African Academy for Women in Political Leadership opens in Kigali #rwanda #RwOT

The academy was launched on Monday, August 3, through 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).

The initiative seeks to develop a new generation of women political leaders through structured learning, mentorship and peer-to-peer exchanges, while creating a lasting network of women committed to advancing inclusive governance across the continent.

Speaking at the launch, ASG President Francis Gatare said the academy aligns with the institution's mission of developing leaders committed to ethical governance and public service.

'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,' he said.

Gatare noted that while several African countries have made progress in increasing women's representation in political institutions, women remain underrepresented in leadership and decision-making spaces across much of the continent.

He said the academy is designed as a long-term platform that will continue beyond the initial training programme by connecting participants through a permanent network.

'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 remarked.

The inaugural cohort comprises 40 women leaders selected from more than 1,300 applicants across 28 countries. The participants include ministers, members of parliament, speakers, mayors, political party leaders and representatives from government institutions, African Union agencies and civil society organisations.

The four-week blended programme combines virtual learning with a residential convening in Kigali, covering areas such as governance, political communication, campaign strategy, political financing, ethical leadership and resilience-building.

Participants will also benefit from mentorship provided by senior members of the African Women Leaders Network and become part of ASG's alumni community to support continued collaboration and peer learning after completing the programme.

Jide Martins Okeke, Director of the Regional Programme for Africa at UNDP, said the academy represents a shift from policy commitments on women's political participation to practical efforts that build leadership capacity.

He commended Rwanda for having the world's highest representation of women in parliament, but said achieving gender parity requires more than legislation.

'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,' he stressed.

Okeke added that addressing gender inequality requires a broader transformation of social attitudes, including engaging men through positive masculinity approaches to challenge patriarchal systems.

Former Ethiopian President and African Women Leaders Network Elder Sahle-Work Zewde said the academy goes beyond preparing women to contest elections, focusing instead on building leaders capable of strengthening institutions and driving meaningful change.

She said the initiative also institutionalises a culture of women supporting and learning from one another.

The academy was first launched on the margins of the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit in February 2025 and is part of a broader continental initiative aimed at increasing women's influence and sustained representation in political decision-making.

Following the high-level launch, the inaugural cohort begins a five-day residential stay in Kigali as part of their four-week blended programme, participating in experiential learning, leadership dialogues, and mentorship sessions that mark the beginning of the academy's regional rollout.