She Leads Africa Summit 2025
From 11–13 August 2025, Nairobi, Kenya, will host the inaugural She Leads Africa Summit, a regional gathering designed for and by Girls and Young Women (GYW) to strengthen leadership, share achievements, and advance gender equality across the continent.
The summit will take place in a hybrid format, offering both in-person attendance and full virtual access.
The event is open to GYW leaders, youth advocates, civil society organizations, policymakers, the media, and anyone with a commitment to gender justice in Africa.
A Platform with a Purpose
This first-of-its-kind summit has been developed under the She Leads Africa programme to provide a dedicated space where GYW can take the lead in shaping the conversations and strategies that affect their rights and futures.
The theme for 2025, “Sustaining Girls and Young Women Leadership in Key Decision-Making Spaces in Africa,” reflects a focus on ensuring that leadership gains made by young women are not only celebrated but sustained.
Attendees will have the chance to connect directly with peers, decision-makers, and experts to explore practical approaches for increasing GYW representation in governance, advocacy, and community leadership roles.
The programme will combine presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, ensuring that participants can both learn and contribute.
Key Issues on the Agenda
Over the three days, the summit will address a range of issues that continue to shape the leadership landscape for young women in Africa.
These include:
- Gender-Based Violence (GBV): exploring policy and community solutions to protect GYW from harm and expand their ability to participate safely in public life.
- Mental Health: promoting access to services and reducing stigma for young women leaders navigating high-pressure roles.
- Digital Safety: addressing online harassment, misinformation, and the skills needed to thrive in the digital space.
- Climate Justice: highlighting the role of GYW in climate action and ensuring they have a seat at the table in environmental decision-making.
- Political Participation: developing strategies to increase the number of young women in elected and appointed offices.
A Space for Accountability
The She Leads Africa Summit will also reflect on key continental frameworks and demand accountability from governments and regional bodies.
With the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) entering their final stretch towards 2030, the summit is positioned as a forward-looking space to shape a Post-2030 Agenda that keeps GYW leadership central.
By bringing diverse stakeholders into one space, the summit seeks to bridge the gap between decision-makers and the communities they serve.
It is a chance for advocates to directly share their priorities and influence the direction of future reforms.
Cross-Border Networking and Skills Building
Beyond policy discussions, the event will offer valuable networking opportunities.
Participants will be able to meet others working on similar challenges in different countries, share strategies, and form alliances that can continue long after the summit concludes.
Workshops and breakout sessions will provide practical skills from advocacy planning and media engagement to partnership development, equipping GYW leaders to strengthen their influence in both local and continental spaces.
How to Take Part
Registration is now open for both in-person and online participation.
Organizers encourage Girls and Young Women, as well as allies from civil society, government, academia, and the private sector, to attend and contribute to a continental dialogue on equality and leadership.
Event details:
📅 Dates: 11–13 August 2025
📍 Location: Nairobi, Kenya & Online
🔗Register:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6xh8MU1PwvtU718RMmUEegztgKOf-usfwor01MxjSsja-Og/viewform
By attending, participants will not only hear from some of the most inspiring GYW leaders on the continent but also help shape the strategies that will guide the movement for years to come.
About She Leads Africa
She Leads Africa is a Pan-African programme empowering Girls and Young Women (GYW) to take leadership roles and influence decisions affecting their lives.
Through training, mentorship, advocacy, and cross-border networking, it addresses issues such as gender-based violence, mental health, digital safety, political participation, and climate justice.
The programme works with governments, civil society, and regional bodies to hold leaders accountable to gender equality commitments and to ensure GYW voices shape Africa’s development agenda.
