African Union Development Agency and Women for Women International announce partnership to advance women’s economic independence in Africa

The African Union Development Agency–NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) and Women for Women International (WfWI) will announce a strategic partnership aimed at advancing women’s economic independence and addressing Gender-Based Violence across Africa. 

Violent conflict costs the continent an estimated USD 18 billion per year through military spending, lost productivity, and the cost of humanitarian crises. Relief and recovery efforts often focus on food and basic supplies with limited access to economic recovery, especially for women. Meanwhile, nearly 38% of women in Africa have experienced physical or sexual violence. Evidence indicates that investing in women’s social and economic empowerment leads to a measurable reduction in local conflict and increased economic prosperity.  

 
AUDA-NEPAD’s African Women’s Empowerment Program has been at the forefront of addressing the challenges faced by women and girls by supporting community-based initiatives, skills development, entrepreneurship support, advocacy, and leadership training.  
 
“When opportunity knocks, many African women are ready, but the door is locked by systems that were never built for them. The Africa We Want will not be handed to us. We must invest in it, nurture it, and make it our own”, said H.E. Mrs. Nardos Bekele -Thomas, CEO, AUDA-NEPAD 
 
WfWI’s has more than 30 years of experience supporting over 616,000 women survivors of war through holistic programs that integrate economic skills, rights awareness, leadership development, and men’s engagement.  
 
 “We are honoured to form this strategic partnership with AUDA-NEPAD, which reflects our shared commitment to building sustainable systems that enable women in Africa not only to survive conflict, but to lead recovery and long-term transformation”, said Dr. Thelma Ekiyor, International CEO of Women for Women International. 

 
Through this collaboration, AUDA-NEPAD’s African Women’s Empowerment Program (AWEP) and Women for Women International will combine their expertise to expand the reach and quality of women’s empowerment initiatives, strengthen locally led solutions, enhance policy influence, and mobilise new funding and strategic partnerships across Africa. Together, AUDA-NEPAD and Women for Women International are investing in women not as beneficiaries, but as drivers of Africa’s future.

 
The partnership was officially formalised on Thursday, February 12, 2026, 5-7pm on the margins of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at Skyline Hall, Capital Hotel and brought together senior representatives from African Union institutions, Member States, development partners, and civil society.  

This high-level reception event was moderated by Emmy and Peabody award-winning journalist, former CNN Africa Bureau Chief, Ms. Stephanie Busari, with a keynote address given by Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security.