Briefing Note
The Power Within: Women in Africa
We have carefully selected and invited you to join a special group of African female leaders from across a diverse breadth of industry sectors to openly and honestly discuss the power challenges facing women in Africa today.
Introduction
Understanding power dynamics in African communities is crucial for supporting healthier power transitions or empowerment. The phrases "knowledge is power" is often used, but how true is it for females? As we educate children and young adults, it's important to consider the impact that technology and access to digital resources will have on power dynamics within their communities. Additionally, for true community empowerment is critical to examine the assumptions that Western countries make about power in African communities before offering support. By exploring these topics and other unanswered questions, we can gain a deeper understanding of power dynamics and work towards creating more equitable and just societies.
Discussions with Purpose
African women today face a unique set of challenges. Particularly in the age of social media, where personal expression is at an all-time high, African women must navigate their cultural norms while also carving out a space for themselves in a connected technologically-advanced global community. For some, this may mean confronting the patriarchal structures that exist in many African societies, while for others it may mean reconciling traditional values with modern viewpoints. Regardless of their individual paths, African mothers and daughters are poised to play a vital role in shaping the future of their continent and the world.
The three key areas for our discussions are:
- Education and Literacy
- Community Empowerment Dynamics
- Cultural Resources and Mind-shifts
More Than Words
Welcome to the first instalment of our discussion series, "The Power Within." Our goal is to break the taboos that hinder communities from realising their full potential. We believe that by engaging in meaningful conversations, we can inspire positive change and empower individuals from within.
In this discussion, we will explore the intricate realities of African communities, as shared by you, an influential non-profit leader and community members working to support underserved segments of society. With your insights, we hope to shed light on the challenges faced by these communities and identify actionable steps towards positive transformation.
Moreover, we aim to unite you with other non-profit leaders from across a broad yet related segments, who can partner and collaborate to magnify the impact of your non-profit purposes. We hope this collaboration will not only increase your success but also create a ripple effect of positive change through new connections and expanded professional networks an impact channels.
Preparing for the Roundtable
We have identified five questions (please feel free to contribute and suggest changes) to prepare and commence discussions about defining power, power dynamics and impact of change as experienced by female Africans today.
- What is a woman's self-perception of her agency/ability to instigate change?
- What are the social benefits when females are empowered?
- What systemic structures are needed to embed positive cultural change and empower long term social growth?
- How can the learning goals and obstacles be defined, become explicit and overcome taboos (what are these taboos)?
- What collective mind shifts are needed to move towards a more prosperous future?
You will be invited to an (optional) preparation meeting of 60 mins duration to be scheduled in October 2023.
Making Your Contribution Matter
After reviewing the discussion, our next step is to create a report that will be published. Before we proceed, we will kindly request your confirmation that you are comfortable with your comments from the roundtable being included in the report. Additionally, we will provide you with a copy of the report for review before it is made publicly available.
Improving Financial Literacy in Women and Children
The report will serve as a valuable tool for developing best practices and implementing a financial literacy educational framework by Wealth Angels. Our goal is improve the financial literacy of under-privileged women and children in Africa and the United Kingdom, ensuring that new generations have access to the necessary education and resources to reduce poverty, increase resilience and ensure lifelong financial security.
Candid conversations that will contribute to the following UN SDGs
Guest Speakers
Yene Assegid MCC PhD
Yene Assegid, MCC, PhD, is a seasoned transformational leadership coach and systems thinking practitioner. Since the mid 1990s, she has supported civil society organizations, UN agencies, European Union institutions, and multinationals. Yene’s extensive international experience has benefited from her understanding of diversity and cross-cultural dynamics, as well as her fluency in English and French.
Yene is an accomplished author and has recently released books titled, "Leading With Heart" and "Rebellious & Resilient".
Esther Wanjiru
Passionate about developing agency in young African women, Esther believes that all children have the capacity to learn.
Tracy Spencer
Tracy Spencer is a young expat working and living in the UAE to support her daughter and family in the Cameroon.