AWLNetwork

Joint Outcome Statement JOINT CONSULTATION WITH PARTNERS ON THE AfDB GENDER ACTION PLAN (2027-2031) & ACCELERATING FINANCIAL ACCESS FOR WOMEN IN AFRICA (AFAWA) 2.0 On the margins of the 70th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), the African Development Bank Group, African Women Leaders Network, and African Union convened a high-level consultation to advance the Gender Action Plan (2027-2031) and AFAWA 2.0. The discussions reinforced a clear message: 🌍 Africa’s economic transformation depends on unlocking women’s full potential through systemic, coordinated, and scalable solutions. 🔑 Key outcomes include: • Transitioning from fragmented interventions to integrated, ecosystem-based approaches • Strengthening institutional alignment and continental synergy to maximize impact • Positioning AWLN as a strategic catalyst to mobilize capital, influence policy, and drive innovation 🚀 Looking ahead, partners committed to: • Building structured partnerships to accelerate implementation of AFAWA 2.0 • Aligning efforts with the AfDB Gender Action Plan to ensure measurable results • Driving concrete, scalable actions that translate momentum into impact for women across Africa This consultation marks a critical step toward advancing inclusive growth, gender-responsive financing, and women’s leadership as central pillars of Africa’s development.

@AWLNetwork extends its sincere appreciation to @AfricanUnionUN for providing a vital platform for women during #CSW70. This space has amplified voices, catalyzed concrete calls to action, showcased impactful success stories, and strengthened collective momentum toward advancing women’s leadership and gender equality across Africa and beyond. 🙏🏾 @_AfricanUnion

A pleasure to welcome @BinetaDOfficial alongside students from Harvard @Kennedy_School to @UNDPAfrica. Rich discussions on AI, timbuktoo, partnerships & more. It is clear that women are the future and continued investment in their leadership, innovation & potential is essential.

Grateful to the incredible @AWLNAfrica women leaders who joined this important meeting- your insights continue to shape Africa’s gender and economic agenda. Special thanks to the dedicated teams behind the scenes who made this dialogue possible.

Speaking on behalf of the co-organizers, @AfricanUnion, @AWLNAfrica & @AfDB_Group, @FatouSombie1 presented the outcome statement, highlighting key priorities to advance #AFAWA2.0 & the Gender Action Plan 2027–2031, while stressing the critical role of the @AWLNAfrica #Private_Sector_Coalition in mobilizing capital, scaling impact, and shaping inclusive economic transformation in Africa. @AU_WGYD @AU_WGYD @_AfricanUnion

@AWLNetwork is pleased to co-organize this high-level consultation with @AfDB_Group & @AfricanUnion, with the support of @GermanyUN and @UN_Women, on the Gender Action Plan (2027–2031) & #AFAWA2.0. A timely dialogue to advance women’s economic leadership and transformative financing across Africa.” @BinetaDOfficial @MaEllenSirleaf @phumlambongcuka @AU_WGYD @FatouSombie1

“One of the most effective entry points for gender-responsive macroeconomic policy is budgeting, not as a separate allocation for women, but by embedding gender analysis into national development plans” -Ms. Nicole Mumala Maloba, Economic Justice and Rights Lead, FEMNET Lead Discussant on Pillar 4: Gender-Responsive Macroeconomic Policies. #AWLN #AfDBGenderActionPlan #AFAWA2

“Despite their immense contributions, women continue to face structural barriers, including gender-based violence, that hinder their full participation in economic growth,” -PS. Anne Wang'ombe, Principal Secretary, Republic of Kenya, Lead Discussant on Pillar 2: Investing in People - Decent Jobs for Women. #AWLN #AfDBGenderActionPlan #AFAWA2

“We need underwriting models that reflect how women actually run their businesses, supported by innovative financial instruments that align with their realities on the ground” - Dr. Estelle Kone, Founder and Managing Partner of Ster Impact Fund and AWLN Representative, serving as Lead Discussant on Pillar 1: Unlocking Women’s Economic Potential (Access to Finance and Markets). #AWLN #AfDBGenderActionPlan #AFAWA2

Dr. Jemimah Njuki, Director for Gender, Women and Civil Society Organizations at the @AfDB_Group, delivers keynote presentation on the Bank’s Gender Action Plan (2027-2031) and AFAWA 2.0 : ✅ Gender equality is central to AfDB’s mandate and critical to achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth ✅ Gender inequality is structural, embedded in economic systems, labour markets, public finance, and power dynamics ✅ Achieving impact requires financed action, institutional reform, and strong accountability mechanisms ✅ The Bank is shifting from project-level interventions to systemic, transformative approaches ✅ Transformational change depends on coordinated action across governments, civil society, private sector, and development finance institutions ✅ The Gender Action Plan focuses on four priority areas: ✔️ Access to finance and markets ✔️ Decent jobs and skills for women ✔️ Inclusive infrastructure ✔️ Gender-responsive macroeconomic policies

“This discussion is critical, it’s not just about opening windows of access to finance, but about unlocking real pathways to economic opportunity. Our longstanding partnership with @AfDB_Group reflects a shared commitment to advancing gender equality, including strengthening the link between development and security, particularly in contexts like South Sudan.” - Dr. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director, UN Women #AWLN #AfDBGenderActionPlan #AFAWA2

“As Co-Chair of the AWLN Group of Friends in New York, I am encouraged by the Bank’s strong emphasis on partnership and mutual accountability. Transformative outcomes require coordinated action and accountability across governments, civil society, and development finance institutions to deliver real results at country level." - H.E. Ambassador Cecilia Adeng, Permanent Representative of South Sudan to the United Nations, Co-Chair of the AWLN Group of Friends in New York, remarks at the High-Level Consultation on the #AfDBGenderActionPlan #AFAWA2

“Funding women is not just about access, but about power, agency, and participation. It is about ensuring that women are not just recipients of development, but architects of Africa’s emerging economy.” -H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Edrees, Permanent Representative of the African Union to the United Nations, opening remarks at the High-Level Consultation on the AfDB Gender Action Plan (2027-2031) & AFAWA 2.0