NIGSD, EAPD conclude the training program “African Women’s Leaders” in its 4th batch

Egypt’s National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (NIGSD), in cooperation with the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development (EAPD) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, concluded the fourth session of the "African Women Leaders" training program.
The course witnessed the presence of H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development who is acting also as the chairperson of NIGSD’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Sherifa Sherif, Executive Director of the Institute, and Ambassador Hisham Al-Maqwad, Deputy Secretary-General of the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development (EAPD), with the participation of several ambassadors of sister African countries.
The "African Women's Leaders" program will be held from 13 to 18 September, for 60 trainee leaders in 30 African countries, including Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Burundi, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, Tanzania, and Sudan.

During her speech, Dr. Hala El-Said said that the graduation ceremony of the fourth batch represents a new luminous episode in the series of fruitful cooperation that brings together African countries in various fields, foremost of which is the field of capacity building and rehabilitation of the human element, which is the real wealth of the African continent.
El-Said explained that the "African Women Leaders" program was launched three years ago, as part of some initiatives that Egypt submitted when it chaired the African Union in 2019.
El-Said added that the launch of the African Women Leaders Program was part of many training programs directed to Africa to develop the capabilities of women in leadership positions and executive positions and as an extension of the national program for women executive leaders in the Egyptian governorates.
El-Said pointed out that the "Executive Women's Leaders" program is the national version of the African Women's Leaders Program, and aims to qualify women for leadership and increase their number in decision-making positions.El-Said added that the African Women Leaders Program comes as a result of an extended development partnership and fruitful cooperation between the Institute and many local and regional partners represented in the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), the African Association for Public Administration (AAPAM), and the Kenya School of Governance.
El-Said pointed out that this gathering of African institutions with the Institute confirms the importance of this program and its original goal of it, which is to produce a large number of women leaders who will have an important and influential role in decision-making and decision-making in their countries.
El-Said indicated that this year's program touched on multiple topics related to the implementation of Africa's Agenda 2063, which is in line with Egypt's Vision 2030 and the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development.
El-Said added that the issues of "Green Economy and Climate Change" were also focused on, in the context of Egypt's hosting on behalf of Africa of the Climate Change Conference COP27, next November in Sharm El-Sheikh.
El-Said explained that the Egyptian state will launch, on the sidelines of the COP 27 conference, the "A decent life for Africa resilient to climate change" initiative, which is launched to benefit from the development experience of the Egyptian (Decent Life) Initiative.El-Said added that the program emphasizes the active role of African women in the role of development, adding that women have proven their presence in various positions as an active element in facing crises and challenges.El-Said affirmed the Egyptian state’s belief in the issue of empowering women politically, economically, and socially, following up on that talking about women’s empowerment not only has a social dimension but is a talk that has an economic necessity to maximize the use of the creative energies that God has endowed to women.

She highlighted Egypt's pride in its African affiliation as an authentic part of the African continent, its preoccupation with the continent's issues, and its constant endeavor and keenness to cooperate and coordinate with its brothers from African countries in light of the challenges facing the whole world.


For her part, Dr. Sherifa Sherif said that the celebration of the graduation of the fourth batch of the African Women Leaders Program comes in line with Egypt's Vision 2030 and Africa's Agenda 2063.


El-Said said that the program is a pioneering initiative that reflects Egypt's commitment to supporting "women's empowerment" and its desire to expand the scope of the country beyond the borders of a single state.


Sherif added that the African Women Leaders Program brings together women from all over the continent to reach more than 45 countries over the past four years, expressing her hopes that the program will continue to serve as an enabler and accelerator in shaping the next generation of women leaders.

Ambassador / Hisham El Maqoud, Deputy Secretary-General of the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development, stressed the importance of building on the great progress made in the field of women's empowerment and strengthening efforts toward transferring the Egyptian experience in this framework to African countries.