of the African Union Commission and the United Nations, is a groundbreaking continental platform that enhances women’s leadership in politics, peace and security, economic empowerment, and development. With active national chapters across Africa, AWLN continues to amplify women’s

voices, forge intergenerational solidarity, and promote gender equality at all levels of decision-making.

Media Enquiries:

AWLN Secretariat | Email: awlnetwork2017@gmail.com | Website: awlnafrica.net | X: @AWLNetwork |  LinkedIn : African Women Leaders Network