Date & Time: 21 October 2026 (Wednesday), 18:30–20:00 (JST) / 12:30–14:00 (EAT)

Registration: In-person Registration  |   Online Registration

Across Africa, structural inequalities continue to shape who participates in governance and peacebuilding and, importantly, who has the power to influence decisions. Women play critical roles in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, community mobilization and social cohesion, yet they remain significantly underrepresented in formal political and decision-making processes, including peace negotiations, transitional governance and political leadership. More than 25 years after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which established the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, a persistent gap remains between political commitments and their implementation.

At the same time, important momentum is emerging across Africa. A new generation of women leaders is taking on roles in parliaments, local governments, peace mediation, civil society and other spheres of public life, and African-led institutions are investing in leadership development and creating pathways for women to assume greater roles in political decision-making. The issue is equally relevant to Japan, where women remain significantly underrepresented in political leadership and other senior decision-making positions, creating an opportunity for Africa and Japan to learn from one another.

At TICAD9, held in Yokohama in August 2025, the Yokohama Declaration reaffirmed the importance of peace, stability and good governance in Africa, and emphasized the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas. UNDP is also supporting women's political leadership in Africa through the newly launched African Academy for Women in Political Leadership, established with the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) and the African School of Governance (ASG). In addition, JICA promotes WPS through developing women leaders, supporting women’s livelihood improvement, promoting women’s participation in communities, and training 500 personnel in medical and administrative fields for preventing gender-based violence (GBV) and protecting and ensuring the safety of GBV survivors.