In the tapestry of Africa’s future, her prosperity, her stability, her global
influence; one thread remains too often overlooked: women’s meaningful participation in
decision-making. It is time to recognize that women must not simply be included at the edges; they
must occupy the centre of decisions that shape economies, policies and social structures. This is
not just a matter of fairness. It is a matter of strategic necessity.
The Current Reality: Under-representation, Under-utilization
Despite making up roughly half of Africa’s population, women continue to be
glaringly under-represented in the halls of power, in corporate boardrooms and in the formal levers
of decision-making.
- According to the most recent Africa Gender Index, women in Africa score just 50.3% in overall
equality (across economic, social and public representation dimensions) — a slight improvement
from 48% in 2019. (UNECA) - In 2023, women’s representation in parliaments across Africa reached 24.4%, up only marginally
from 22.4% in 2019. (African Development Bank) - On the corporate side, women hold only 14% of board seats and a paltry 5% of CEO roles in some
jurisdictions. (African Union) - In the ministries and technical bodies relevant to agriculture, land, and rural development (key
sectors for many African economies), women often hold single-digit percentages. For example: in
Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development, women held 0.1-0.3% of
decision-making roles in certain departments. (FAOHome)
These numbers reveal two things: one, progress is being made (though slowly) and
two, the pace and scale of change remain inadequate if we are to unlock Africa’s full potential.
Why Centre-stage Women? The Strategic Case
When women are central in decision-making not just represented, but meaningfully
engaged, the scope of priorities shifts. Issues such as health, education, property rights and
economic inclusion tend to receive greater attention. The economy gains when women’s talents,
insights and leadership are fully leveraged. A survey by Ipsos found that 89% of African women are
decision-makers or co-decision-makers for household purchases; 42% have regular jobs and 49% earn
independent livelihoods. (Ipsos) This underscores that women are already economic agents. The
missing link is leadership and policy-influence, where decisions about market access, regulation,
investment and trade are made.
Societies where women are included tend to be more resilient and just. The
African Union highlighted in 2024 that excluding women from leadership costs the continent more than
US$60 billion annually. (African Union) When decisions are made without half the population, they
are less likely to reflect all perspectives which can undermine legitimacy, fairness and long-term
sustainability. Women in central roles don’t just make decisions, they inspire. Their visibility
sends a message to girls and young women: your voice matters, your leadership matters, you are not
limited. This multiplies across generations.
Final Thought
For Africa to thrive economically, socially and politically the future is not
defined by how many women we include at the margins, but by how many women we place at the centre of
decision-making. Because when women lead, societies flourish; when women decide, communities change;
when women shape policies, economies expand.