Financing and structural barriers still hinder women’s political participation

African women leaders, policymakers, and development partners meeting in Kigali have urged for deeper reforms and sustainable financing mechanisms to enable women to participate fully and effectively in politics across the continent.

The call was made during the Co-Design Workshop for the Regional Leadership Academy for Women in Politics, held at the Kigali Convention Center from this October 27, 2025, under the Africa Facility for Women in Political Leadership.

The meeting organized by the African School of Governance (ASG) in collaboration with UNDP, the African Union Commission, and the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), seeks to establish a continental academy to empower women through mentorship, training, and access to resources.

Participants agreed that while Africa has made notable progress in women’s representation, deeper systemic issues such as financial exclusion, structural inequalities, and gender based political violence continue to prevent women from fully realizing their potential as leaders.

Memory Kachambwa, Executive Director of the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), said that political financing remains one of the most pressing challenges for women aspiring to leadership roles.

“One of the biggest obstacles is financing. We need strategies that support women who want to enter politics and models that allow them to participate effectively,” she said.

Kachambwa explained that women across the continent already demonstrate strong leadership at community levels, but political structures often fail to support them when they seek higher office.

“Women are often seen as soft, but they lead with consistency, care, and integrity. Countries where women have been supported to lead like South Africa, Namibia, and Sierra Leone show that women’s leadership delivers results,” she added.

Prof. Oluwafunmilayo Josephine Para-Mallam, Chairperson of AWLN-Nigeria, said that structural inequality and patriarchal systems are at the core of the leadership gap.

“Africa’s leadership deficit is linked to the absence of women in decision-making. Most of our nations are flying with one wing; the male wing, while the female wing remains underutilized,” she noted.

She called for bold policy and legal reforms to address the long standing imbalance.

“We must deal with the foundational issue of structural inequality institutions, ideologies, and cultural norms that devalue women. Women also need to overcome internalized discrimination and begin to see themselves as competent, capable change agents,” she said.

The Nigerian scholar emphasized that Africa’s problem is not a lack of talent or potential but the failure to harness women’s contributions.

“The real problem of Africa is leadership. We have abundant human and material resources, yet we continue to struggle because half of our potential women remain unexploited,” she said.

Dr. Jide Martyns Okeke, Director of the UNDP Regional Programme for Africa, echoed these concerns, stressing that empowerment must go beyond symbolic representation.

“We need to transcend the conversation beyond representation. The goal is not just to promote women leaders but to equip them with the skills, resources, and partnerships they need to excel,” he said.

He added that UNDP’s partnership with the African Union and AWLN seeks to develop a practical model that addresses financing and structural barriers while ensuring inclusivity and sustainability.

For Hon. Senator Dr. Usta Kayitesi, Head of the Politics and Leadership Commission in the Rwandan Senate, the fact that Rwanda hosted the workshop demonstrates the country’s commitment to inclusive governance and gender equality.

“This meeting prepares African women to engage in politics that yields tangible results. Rwanda is a model because our laws and leadership give both women and men equal opportunities to contribute to national development,” she said.

She noted that such forums create opportunities for African women to share experiences and learn from Rwanda’s example, where gender equality is embedded in policy and practice.

“This is a journey we share with our sisters across Africa understanding barriers and learning together how to overcome them,” she added.

Joyce Mends-Cole, Acting Executive Director of the African Women Leaders Network, called the Kigali workshop “a defining moment” for advancing women’s leadership in Africa.

“Even the best curriculum will have limited impact if the external barriers that restrict women’s political participation are not addressed. This academy should not only be a training platform but a transformative movement grounded in African values, solidarity, and sisterhood,” she said.

As participants continue to design the structure and curriculum of the proposed Regional Leadership Academy for Women in Politics, they share a common vision to turn Africa’s rhetoric on gender equality into measurable political and social transformation.

The academy is expected to help dismantle existing barriers, support women’s access to political financing, and strengthen mentorship networks across the continent.

The initiative aligns with Agenda 2063, the African Union’s blueprint for a people driven Africa that harnesses the potential of its women and youth. As one participant remarked, “When women lead, societies prosper. When they are excluded, nations lose balance.”

The Kigali workshop may well mark the beginning of a new chapter one in which African women not only rise to political office but also reshape the continent’s governance with resilience, inclusivity, and integrity.