A new continental initiative was launched in Kigali, Rwanda on Monday, August 3, with the aim of nurturing the next generation of women political leaders across Africa.
The African Academy for Women in Political Leadership is a partnership between the Kigali-based African School of Governance (ASG), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN).
It seeks to equip women leaders with skills, networks and mentorship through structured learning, peer-to-peer exchanges and leadership development.
The launch brought together government representatives, former heads of state, former first ladies, African Union officials, ministers, and women leaders from across the continent.
“Our mandate is to create a generation of African leaders who are ethical, who have a transformative mindset and have a commitment to the pursuit of excellence in the service of their communities and their countries,” said Francis Gatare, President of the African School of Governance.
Gatare noted that despite progress made in some countries, women remain underrepresented in political leadership across Africa, making the academy an important step toward narrowing the gender gap in political decision-making.
The programme is being delivered under ASG’s executive education offering, which provides short professional courses alongside the institution’s master’s degree programmes.
Gatare said the academy builds on previous collaborations between ASG and UNDP aimed at strengthening leadership development on the continent.
“This initiative is called an academy because it implies a certain permanence. What we are hoping to achieve is to create a permanent network between participating cohort members,” he said.
The inaugural cohort comprises 40 women selected from more than 1,300 applicants for a four-week blended programme combining virtual learning with a residential convening in Kigali.
The participants include women working in government institutions, political parties, African Union agencies, and civil society organisations across all five African regions.
According to Gatare, participants will continue to benefit from mentorship by senior members of the AWLN, become part of ASG’s alumni network, and remain connected through peer learning and professional support after completing the programme.
Jide Martins Okeke, Director of the Regional Programme for Africa at UNDP, commended Rwanda for having the world’s highest representation of women in parliament.
He said achieving gender parity requires more than legislation, calling for an ecosystem that equips women with the skills, networks and mentorship needed to succeed in politics.
“This academy represents that shift from formulation to implementation. More fundamentally, it’s going to provide the capabilities, the networks, the sisterhood that is needed to advance women’s representation in political decision-making across the African continent.”
“We still have a system that is deeply patriarchal. That requires a structural shift, not just in terms of putting in place legislation, but more importantly working with men under the framework of positive masculinity in changing mindsets,” he added.
Former Ethiopian President and African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Elder Sahle-Work Zewde said the initiative goes beyond preparing women to contest elections, focusing instead on developing leaders capable of strengthening institutions and driving meaningful change.
She also highlighted the importance of peer support among women leaders, saying the Academy institutionalises a culture of women supporting one another.
MP Germaine Mukabalisa, one of the 40 selected women, said that while Rwanda has made progress in women’s leadership, countries still need to learn from one another to address remaining gaps, including gender equality and economic empowerment.
“We are the generation that comes after those who preceded us, including former presidents and former prime ministers. They are empowering us so that we can learn from their experiences, create an impact in politics and open the way for future generations,” she said.
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