Gender Forum Pre-event to the Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11)
Remarks
By
Aboubakri Diaw
Chief of Staff and OiC of Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
Speke Resort Convention Centre, Munyonyo, Kampala, Republic of Uganda
7 April 2025
Honourable Betty Amongi Akeni, Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development of Uganda,
Mr Aggrey David Kibenge, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development, Uganda,
Mr James Macbeth Forbes, Head of Cooperation -GIZ,
Ms Anna Mutavati, UN Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa,
Honourable Ministers,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Take few seconds to imagine an Africa where every woman has the same access to opportunity, technology, and leadership as her male counterpart. That is not just a dream—it is an economic imperative.
On behalf of ECA, let me express my appreciation to the government and the people of Uganda for inviting us to co-host this Gender Forum on the margins of the Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development. This well-timed event underscores our shared commitment to leveraging science and evidence-based solutions to build an inclusive, gender-responsive, sustainable, and equitable future for all.
Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Gender equality is not just a goal. It is the foundation—the bedrock—of social and economic transformation. Integrating gender equality with digital innovation, care infrastructure, and data systems is not optional; it is essential. By empowering women with access to technology, we unlock entrepreneurship, market participation, and innovation. Investing in care infrastructure releases time and talent. And gender-disaggregated data? It reveals the invisible, allowing policies to serve those they often miss. When combined, these elements become a force multiplier for inclusive growth.
Yet, the numbers do not lie. The 2023 AfDB and ECA Africa Gender Index stands at just 50.3 per cent—a stark reminder that we are only halfway. Halfway to equality. Halfway to opportunity. Halfway to empowerment. If we do not reignite our efforts, Africa risks delaying the dream of SDG 5 by another 65 years—pushing the target to 2094. That is unacceptable.
We must shift our gears. We must accelerate progress—because the clock is ticking.
With just five years to 2030—the SDG deadline—we need to pause, reflect, and reimagine our strategies. This is not about small gains. It is about transformation. It is about aligning our actions with Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063, and doing so while creating decent jobs and inclusive prosperity.
We have made undeniable progress. Child marriage is declining. More women are stepping into leadership. More girls are completing secondary school. But let’s be honest—the journey is far from over. Too many women and girls still face systematic barriers—when it comes to labour, land, leadership, and capital.
Just last month, a young entrepreneur told me, ‘I can innovate—but I can’t register land in my name.’ Her story isn’t rare. It is routine.
Think about it: Women earn less. Own less. Lead less. And yet—they carry more. More care. More burden. More resilience.
They earn 21 per cent less than men. Own less than 20 per cent of agricultural land. Have only about three-quarters of the legal rights granted to men. These inequities don’t just hold women back. They hold all of us back.
To truly accelerate gender-responsive job creation and inclusive economic growth, we must unlock the full potential of Africa’s women and girls.
At ECA, we look at seven strategic priorities that we hope will inform the Kampala Declaration and unify Africa’s global voice this year:
First, Legal Empowerment. Strengthen legal and policy frameworks. Enforce them. Secure women’s land rights and improve access to credit. Give women the tools to invest in themselves, their families, their businesses.
Second, Unpaid Care as an Economic Engine. Women shoulder nearly four times more unpaid care work than men. It is time to flip this challenge into opportunity. With the right policies, childcare and eldercare infrastructure could create nearly 300 million jobs—jobs where up to 90 per cent of the beneficiaries would be women.
Third, Social Protection that Recognises Care. Governments must prioritise investment in gender-responsive social protection. Spending averages just 3.8% of GDP. That is not enough. Early childhood education remains underfunded. We must do more.
Fourth, Bridging the Gender Digital Divide. Women in Africa are 19.2 per cent less likely to own a mobile phone, and 27.6 per cent less likely to use the internet. That is not just a digital gap—it is a prosperity gap. Technology must become a tool for inclusion, not exclusion. Public-private partnerships are key.
Fifth, Data as a Catalyst for Change. Data is not just about numbers—it is about visibility. If women remain invisible in our statistics, they will remain excluded from our policies. What we cannot measure, we cannot transform. Data gives us the power not just to see—but to act. We must strengthen national statistical systems and leverage non-traditional sources such as big data, AI and other frontier technologies.
Sixth, Representation in Decision-Making. Women hold just 26 per cent of parliamentary seats and 36 per cent of managerial roles in Africa. Representation matters. Voice matters. Inclusion matters. We must mentor girls, elevate women, and create frameworks that make leadership equitable.
Seventh, Financing Gender Equality. This is non-negotiable. Africa faces a pivotal moment. Aid is declining. Debt distress is rising. Fiscal space is tightening. We must increase domestic resources by bold taxation reforms, integration of the informal sector, tackling illicit financial flows, leveraging Africa’s green potential and practicing gender-responsive budgeting. The time to act is now.
Let us walk out of this Forum not only with declarations—but with deadlines. Let each institution here commit to three measurable, transformative actions—before we meet again. Accountability must begin with us.
As I conclude, I urge each of you to reflect: What barriers can you help break? What untapped potential can you unlock? What legacy will you leave for African women and girls?
The upcoming Financing for Development Conference and the Second World Summit on Social Development will be defining moments. Let us show up prepared—not just with words, but with will. Not just with vision, but with commitment. Not just with plans, but with purpose.
Let us leave this Forum with a renewed sense of purpose: as advocates for gender justice, architects of progress, and champions of change.
Together, we can create a future where gender equality is not just a promise, but a lived experience—one rooted in dignity, empathy, and shared humanity. A future where every girl believes she matters, every woman knows she belongs, and every boy grows up understanding the power of equality and respect.
Thank you.