African Union’s Agenda 2063 Women and Gender Committee: Empowering African Women for a Prosperous Future
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The African Union (AU) continues to make significant strides toward gender equality and women’s empowerment through its Agenda 2063 framework. Central to this mission is the Women and Gender Committee, dedicated to uplifting African women across various sectors.
Agenda 2063: A Vision for Inclusive Development
Agenda 2063 serves as Africa’s blueprint for transformative development, envisioning a continent that is integrated, prosperous, and peaceful. A core aspiration of this agenda is achieving full gender equality in all spheres of life, recognizing that the empowerment of women and girls is essential for sustainable socio-economic growth. 
Strategic Collaborations for Holistic Empowerment
The Women and Gender Committee is proactively collaborating with various AU bodies to ensure a comprehensive approach to women’s empowerment:
• Trade and Investment: By partnering with the Trade and Investment Committee, efforts are underway to provide women entrepreneurs with access to markets and resources, fostering economic independence.
• Education and Mass Literacy: Collaboration with the Education and Mass Literacy Committee aims to ensure that women and girls receive quality education, enhancing their opportunities and societal contributions.
• Tourism Development: Working alongside the Tourism Committee, the focus is on involving women in tourism ventures, promoting cultural heritage, and supporting community-based tourism initiatives.
• Media and Communications: Engagements with the Media and Communications Committee seek to amplify women’s voices in media, challenge stereotypes, and promote positive narratives.
• Finance: Teaming up with the Finance Committee aims to improve women’s access to financial services, enabling them to invest in businesses and secure their futures.
A Comprehensive Strategy for Gender Equality
The AU has articulated its commitment to gender equality through the Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE). This strategy proposes implementing guidelines to end violence against women and girls and funding national projects to penalize such acts, aligning with the broader goals of Agenda 2063. 
Placing Women and Girls at the Center of Development
Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063 emphasizes a people-driven development approach, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth. This aspiration underscores the importance of ensuring that no child, woman, or man is left behind or excluded based on gender, political affiliation, religion, ethnic affiliation, locality, age, or other factors. 
Looking Ahead
Through these concerted efforts, the AU’s Women and Gender Committee envisions a future where African women are at the forefront of the continent’s renaissance, driving sustainable development and societal transformation. By fostering collaboration across various sectors, the committee aims to create an environment where African women can thrive, leading to a prosperous and equitable continent.
For more information on how to participate or support the initiative, interested parties are encouraged to reach out via email fatoumatta.gaye@africanunion2063.org to get involved and be part of a collective effort to transform lives.
