LocationsAFSIT and the African Development Bank launch BRIDGE project to strengthen inclusive governance and women’s leadership in transition countries
March 24, 2026
Addis Ababa, 24 March 2026 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), has launched the Building Resilience and Inclusive Development for Governance and Equality (BRIDGE) project to strengthen inclusive governance and support women’s leadership in transition contexts.
BRIDGE is coordinated through the Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions (AFSIT), an African Union Commission (AUC)-UNDP joint initiative that provides targeted and catalytic support to African countries navigating complex political transitions.
Funded through the AfDB Transition Support Facility (TSF) Targeted Support Window (Pillar III), the two-year project will enhance gender-responsive, transparent and accountable governance in the justice system and advance women’s leadership and representation in decision-making roles. The project will be implemented in Guinea-Bissau, South Sudan and The Gambia.
Across Africa, experience shows that when women lead and participate in decision-making, institutions become stronger, justice becomes fairer and societies more resilient.Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Africa
“BRIDGE, coordinated under AFSIT, is an investment in women as architects of accountable and inclusive governance,” noted Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Africa. “Across Africa, experience shows that when women lead and participate in decision-making, institutions become stronger, justice becomes fairer and societies more resilient.”
Women’s leadership and strong institutions are essential to building resilient and inclusive societies.Jemimah Njuki, Director of the Gender, Women and Civil Society Department, AfDB
“Women’s leadership and strong institutions are essential to building resilient and inclusive societies,” said Jemimah Njuki, Director of the Gender, Women and Civil Society Department at AfDB “Through BRIDGE, the Bank is supporting countries in transition to strengthen justice systems, expand women’s participation in leadership, and empower civil society to advance accountability and equality.”
The intervention will deliver sustainable solutions to address governance capacity gaps, gender inequality and the limited involvement of women and civil society organizations in decision-making processes. By strengthening inclusive governance structures and fostering synergies with partners to scale up impact, BRIDGE will also help lay the foundation for private investment and job creation. These efforts will contribute to greater social cohesion and improved quality of life for people in Guinea-Bissau, South Sudan and The Gambia.
BRIDGE is a concrete expression of what AFSIT was designed to do: deliver targeted, African-led support that places inclusion at the heart of political transitions.H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, AUC
“BRIDGE is a concrete expression of what AFSIT was designed to do: deliver targeted, African-led support that places inclusion at the heart of political transitions. Through our partnership with UNDP and the AfDB, we are translating that vision into action by strengthening justice systems, investing in and expanding women’s leadership, and building the institutional foundations required for transitions in Guinea-Bissau, South Sudan and The Gambia,” H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, AUC, reiterates.
The launch of the project coincides with Women’s Month, underscoring the importance of advancing women’s participation and leadership in governance as a cornerstone of sustainable development.
For more information, please contact:
UNDP Africa
Katharine Brooks, AFSIT Partnerships Specialist - katharine.brooks@undp.org
Kira Pakarinen, AFSIT Project Officer - kira.pakarinen@undp.org
AfDB contact
Aïssatou Dosso, Principal Gender Business Development Officer - a.dosso@afdb.org
Zineb Lahbabi, Gender Business Support Specialist - z.lahbabi@afdb.org
AUC contact
Darsheenee Raumnauth, Governance Expert – raumnauthd@africanunion.org
Barbara K. Asamoah, AFSIT AU Liaison Officer – asamoahb@africanunion.org
About UNDP Africa
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.
About AfDB
AfDB is a regional multilateral development finance institution established to contribute to the economic development and social progress of African countries. Recognizing that addressing fragility often requires complementary and catalytic funding beyond standard concessional and non-concessional instruments, the Bank established the Transition Support Facility (TSF) in 2008 to provide additional concessional resources to countries facing situations of fragility and conflict. The TSF’s Targeted Support Window (Pillar III) supports targeted capacity-building and technical assistance activities that cannot readily be undertaken through institutional support projects or other Bank programmes. Priority is given to initiatives with strong potential for high impact due to their innovative character or strategic positioning.
About AUC
The African Union Commission is the Secretariat of the African Union, a 55- Member State regional organization. Its vision is that of “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena” and its mission is to be “An efficient and value-adding institution driving the African integration and development process in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens”.