Strides Towards Gender Equality in Africa: Progress Made, But Challenges Remain

Today, women in Africa enjoy unprecedented access to education, healthcare, and opportunities. However, a persistent gap between them and their male counterparts serves as a stark reminder that gender equality is still an elusive goal. The evidence is undeniable: one in three women continue to face physical or sexual violence, and nearly every woman dedicates twice as much time to unpaid household chores as men do. Furthermore, not a single country in Africa provides women with complete legal protection.

For me, this reality evokes a blend of frustration and hope, acknowledging both how far we’ve come and how much work remains.

Almost three decades ago, 189 world leaders departed from the Fourth World Conference on Women with renewed optimism, pledging their countries to the Beijing Platform for Action – an ambitious blueprint aimed at eradicating gender inequality. Yet, as countries reflect on their progress today, none have fulfilled those commitments. The 2023 Africa Gender Index report, created by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank, reveals that we are only halfway towards achieving gender equality. The path ahead is long, and advancements have been painfully slow.

The stakes are incredibly high. The failure to end gender inequality carries a hefty cost: economic stagnation, weakened social structures, instability, and squandered human potential – all of which hinder Africa’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Without immediate action, we risk drifting into a future marred by escalating inequality, injustice, and instability – a reality none of us can tolerate.

As we reflect on the promises made in Beijing, it’s essential for everyone to hold themselves accountable and take decisive political and financial measures to alter our current paths. Our analysis highlights five crucial areas where focused efforts over the next five years could help achieve gender equality by 2030.

First, although more women are now in full-time employment, they continue to bear the brunt of caregiving responsibilities, face discrimination, and endure harmful stereotypes. It’s imperative that governments and businesses eliminate barriers hindering women’s career advancement. Experience has shown that offering women equal opportunities is not only the ethical choice but also a smart strategy, with the potential to boost the GDP of emerging markets and developing economies by an average of 23%.

Second, as digitalization shapes the future of employment, many women find themselves left behind. By 2023, only 32% of women in Africa had internet access. This divide leads to lost opportunities and translates into costs running into millions of dollars for African economies each year. We must urgently make digital services accessible and promote digital literacy so that every woman can engage in the digital space equally.

Third, while maternal mortality rates have declined, we cannot ignore that healthcare remains inaccessible for countless women. Governments must prioritize healthcare access for all women, irrespective of their location or economic situation. Investing in women’s health not only saves lives but also makes economic sense, as every dollar spent generates $3 in economic growth.

Fourth, even though women in Africa now have near-equal access to primary, secondary, and tertiary education, this hasn’t yet resulted in equitable representation in leadership or economic power. Women’s representation in African parliaments has increased by just one percent, from 25% in 2021 to 26% in 2024. Without women’s voices in leadership roles, we risk perpetuating the very inequalities we aim to eliminate.

Lastly, we must address the damaging cultural norms, gender-based violence, and legal obstacles that inhibit women’s access to resources and leadership positions. Confronting these deeply rooted issues requires not only the strong enforcement of laws and policies but also a societal shift, involving policymakers, corporate leaders, community elders, faith leaders, and every individual.

These challenges are not new. While some may appear intractable, they are not unbeatable. Africa has demonstrated remarkable successes, from Tunisia’s increase in women graduates in science to Rwanda’s significant decrease in cervical cancer cases and Namibia’s gender-equal parliament. These examples remind us that change is achievable when we invest in strategies that work. In this context, data plays an essential role in targeting and monitoring interventions based on facts rather than assumptions. However, concerning women and girls, the data we require is often lacking, causing many challenges to remain hidden and unaddressed. For genuine progress, we must enhance our data capabilities to create a more complete picture.

In a world increasingly focused on urgent challenges, gender equality often takes a backseat. We can no longer afford complacency or business as usual. If we continue on our current trajectory, achieving gender equality could remain 300 years away. This situation is unacceptable.

We urge leaders across all sectors to recommit to the objectives outlined in Beijing and invest in meaningful change to tackle the gender inequality we know persists. Only by doing so can we transform equality from a distant dream into a reality in our lifetimes. I firmly believe this is possible, but it requires collective action right now.