The Young African Women Congress (YAWC) 2022 East Africa subregional session has successfully ended. The event which started on 22nd to 25th May, 2022 under the theme, “Network for Empowerment, refuelling a Continent on the Rise,” saw the participation of young women from different countries in Africa and the diaspora sharing their views and thoughts on pertinent issues affecting women and development in Africa.

The first day, which was also known as the arrival/orientation day was quite eventful. It came with a lot of interactions, socialisation and networking. Participants were briefed on what to expect throughout the congress while they asked questions about same.

Then came in the opening ceremony the next morning. It was a grand event that welcomed quite a number of dignitaries including Hon. Linah Jebii Kilimo, Deputy Minister for Public Service and Gender, Kenya; Hon. Nadia Ahmed Abdallah, Deputy Minister for ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, Kenya; Prof. Sarah Ssali. Associate Professor and Dean at the School of Women and Gender Studies and Director for the Centre of Excellence in Notions of Identity, Makerere University, Uganda; Judie Kaberia, Executive Director for the Association of Women in Media (AMWIK), Kenya, amongst others.

In his welcome address, Mr Daniel Osei Tuffuor, the Chairperson of the YAWC Network Council and the Executive Director for ExLA Group, recounted the achievements of the Young African Women Congress since its inception in 2016. He was emphatic on the empowerment it has brought to many women on the African continent and the enormous benefits of the networking aspect of the congress. “Over the years, since the establishment of YAWC, we have had many women go through this boardroom experience of keynotes, panel sessions, group brainstorming sessions and numerous presentations among others. Some have shared very insightful thoughts with us. Others have inspired us with their own struggles and success stories. One thing which has kept us progressing, however, has been the unlimited networks that have been built through these engagements”, he remarked.

Mr. Osei Tuffuor brought to the attention of delegates the newly lunched campaign dubbed, “What Women Want” by the African Union Commission as part of the ‘Agenda 2063’ and admonished them to take advantage of it. “It is also amazing to have discovered that the African Union as part of its ‘Agenda 2063’ has launched a campaign known as the “What African Women Want” which will give people across the continent the opportunity to engage and share success stories, testimonial or best practices on what has worked and projects that are advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. The campaign is supposed to last from March 4 to December 26, 2022. I encourage all of you here to use the opportunity to share what you acquire through the congress on some of these platforms. You will be shaping the conversation in the most transformative approach”, he stated.

The leaders of delegation from different countries took their turns to deliver their solidarity messages on behalf their countries’ delegations.

The first to mount the podium was the Leader of Delegation for Liberia, Ms. Vivian Akoto who doubles as the Vice President of the YAWC Network Liberia chapter. She emphasised on the need for women to be optimistic about building strategic partnerships with leading initiatives in our local communities and the global community to drive women in business and leadership and also believing in the power of education, equality and inclusiveness.

On her part, the Leader of Delegation for Uganda, Ms. Stella Ayerango who doubles as the Media Liaison Officer for the YAWC Network Uganda Chapter briefed the gathering on the successes chalked by the Ugandan government in the women empowerment agenda. She stated that the government of Uganda has provided enormous opportunities for women to prove themselves in a world that has otherwise been dominated by men. According to her, certain key positions which includes the Vice President, the Speaker of Parliament, the Prime Minister, the Inspector General of Government and others have been given to women. The country can boast of over 180 women in the parliament of Uganda serving under different capacities including Cabinet.

Ms. Ayerango added Uganda has women CEOs in the public and private sectors which is a motivation for the rest of Ugandan women especially the young ones. She further stated that having women in positions is key in increasing access to economic, social and political empowerment; increasing participation of women in decision making and creating more leadership opportunities through building of confidence; enlightening the women about their human rights and how to deal with issues like domestic violence especially against women and girls.

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The Ugandan lead was quick to point out that despite the achievements in her country, there are some challenges faced by women and girls and they include poor or no access to good quality education, poor primary health care, gender-based violence which went record high during the COVID-19 pandemic, teenage pregnancies and high school drop outs, defilement and rape, poverty, land ownership among others. She however called for a collective effort to tackle the challenges.

When the Leader of Delegation for Ghana, Ms. Matilda Hammond had her turn to deliver her solidarity message, she acknowledged the fact that women have been given the platform for their voices to be heard in recent times even though there are few challenges like domestic violence and others that are still holding them down. She also highlighted some interventions made by the YAWC Network Ghana Chapter. According to her, the chapter has been prominent in speaking up against vices committed against women. They have been writing articles and sharing their thoughts on social media and other platforms condemning these acts whenever they come up.

Ms. Nnenna Mary Anozie who led the Nigeria Delegation encouraged the young women to exhibit the spirit of oneness since it is the best tool for strengthening their front.  She charged the delegates to stay focused and be optimistic that the resolution at the congress and the subsequent effort would yield results.

The Leader of Delegation for Cameroon, Ms. Wirba Stephanie Kininla briefed the gathering on the achievements of the YAWC Network, Cameroon Chapter. She stated that her Chapter has been on the ground embarking on activities to assist women and the girl child in the areas that are faced with the ongoing socio-political conflict in the North West and South West Regions in the country that begun in October 2016. According to her, the YAWC Network Cameroon Chapter has worked in partnership with organizations such as the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Foundation for the Promotion of Peace and Dialogue. “The women are getting involved in Peace talks to ensure a return of peace in the country. Women are sitting on tables with men actively working and participating in the peace building process. We are changing the narratives in decision making and policies”, she emphasised.

Ms. Wirba further stated that the YAWC Network Cameroon Chapter has worked with some government Ministries to achieve some feats and they include the Ministry of Social Affairs (MINAS) for the promotion and social inclusion  of the woman; Ministry of Secondary Education (MINSEC) for getting all girls who get pregnant back to the classroom and attend school normally;  Ministry of Women Empowerment and the Family (MINPROF) for creating safe spaces for women and girls who are internally displaced as a result of the conflict for a temporal stay. The network has also created a referral pathway with other Non- Governmental Organizations (NGO) to assist women and girls suffering Gender Based Violence.

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The Cameroon leader also disclosed that the YAWC Network Cameroon Chapter Executives were also privileged to be part of a training organized by United Nations Refugee Council (UNREC) and Ministry of External Relations (MINREX) on integrating men and women dimension in the fight against the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the South West Region of Cameroon. The Chapter visited a secondary school with internally displaced persons and offered psycho social support. They have also organized mental health Master Classes to help relieve women and girls of the stress they go through daily.

The Leader of Delegation for Kenya Ms. Ruth Jemutai Rop who doubles as the Kenya Chapter President of the YAWC Network meticulously highlighted Kenya’s achievements in the women empowerment agenda. According to her, the country has put some legal and policy framework in place to fill the gaps. There is an affirmative action law under article 56 of the Kenya constitution as well as two third gender balance in all elective and appointive leadership positions as per Article 27(8) of the constitution. Other laws she referenced include the Sexual Offences Act, 2016, the Prevention Against Domestic Violence Act and the Policy on Gender and Development, 2019. She hinted that many women who have risen to key leadership positions in the country as a result of these established laws include the Chief Justice and the President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, the Deputy Chief Justice, the First Deputy Speaker of the Kenya Senate, amongst other key appointees of the government.

Ms Rop however acknowledged that even though the country has achieved some milestone, there are still hiccups and these include underrepresentation in key decision-making process and positions and gender-based violence. According to her, the country has lost two female athletes to GBV in recent times. She called for support from the YAWC Network fraternity to help the country reach its women empowerment targets.

The solidarity messages were climaxed by a note from the Global President of the YAWC Network, Ms. Jacqueline Nyapendi. She highlighted the achievements of the Network on the Africa continent and emphasized that it is crucial to have such a potent network on the continent advancing the empowerment of women. She pointed out that considering the challenges in Africa at the moment, gatherings like the Young African Women Congress are very important. “The impact of COVID-19, the violence in Ethiopia, the poverty, financial strife, mental distress, child abuse, and several forms of torture experienced in different countries all speak to a need for us to network and empower ourselves to cope better”, she emphasised. Ms. Nyapendi further charged the delegates to continue to speak up against the vices meted out to women in our communities.

When the youngest Minister in President Uhuru Kenyata’s government, Hon. Nadia Ahmed Abdallah, the Deputy Minister for ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs had her turn to speak, she stressed on the fact that even though women have broken spaces, they still need to break more spaces to occupy the seats that are still needed to be occupied by them. She believes that the best way to break more spaces is to build networks and this, she applauded the Young African Women Congress Network for deliberately building networks on the African Continent and particularly choosing a theme for the East Africa Subregional congress that revolves around network. She encouraged the delegates to hold one another’s hand and make a conscious effort to empower themselves. She further admonished the women to stop individualism and asked them to support one another and even called for the support of their male counterparts.

The East Africa subregional session of the congress was honoured to have the Vice President of Ghana H.E. Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia participate virtually.

The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) who was a major partner for the Young African Women Congress (YAWC) 2022 East Africa subregional session had its Executive Director Ms. Judie Kaberia to deliver a goodwill message on their behalf. Ms. Kaberia asserted that Kenya is still lagging behind when it comes to women in political leadership compared to countries like Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania in the region. According to her the current Parliament has 20% of women but she was optimistic that this year’s election in the country is going to increase the numbers because a lot of women are in the race. She applauded the women in media for giving their platforms to the female politicians to share their stories and what they can offer to the country. She further stated that women must be deliberate about mentorship so that the mentorship gaps amongst women of different generations can be filled.

Delivering the keynote was Prof. Sarah Ssali, an Associate Professor and Dean at the School of Women and Gender Studies, and the Director at the Centre of Excellence in Notions of Identity at Makerere University. She touched on salient points, dissecting the essence of building networks in reference to the women empowerment agenda which could inure to the benefit of the continent of Africa as a whole. She provoked thoughts on what it means to be African, young and a woman. She admonished participants to relocate from the position of self-centredness to think more from collaboration and inclusiveness. She believes that to achieve real empowerment on the African continent, there is the need to conceptualise it and to do that there is the need to pay attention to Afrocentrism which means to centre Africa in the world view, and this has been the tool for powering decolonisation. “For a long time, Africa has been the space where we implement what others have thought us. So, others do the thinking, we do the practice and you tend to get it all over in our governments. They would just tell you that here, we don’t need the theory, we need the practice. But as long as the thinking is not yours, your practice is going to be faulty and defective and that is the predicament of Africa”, she remarked.

Prof. Ssali urged the delegates not to relegate vulnerable women to the background in the quest for networking. She further enumerated the importance of networking which includes for sharing information, for mobilising resources, for marketing products, for mutual support and for helping us realise our continental goal of Africa arise. She admonished the women to explore the networks on the African continent. In that sense, networking will become a must because “Your network is your net worth”.

The Guest of Honour for the opening ceremony Hon. Linah Jebii Kilimo, Deputy Minister for Public Service and Gender, Kenya, spoke from the angle of the challenges that women have to overcome in order to reach their destinations in life. She used her life as an example stating that as a girl she had to escape from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) which was a cultural practice in her community. When she finally decided to become a Politician, she had to overcome stigmatisation because politics was perceived as a “male club”. Juggling between career and family was yet another challenge she had to overcome. Hon. Kilimo admonished the women to continue to take risks because it is only through risk taking that they can get to their destinations.

In the same spirit, in the afternoon, there was an insightful interaction between Hon. Linah Jebii Kilimo, Deputy Minister for Public Service and Gender and the delegates. She shared her experience in the journey of politics, being young and woman with participants shaping the conversation with relevant questions.

This was followed almost immediately by a panel session on Domestic Violence moderated by Harriet Nartey, a Ghanaian Diplomatic Journalist. The panellists included Ms. Clara Napaga Tia Sulemana, National Coordinator for Special Development Initiatives, Republic of Ghana; Hon. Linah Jebii Kilimo, Deputy Minister for Public Service and Gender; Ms. Njeri Rugene, Founder and Executive Director, the Woman’s Newsroom Foundation Kenya; Dr Eda J. Tatu Beauttah, Medical Director and Certified Professional Training Mediator, Mediation Training Institute East Africa. They once again demonstrated their passion and unending desire to promote a healthy environment for women to thrive, all over Africa. They dissected the issues of domestic violence on the premise of the death of popular Nigerian gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu who is believed to have died from injuries sustained from her husband in a case of domestic violence. It was clear that some cultural and religious, and sometimes economic underpinnings set the stage for such occurrences. Participants were encouraged to draw closer to their fellow women and consider their welfare to help them discover issues of domestic violence as quickly as possible to deal with them. Participants once again had the opportunity to share their thoughts and also ask questions.

‘My Journey’, a segment that takes a peek into the life of astute and rising women leaders continued shortly after. Mounting the platform was Ms. Anne Hope Anguyo, the Chief Executive Officer for Vendor Capital Finance, Uganda. She highlighted all the entrepreneurial ventures she has undertaking and the impact they are making. However, the most crucial part was her personal choices that really propelled her to success and more foreseeable success. She urged the delegates to surround themselves with people of substance so that they would have influence on them and also choose mentors who can make time for them. She further admonished the women to take advantage of opportunities.

Ms. Harriet Kyeremanteng Oppong, the Deputy Director at the Office of the Chief of Staff at the Presidency in Ghana, was the next person to share her journey with the delegates. Being a young female politician, she advised the young women to have ambitions and set their minds to achieving them. She was of the opinion that young women stay focused on their chosen careers and also build solid networks since that will be of great benefit to them in times of need. Ms. Oppong urged the young women to be humble as they go about working through their ambitions.

The third day of the congress commenced with an intriguing conversation with an astute woman from Kenya who has proved that women can make a difference. Dr. Jennifer Riria was her name and she is the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Women Holding & Echo Network Africa Limited, Kenya. She thrilled delegates with her life story and emphasized that there is nothing impossible for women to do. She admonished the delegates to take education seriously since it is only through education that they can acquire knowledge. She further took the delegates through her transitioning from a micro finance enterprise to a financial conglomerate in Kenya despite the fact that she had no prior banking experience. Dr. Riria comes as a woman who has gone through the mill to build her business empire in a systematic manner. Even though she did not have a smooth start in life as a teenage mother, she did not give up on her dreams. She took her time to go through education to the highest level and built her business from scratch. The conversation was hosted by Ms. Serfine Achieng a Broadcast Journalist from Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.

The Panel session that discussed the topic, “Economic Empowerment of Women:  Getting it Right” was another meal on the menu on the third day and it was such an insightful conversation. The session which was moderated by Harriet Nartey, A diplomatic Journalist from Ghana had, Prof. Sarah Ssali, an Associate Professor and Dean at the School of Women and Gender Studies, and the Director at the Centre of Excellence in Notions of Identity at Makerere University, Uganda; Ms. Harriet Kyeremanteng Oppong, Deputy Director of Political Affairs at the Office of the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Republic of Ghana; Dr. Rukia Atikiya, Deputy Director, Learning and Development Kenya School of Government and Marcella Wanjiru K. Andanje, a retired Senior Superintendent of Police and a Criminologist, Kenya, as panelists. The session established that luck of economic empowerment makes people lose out on opportunities; you cannot stand for office, you cannot have healthcare, you cannot have a voice, you become vulnerable without economic empowerment.   Economic empowerment is central to so many things; It is central to women getting a voice, it is central to women getting equal rights, it is central to enabling women achieve very many things. Women need to get money so that they can do the many things they need to do. Economic empowerment is central to women’s citizenship and personhood as human beings. Again, the panel established that even though women have been in small businesses for a very long time, there are still some challenges like access to finance, access to properties, access to education, access to information and training, etc. Governments must put the right policies in place for women to be able to access the things that would enhance their economic empowerment.

In the afternoon of the third day was the time for the five focused groups to present their works from the terms of reference that were given to them to research on.

The first group was the “Network of Women and politics” and they looked at the importance of quota systems in our politics for women. The group resolved that quota systems are important because it helps governments to reflect on the diversity of the people they represent; it boosts women access to decision making and it also provide avenue for financial stability, for example in Kenya, there is a system called Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) where women are given 30% Public tenders and so women are able to win government contracts which empowers them economically.

On the reasons why quota systems fail, group one enumerated the following; inadequate sensitization, cultural and religious settings that does not promote women in leadership, luck of empowerment for young women to take up leadership positions, luck of financial support for women, negative perception about politics in Africa, mentorship gap among women of different generations, failure of parliaments in passing gender bills like Affirmative Action Bills and self-doubt or fear of taking risk.

The group went on to propose some alternatives to quota systems and it includes Affirmative Action Bills, Mentorship and succession plan by women in position for younger women, positive perception and attractiveness and setting up financial systems to support women who have interest in politics like the Democracy Trust Fund in Kenya that supports women in politics.

The other groups were Network of Women Entrepreneurs; Higher Education for the Girl Child/STEM, Demographic Dividend and the Threat of Teenage Pregnancy; Economic Recovery after Covid-19 Pandemic and Conflict Management, Peace and Consensus Building. All these five groups did a thorough research and presented an excellent work with their given terms of reference.

Right after the group presentation, the Chairperson of the Young African Women Congress (YAWC) 2022 East Africa Subregional session, Prof. Margaret Kamar who is the current and first female Deputy Speaker of the Kenya Senate mounted the podium and gave her remarks. She encouraged the young women to continue to work hard to achieve their dreams and never allow anyone to put them down. Prof Kamar commended the YAWC Team for organizing the East Africa session of the congress in Kenya and urged the participants to take advantage of the networking opportunities that has been created and make the best out of it.

In the evening of the third day was a time to cool off from the board room activities as participants and speakers were adorned in their elegant wears for the dinner gala and the presentation of certificates, with a touch of entertainment.

The final day was a fun trip to Naivasha Game Park in Nakuru County with a stopover at the Great Rift Valley. The participants fed their eyes with the beautiful scenery of nature; the scarps and mountains; the baboons and zebras; a dive in the geothermal spa that exfoliated the skin of participants and the adventurous boat ride on the Naivasha Lake.

Indeed, YAWC 2022 East Africa Subregional session was such an amazing and memorable event. Off course, people are already in anticipation for the annual continental convocation of the congress in Accra in October this year.