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Women’s representation in the African Parliament has increased by one percentage point, from 24% in 2021 to 25% in 2024, as revealed in the Topline findings of The Women in Political Participation Barometer (WPP).
During the same period, it was also found that while women’s representation in top executive positions in government has increased, their presence in local government across Africa has declined. In East Africa, women's representation in local government declined by 11%, alongside a 16% increase in women holding top executive positions. The acknowledgment remains that progress in advancing meaningful political participation for women in Africa is still slow.
The WPP Barometer is a resource tool that demonstrates the status of women's political participation in Africa. It aims to provide evidence, particularly to legislators and policymakers, to advocate for and strengthen women's political participation and leadership.
On 10 July 2024, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), through the Women in Political Participation Project, in collaboration with Gender Links, will mark a milestone by launching the second edition of the WPP Barometer.
The presentation of the WPP Barometer Topline findings follows the publication of the 1st Edition of the WPP Barometer in 2021, providing insights into the status of women's political participation in Africa. This event underscores the achievements of the Women in Political Participation Consortium, which was launched in 2019 with support from the Embassy of Sweden in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Through this initiative, the consortium is advancing the project titled "Enhancing the Participation of Women in Political Participation in Africa".
Central to the project's mission is the promotion of women's political participation and representation across Africa. Drawing inspiration from the Maputo Protocol of 2003, sub-regional protocols, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the project aims to amplify the voices of women in political spheres.
To achieve its objectives, International IDEA and its partners engages with a diverse range of stakeholders, including political parties, media organisations, election management bodies, parliaments, and governmental ministries focused on gender and women's issues. By collaborating with policymakers and regional bodies such as the African Union and regional economic communities, the project aims to effect meaningful change throughout the continent. Currently operational in eight African countries—Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe—the Women in Political Participation (WPP) project is making significant strides towards its goals.
International IDEA
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is one of the most trusted global sources of data and analysis on the health of democracy around the world. An intergovernmental organization with 35 Member States, the Institute has the sole mandate to support and advance democracy worldwide.
International IDEA contributes to the public debate on democracy and assists in strengthening process, reforms, institutions and actors that build, advance and safeguard democracy, with a focus on electoral processes, constitution-building, democracy assessment, and political participation and representation. Mainstreamed across all our work are gender and inclusion, conflict sensitivity and sustainable development.
Gender Links
Gender Links is part of the International IDEA-led WPP consortium comprising six organisations that are implementing the: Enhancing the Inclusion of Women in Political Participation in Africa. The consortium focuses on eight African countries namely Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The project is funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Ethiopia, with the overall goal to increasing the political representation and participation of women in the SADC region and in Africa in line with the Maputo Protocol of 2003, the revised SADC Protocol on Gender and Development of 2015, various sub-regional protocols and standards and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). GL is in the second phase of implementing this project. In this phase GL and partners in the consortium are focusing on knowledge generation, documentation and dissemination; Training and capacity strengthening; advocacy and outreach as well as conducting policy and political dialogues.
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Gender Links
