African Women Political Leadership Summit (AWPLS)

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A strategic platform for women’s political leadership in Africa

The African Women Political Leadership Summit (AWPLS) brings together women in and around political life to share evidence, build skills, and strengthen how parties and institutions govern. Programme details, dates, and registration will be announced here.

AWPLS is a strategic platform for action that links senior-level deliberation to concrete policy output, research, institutional reform, and economic empowerment. It serves women who lead and seek to lead, institutions that shape leadership conditions, and partners who invest in making that leadership possible.

What AWPLS Is

1. A high-level convening space

AWPLS brings together heads of state, parliamentarians, cabinet ministers, party executives, and senior technocrats to deliberate on governance challenges and chart collective responses.

2. A platform for redefining leadership

AWPLS reframes women's authority in politics as central to democratic legitimacy and economic transformation.

3. A research and policy production body

The Summit generates gender-disaggregated research and policy briefs to inform the African Union, national governments, RECs, and development partners.

4. A leadership development ecosystem

Through fellowships, leadership academies, mentorship networks, and peer learning programmes, AWPLS aims to train and mentor more than 2,000 women leaders by 2030.

5. An economic empowerment mechanism

AWPLS aligns policy, capital, and institutional authority with women-led growth by convening ministers of trade, finance institutions, and public finance bodies.

About the 2026 Africa Women Political Leadership Summit

Under the theme “Women in Power: Political Leadership for Africa's Economic Transformation”, AWPLS 2026 is designed as a high-impact, action-oriented convening that moves beyond dialogue to deliver concrete policy commitments, institutional frameworks, and transformative partnerships.

The 2026 edition, scheduled for November 2026, builds on the inaugural Accra summit and positions Africa to lead the global conversation on women's political leadership and economic governance.

What AWPLS 2026 Will Deliver

Establish a High-Level Advisory Council to strengthen women's leadership capacity in governance, economic policy, fiscal strategy, and industrial development.

Forge an Intergenerational Leadership Compact bridging emerging and established women leaders across Africa.

Adopt the Addis Ababa Declaration on Women's Political Leadership for Africa's Economic Transformation.

Launch the African Women Leadership and Transformation Fund to sustain long-term initiatives beyond the Summit.

Convene Ministerial Roundtables and Expert Policy Dialogues on inclusive governance, electoral reform, and accountability.

Host the AWPLS Leadership Excellence Awards & Gala Night celebrating trailblazing women in governance.

Produce the AWPLS 2026 Policy Brief as a continental reference document on women’s leadership in economic governance.

Together, these initiatives ensure the Summit evolves into an institution that works with governments, continental bodies, political parties, research centres, the private sector, and development partners.

A strategic platform for women’s political leadership in Africa

What AWPLS Is

1. A high-level convening space

AWPLS brings together heads of state, parliamentarians, cabinet ministers, party executives, and senior technocrats to deliberate on governance challenges and chart collective responses.

2. A platform for redefining leadership

AWPLS reframes women's authority in politics as central to democratic legitimacy and economic transformation.

3. A research and policy production body

The Summit generates gender-disaggregated research and policy briefs to inform the African Union, national governments, RECs, and development partners.

4. A leadership development ecosystem

Through fellowships, leadership academies, mentorship networks, and peer learning programmes, AWPLS aims to train and mentor more than 2,000 women leaders by 2030.

5. An economic empowerment mechanism

AWPLS aligns policy, capital, and institutional authority with women-led growth by convening ministers of trade, finance institutions, and public finance bodies.

About the 2026 Africa Women Political Leadership Summit

The 2026 edition, scheduled for November 2026, builds on the inaugural Accra summit and positions Africa to lead the global conversation on women's political leadership and economic governance.

What AWPLS 2026 Will Deliver

Establish a High-Level Advisory Council to strengthen women's leadership capacity in governance, economic policy, fiscal strategy, and industrial development.

Forge an Intergenerational Leadership Compact bridging emerging and established women leaders across Africa.

Adopt the Addis Ababa Declaration on Women's Political Leadership for Africa's Economic Transformation.

Launch the African Women Leadership and Transformation Fund to sustain long-term initiatives beyond the Summit.

Convene Ministerial Roundtables and Expert Policy Dialogues on inclusive governance, electoral reform, and accountability.

Host the AWPLS Leadership Excellence Awards & Gala Night celebrating trailblazing women in governance.

Produce the AWPLS 2026 Policy Brief as a continental reference document on women’s leadership in economic governance.

African Women Political Leadership Summit (AWPLS)

A strategic platform for women’s political leadership in Africa

Secure your spot at AWPLS 2026

What AWPLS Is

1. A high-level convening space

2. A platform for redefining leadership

3. A research and policy production body

4. A leadership development ecosystem

5. An economic empowerment mechanism

Targets

About the 2026 Africa Women Political Leadership Summit

What AWPLS 2026 Will Deliver

Secure your spot at AWPLS 2026

African Women Political Leadership Summit (AWPLS)

A strategic platform for women’s political leadership in Africa

Secure your spot at AWPLS 2026

What AWPLS Is

1. A high-level convening space

2. A platform for redefining leadership

3. A research and policy production body

4. A leadership development ecosystem

5. An economic empowerment mechanism

Targets

About the 2026 Africa Women Political Leadership Summit

What AWPLS 2026 Will Deliver

Secure your spot at AWPLS 2026