Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde is listed among Forbes' 100 most powerful women in the world in 2018. She is the only African woman represented in this ranking, but that's not counting the voices of a multitude of women who have made themselves heard across the continent throughout 2018.
Entrepreneurs, influencers, and inspirational figures, they have marked the year in their own way: some by revealing new initiatives and new synergies, and others by confirming their leadership.
African women on the international stage
Many African women have stood out this year. Women who, through their roles and actions, are called upon to play an important part in Africa's development. Each of them embodies the continent's dynamism, carrying the hopes of the female gender.
At the head of the Francophonie, a Rwandan woman, Louise Mushikiwabo, took the helm of the International Organization of La Francophonie last October.
In the media world, several women have also distinguished themselves. They appear in the 2018 Choiseul ranking and embody the driving forces of Africa. This annual ranking, which highlights young African leaders aged 40 and under, has revealed personalities such as Olivia Dadie Kipre, Director of Digital and Communication at Côte Ouest Audiovisuel; Leticia N'Cho Traore, CEO of Groupe Addict, a marketing and communications agency she founded in 2016 in Côte d'Ivoire; and Amy Sarr Fall, CEO of Intelligences Presse in Senegal.
Finally, on March 8, International Women's Day, a first-of-its-kind event on the African continent took place: the "Panafricaines" forum. Held in the city of Marrakech, the event brought together women journalists from 23 French-speaking African countries. More than 100 women came together to improve the status, working conditions, and representation of women from the continent in the media. After a second edition organized in October, the "Panafricaines" formed a true international network connecting these women journalists despite their cultural and linguistic differences. Together, they aim to use their actions to bring Africa's voice to the world.
Digital technology and entrepreneurship as paths to empowerment and inclusion
Digital technology is a real catalyst for female entrepreneurship: although not yet optimal, the development of the internet can offer opportunities for inclusion and empowerment for African women who, with a simple connection, can open themselves up to the world and play a role in the development of their country's economy.
Twenty-four percent of women on the continent are entrepreneurs (WIA Philanthropy study)
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To support this momentum, numerous initiatives have been launched to use digital technology to support Africa's development, particularly that of women on the continent.
The Isahit platform, created by Isabelle Mashola, campaigns for the advancement of women in the world of new technologies. By connecting socio-economically disadvantaged workers with the needs of businesses, this platform aims to use digital technology to promote the empowerment and emancipation of women on the continent.
Convinced that women will be catalysts for change on the continent, Women In Africa aims to be the leading digital network connecting women entrepreneurs across the continent to help them develop their businesses and inspire the women of tomorrow to ensure that gender has an impact on the development of Africa's future.
The "Les Héroïnes" collective has brought together more than 250 women leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs from all sectors in Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire. The ambition behind such an event is based on the desire to promote and unleash the potential of women in Africa through female role models in order to inspire, educate, and support future generations who will change the sub-region in their own way.
Read: Panafricaines, Irawo, and Isahit: power to women
The empowerment of women will also require better representation of their image, particularly in the media. Traditional communication channels such as television therefore have a role to play. Revaluing women in the media was the focus of FACT Dakar, the meeting of African Women in Communication and Television held last April. The event aimed to highlight the role of women and their legitimacy in the media world. The theme was "promoting gender equality in programming and contributing to the empowerment of women and girls through communication and television."
These initiatives, led by various actors, have been widely reported in the media, particularly through digital and social networks, giving women greater visibility and amplifying their voices across the continent. The economic weight of women in Africa is a reality.
Read: FACT Dakar: an event dedicated to promoting women in the media