Advancing Women Leaders in Africa: A Discussion with Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda, Former President of Malawi
On January 27, 2017, the Women in Public Service Project and the Africa Program hosted a moderated conversation with Wilson Center Distinguished Fellow Dr. Joyce Banda, the former President of Malawi and the first woman to hold that office. Over the course of her fellowship, Dr. Banda has written extensively on issues around empowering women leaders in Africa. During the event she presented her white paper, “From Day One: An Agenda for Supporting Women Leaders in Africa.”
Overview
Africa needs a critical mass of skilled leaders to address the opportunities and challenges the continent faces. Leaders are born; yet 80% of the women leaders born in rural parts of Africa go unrecognized largely because, from day one, girls are born into a political, cultural and social environment that inhibits their development into well-equipped female leaders. In order to make policies that benefit all of society, then all of society must be a part of decision-making and given opportunities to lead.
On January 27, 2017, the Women in Public Service Project and the Africa Program hosted a moderated conversation with Wilson Center Distinguished Fellow Dr. Joyce Banda, the former President of Malawi and the first woman to hold that office. Over the course of her fellowship, Dr. Banda has written extensively on issues around empowering women leaders in Africa. During the event she presented her white paper, “From Day One: An Agenda for Supporting Women Leaders in Africa.”
The event concluded with a conversation between Dr. Banda and two young women leaders, moderated by WPSP Director Gwen K. Young.
Header Image: Flickr - International Labour Organization (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Speakers
Hosted By
Global Women's Leadership Initiative
The Global Women’s Leadership Initiative has hosted the Women in Public Service Project at the Wilson Center since June, 2012. The Women in Public Service Project will accelerate global progress towards women’s equal participation in policy and political leadership to create more dynamic and inclusive institutions that leverage the full potential of the world’s population to change the way global solutions are forged. Read more
Africa Program
The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and US-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial US-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in US-Africa relations. Read more
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