Africa Women’s Forum 2025
Africa Women's Forum 2025: Full recording
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About the Africa Women's Forum 2025
Forum theme: From policy to action: Accelerating women leadership in Africa
The Africa Women Forum 2025 is a gathering in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together women from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to talk politics, share ideas, and build connections. Hosted by The Oslo Center and the Kristdemokratiskt Internationellt Center (KIC) under the WYDE Political Parties programme, the forum focuses on boosting women’s participation and leadership in politics.
It’s designed to be a shared space for women active in politics across learn from each other’s experiences and build lasting networks. Through strategic initiatives and multi-stakeholder collaboration, the forum will tackle the structural and cultural barriers that continue to limit women’s access to leadership and decision-making roles. By turning dialogue into action, the event aims to spark real change across East Africa.
About the WYDE Political Parties Initiative
The WYDE Political Parties initiative is part of the broader Women and Youth Democracy Engagement (WYDE) project, funded by the European Commission and launched by the European Network of Political Parties (ENoP). It’s all about boosting youth and women’s voices in political decision-making across Africa. In Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, the programme is being rolled out by Kristdemokratiskt Internationellt Center (KIC), with The Oslo Center (TOC) leading implementation in Kenya
Specific Objectives:
- Identify and tackle key structural, institutional, and cultural challenges that restrict women’s effective engagement in political leadership.
- Generate and share evidence-based knowledge and mentorship strategies to advance women’s political leadership within diverse African contexts.
- Create strategies to facilitate ongoing dialogue and knowledge exchange through networking and strengthening commitments to gender equality.
Agenda:
A dynamic day of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive sessions focused on boosting women’s political leadership across Africa. Around 60 delegates are expected – 40 from Kenya and 10 each from Uganda and Tanzania – coming together to share ideas, build networks, and shape strategies for stronger political participation.
Program:
View the program below.
Registration:
Due to limited capacity, in-person registration is by invitation only.
Watch the live stream:
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Time |
Session |
Speakers |
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08:00 am – 08:30 am |
Registration, nametag, and coffee |
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08:30 am – 09:00 am |
Introductory Session and Prayers |
Phoebe Mungai – Country Director, Kenya and Somalia, The Oslo Center |
|
09:00 am – 09:15 am |
Opening session |
Linda Rode – The Executive Director of The Oslo Center Moderator: Ms.Kalekye Mumo |
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09:15 am – 10:20 am |
Keynote presentations
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Keynote Speakers: Omer Noor – Program Manager Kristdemokratiskt Internationellt Center (KIC), Sweden. Raquel Bañón – WYDE Knowledge & Advocacy Officer H.E. Hon. Cecily Mbarire E.G.H – Governor, Embu County, and National Chairperson, United Democratic Alliance H.E Henriette Geiger – Ambassador of the European Union to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat. |
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10:20 am – 10:40 am |
Coffee Break |
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10:40 am – 12:00 pm |
Panel Discussion: From Policy to Action: Bridging the Gap Between Gender Equality Laws and Women’s Political Leadership in Africa
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Panel Discussants: Hon. Miria Matembe – Former Ethics & Integrity Minister, Uganda. Hon. Harriet Chiggai – Executive Office of the President of Kenya, President’s Advisor on Women Rights Jokate Mwegelo – Former National Secretary General, CCM Youth League, Tanzania. Hon. Abubakar Zein – Head of Presidential Campaign, Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF), Former EALA Representative, Kenya. |
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12:00 pm – 13:00 pm
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Panel Discussion: Breaking Barriers: Tackling Structural, Cultural, and Economic Hurdles to Women’s Leadership
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Hon. Dorothy Semu – Party Leader of Alliance for Change and Transparency, (ACT) Wazalendo Tanzania Shamim Kavuma – Exec Member of National Resistance Movement, (NRM) Women’s League, Uganda. Hon. Sen. Pareno Judith – Principal Secretary, State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs, Office of the Attorney General, Kenya. Joseph Kimani – Programme Manager, Democratic Governance, Royal Embassy of Denmark, Kenya. |
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13:00 pm – 13:20 pm
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Plenary Discussion: Breaking Barriers: Tackling Structural, Cultural, and Economic Hurdles to Women’s Leadership |
Moderator: Kalekye Mumo |
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13:20pm – 14:20 pm |
Lunch |
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14:20 pm – 15:20 pm
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High-Level Panel: Catalyzing a Regional Movement: Building Sustainable Platforms for Monitoring and Advancing Women’s Leadership in Africa
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Antonia N’Gabala-Sodonon – UN Hon. Winnie Kiiza – Former Leader of Opposition and Founder member of the Alliance for National Transformation, Uganda. Hon. Jeremiah Kioni – Secretary General, Jubilee Party, Kenya. CPA Florence Birya – Assistant Registrar, Office of the Registrar of Political Parties in Kenya. Line Urban – Programme Manager – Elections, Human Rights and Justice, Delegation of the European Union to Kenya |
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15:20 pm – 15:40 pm
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Plenary Discussion: Catalyzing a Regional Movement: Building Sustainable Platforms for Monitoring and Advancing Women’s Leadership in Africa |
Moderator: Ms.Kalekye Mumo
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15:40 pm – 16:00 pm |
Closing session |
Linda Rode – The Executive Director of The Oslo Center |