Africa is home to a population of 1.4 billion people spread across hundreds of ethnic groups speaking more than a thousand languages. The role of women in this diverse landscape is deeply influenced by the specific culture of each region.
Some African countries have made significant progress in terms of equality, such as South Africa and Rwanda. Gabon, Namibia and Ethiopia are also countries governed by women.
Meanwhile, women in other African countries such as Burundi, the Central African Republic and Niger, considered the poorest and least developed in the world, seem to be stuck in prehistoric times. Not to mention the areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo, South SudanMozambique, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Burkina Faso, where women are victims of forced displacement and sexual violence, used as weapons of war.
Similarly, the gap between women in urban and rural areas continues to be enormous. In the cities, there is a growing incorporation of women into the labor force, while in isolated rural areas, traditional practices persist that limit their opportunities.
African women play a fundamental role in the continent's development, being the key drivers in several areas. Despite facing challenges such as violence, gender inequality, poverty and lack of access to all kinds of resources, women in Africa demonstrate exceptional resilience and leadership every day. They are central to the informal economy or agriculture, which are the basis of many African economies, being largely responsible for food production and marketing.
Microfinance, cooperative creation, investment in women's education or leadership training programs have enabled many women to start businesses, increase their independence and contribute to local development. Education translates immediately into lower poverty, improved community health and better education for their children, and leadership programs are propelling them to lead social and political movements, fighting for their rights and for greater social and political representation.
Harambee's communications manager.
