AFRICAN WOMEN LEADERS NETWORK

SECOND WOMEN LEADERS FORUM FOR AFRICA’S TRANSFORMATION

Theme: “Women Working Together for the
Africa We Want: From Commitment to Action”

24 – 26 April 2018. Addis Ababa

FORUM OUTCOMES

Introduction

1. The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) convened its second Forum in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia from 24-26 April, 2018 under the theme “Women working together
for the Africa we want: From commitment to Action”. The second Forum follows
the launch of the Network at the first High-Level Women Leaders Forum for Africa’s
Transformation, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in June 2017.
The African Women Leaders Network seeks to enhance the leadership of women for
the transformation of Africa with a focus on governance, peace, stability, sustainable
development, economic empowerment and women’s access to finance. The
Network comprises of over 200 women leaders in media, politics, diplomatic corps,
academics, research, civil society, private sector, young women, women living in
rural areas and the diaspora.

2. The AWLN convened the Second Forum under the auspices of the Chairperson of the
African Union Commission H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahammat and the United Nations
Deputy Secretary-General H.E. Ms Amina J. Mohammed, through the offices of the
AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security H.E. Ms Bineta Diop and H.E. Dr.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of
UN Women, with the support of the Federal Republic of Germany. In attendance
were AU and UN senior officials and of the diplomatic community.

Objectives of the 2nd AWLN Forum

3. The objectives of the Forum were to consolidate and anchor the Network’s “Call to
Action” through concrete strategies designed to upscale the actions of the network,
its including the governance and operational structure. This is against the backdrop
of actions undertaken by the Network during the year 2017-2018, which are gaining
traction in advancing its agenda, including the conduct of “solidarity missions” to
revitalise women’s participation in peace, security and development in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Nigeria (July 2017).

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 4. Re-Affirming the AWLN’s Commitment to the AU 2063 Agenda and the UN 2030
Agenda
Members of AWLN underscored the immense value and contribution that it will
make in engendering democracy, peace building, women’s equal political
participation and socio-economic transformation on the Continent. More so noting,
the anticipated role of the network in galvanising positive change at all levels
through movement building, and providing thought leadership to achieve the goals
and benchmarks set in the SDGs Agenda 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063 –
“The Africa We Want”. At the centre of these multiple agenda is the role that African
women leaders shall play to ensure that “no woman is left behind”. The AWLN will
provide full support to the implementation of the “Joint United Nations – African
Union Frameworks for Enhanced Partnership in Peace, Security and Development”
respectively adopted in April 2017 and January 2018 by the African Union and the
United Nations.

5. Operational Plan

Members adopt the AWLN Charter in line with the vision and values of the network

5.1 Members noted the unique value of AWLN and its positional and collective power, and
capacities to:
 Prepare for, and support women in leadership positions, including intergenerational
leadership ensuring a quota for young women;
 Build knowledge and document African women leaders’ contributions and legacies;
 Convene high level dialogues on thematic issues relevant for the vision and
objectives of the network and Africa;
 Hold our leaders accountable to gender equality and women empowerment
commitments, including the members of AWLN;
 Build a groundswell of women activists, especially amongst women living in rural
areas, the diaspora, and youth, to promote leadership across all sectors;
 Build a large cadre of women entrepreneurs who will transform the economic
landscape of Africa;

The network will build on existing inclusive and transformative initiatives and leverage past
initiatives such as undertaking solidarity missions and the launch of Group of Friends (New
York, Addis-Ababa, Brussels, Geneva), briefings to the UN Security Council and AU Peace and
Security Council.
5.2 Members agreed on AWLN’s operational plan (supported by policies and procedures)
comprising the following:

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  Vision: A peaceful and transformed Africa informed by the quantitative and
qualitative leadership of women;
 Values: inclusivity, solidarity, empowerment, partnership and local ownership, self-
reliance, through active resource mobilisation for the network, integrity;
 Membership criteria: young and adult African women exercising leadership and
women in the diaspora; guided by diversity and inclusivity;
 Continental structure:
 Board comprising 21 persons – 3 per region and to include at least one young
person, 3 representing institutions, and 3 representing the diaspora. Members to be
elected to the Board through a democratic process. The Board to meet bi- annually.
 Secretariat of the AWLN will be supported under the leadership of the AU Office of
the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, and UN Women until it is fully
operationalized.
 Regional Chapters: Configured in line with regional economic communities in the 5
regions. Flexible structures anchored on existing initiatives/institutions.
 National Chapters: To be established based on country specific contexts – building
synergy with existing networks and platforms, informed by the AWLN Charter.
Principles are inclusivity, non-partisan, non-state, flexible structure. National Chapter
establishment to be supported the AWLN Secretariat, local and other development
partners to mobilise support for coordination.
 General Assembly/Forum: A Forum shall be held on an annual basis for the first 5
years of the life of the network and every two years thereafter.
 Group of Friends: High level influencers in regional and global spaces to support
AWLN’s thought leadership and advocacy efforts at all levels.
 Interim Steering Committee: The Interim Steering Committee becomes the new
Steering Committee to fully engage the operationalization until the formal structure
is adopted by the General Assembly of the AWLN.

6. AWLN Plan of Action 2018 – 2020

Members reviewed and in principle adopted the thematic Plan of Action subject to
recommended inputs. The Plan of Action identifies flagship activities in the thematic
areas:

1. women, peace and security;

2. women in governance;
3. women living in rural areas and social mobilisation
4. young women leadership
5. Women entrepreneurs and in the private sector
6. Social Mobilization & Transformation

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 It was noted that these thematic areas are cross-cutting and mutually reinforcing. Once
incorporated the Plan of Action shall be presented to members for endorsement and
subsequent implementation. All members contribute to the various thematic priorities
and flagship projects of the AWLN.

7. The African Women’s Leadership Fund Operational Framework

Members noted that the operational framework of the African Women’s Leadership
Fund (AWLF) led through the office of the United Nations Economic Commission for
Africa (ECA), is underpinned by the principle to centralise the role of women in the
finance sector and money markets in Africa. The overarching objective is for women
entrepreneurs and fund managers to benefit in the finance value chain, including as
investors. Sustainable investment capital is envisaged as the core result, which in
turn will provide several windows for financing women’s businesses and providing
technical assistance, including for young women. Members tasked the UN Economic
Commission for Africa, to finalise the modalities of making the fund operational
based on provided feedback.

8. AWLN Brand & Identity

Members reviewed the branding strategy thus far developed and noted that
branding is a process that defines the identity of the network. This informs the
visibility of the network and the brand should be strong, and reflect the dynamic and
inclusive nature of the network. Members tasked a smaller group led by one of the
Steering Committee members to lead the finalisation of the branding strategy based
on comments provided, and report back. Other guidelines related to
communications and visibility must also be developed.

In closing, the network celebrates the positive outcomes of its Second Forum. Drawing
inspiration from the momentum generated, solidarity, vibrant participation and sisterhood
of all members, the network invites its members to immediate action as agreed in its plan of
action. The network expresses deepest gratitude to the African Union Commission and the
United Nations for hosting the Forum leading to its successful conclusion

Done at the African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

26th April, 2018.