INTRODUCTION

Women in Africa are very dynamic economic agents, more so than anywhere else in the world. They
carry out the majority of agricultural activities, own a third of all enterprises and in some countries
account for up to 70% of employees. Beyond their income-generating activities, they are the main
levers of the domestic economy and family well-being, and play an absolutely indispensable —
sometimes unrecognized — role as leaders within their respective communities and nations. And yet,
across the African continent, women face a range of barriers to achieving their full potential, ranging
from restrictive cultural practices and discriminatory laws to highly segmented labour
markets. Eliminating gender inequalities and empowering women could increase the productive
potential of one billion Africans and significantly boost the continent's development potential.
I- WOMEN IN THE FIELD OF PRODUCTION

1. Women in production

To assess equal economic opportunity, the Gender Equality Index compares men's and women's
labour force participation rates, wages and incomes, business ownership, and access to financial
services. The figures indicate that by global standards, African women are both economically active
and highly invested in entrepreneurship. They form the core of the agricultural labour force and own
the majority of informal sector businesses. Unfortunately, they are usually found in low-value-added
occupations, where economic profitability is insignificant. They face a range of barriers that prevent
them from moving towards more productive activities.

2. Land

Land is the main asset for agriculture. In all societies, it is also an important source of wealth and a
reference point in terms of social status. In sub-Saharan Africa, traditional land tenure systems
largely exclude women from owning or controlling land resources. Women make up only 15% of land
holders (i.e., those who exercise control over the management of a farm, either as owners, tenants
or under customary law), from less than 5% in Mali to 30% in countries such as Botswana, Cape
Verde and Malawi.3 Their farms tend to be of lower quality and smaller than those owned by men. In
many customary legal systems, women's rights to inherit land are limited and they are vulnerable to
dispossession as a result of divorce or widowhood.

3. Credit

Women invest more in their families when they have access to financial services. Women – in
agriculture and small businesses – need access to financial services, such as savings, credit and
insurance, to grow their businesses. In particular, they need access to credit to provide working
capital, to address the challenges arising from income gaps, and to finance investments in the
acquisition of new equipment or technology. There is also ample evidence that providing women
with direct access to financial services can lead to increased investment in nutrition and education,
and human capital development, while enabling households to be more resilient to shocks and
uncertainties.

4. Connection to infrastructure

Africa's huge infrastructure deficit is a major impediment to its development. Africa's infrastructure
lags far behind other developing regions, both in terms of regional and domestic
connections. Infrastructure services — especially electricity — often cost twice as much as those in
other regions, reflecting losses of scale and high profit margins due to a lack of competition. Africa's
fragile states — where capital investment and maintenance have often been neglected — face
enormous challenges, but even resource-rich African countries lag behind in infrastructure
development. All in all, the cost of reducing Africa's infrastructure deficit is estimated at about $93
billion per year.
II- WOMEN AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

1. Human Development

Investing in women and girls is one of the most effective ways to promote development. It has been
recognized for years that investing in women's human development — and in particular girls'
education — is a win-win situation. This improves women's quality of life as it allows them to be
more productive actors in society. It also allows them to advocate for human development for their
families and communities. The improvement in the well-being and prospects of their children has
multiplier effects that increase with each generation. Conversely, social problems that
disproportionately affect women, such as high maternal mortality and violence against women,
undermine human capital. When women are illiterate, they have poor health and are unable to
control their fertility, and their children also suffer. These problems do not only concern women,
they are obstacles to Africa's development.

2. Education and skills

The social benefits of investing in girls' education have been recognized for decades. Studies
conducted in the 1990s concluded that each additional year of schooling for girls helps reduce infant
mortality by 5 to 10 percent, that 40 percent of children born to mothers who have completed all
five years of primary school are more likely to live beyond the age of five, and that 43 percent of
them are less likely to be malnourished. Women who have completed primary education have, on
average, fewer children, use more profitable farming techniques and receive higher wages when
they do not work in the agricultural sector.

3. Personal safety

Violence against women is an acute problem in Africa (as in every country in the world) and is very
difficult to solve. Women are exposed to domestic violence, violence from neighbours and
acquaintances, and even from strangers. Rape is widely used as a weapon of war. Yet, even in the
most violent conflict zones, women are found to suffer significantly more from domestic violence
than from violence inflicted by strangers.18 According to WHO figures, the prevalence of domestic
violence is 37% in Africa and the Middle East, on par with South Asia and parts of Latin
America. However, there are significant disparities between countries and regions, although the rate
currently peaks at 60% in Central Africa.

III- WOMEN IN THE ROLES OF CITIZENS AND LEADERS

Women are already taking on leadership responsibilities across Africa — within their families, in their
communities and in civil society, as well as in public service and politics. In times of conflict, they are
often the voice of reconciliation. In peacetime, their presence in local and national institutions makes
them more representative of the breadth of African society. Yet, many African women still live
according to traditional value systems and are subject to outdated legislation that treats them as
inferior citizens and prevents their voices from being truly heard in the governing bodies of African
societies. We are convinced that the status of women has deep cultural roots that are inherently
slow to change. We are also convinced that by promoting women's citizenship, the right to speak and
access to responsibility, we can create more dynamic African societies and more resilient and
responsive institutions.

1. Equality before the law

All African countries recognize the principle of non-discrimination in their constitutions. All but two
have ratified international conventions prohibiting discrimination against women. The Maputo
Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, which has been signed by 46 countries, is a
comprehensive guarantee of women's rights to social and political equality.

2. Traditional laws and practices are not harmonized.

Exceptions to the principle of non-discrimination are very common in African constitutions and
legislation. In areas such as matrimonial property, inheritance, land ownership and work, women are
not considered full citizens. There are 9 countries in which a married woman cannot apply for a
passport as her husband does, and 15 countries where a married woman does not have the freedom
to choose her place of residence. In 35 countries, married women are required by law to obey their
husbands. Formal laws are strengthened, or in some cases undermined, by traditional practices and
cultural norms that keep women subordinate to men. The rules of customary law governing
marriage, inheritance and property rights are often formally exempted from the anti-discrimination
provisions in national constitutions. As a result, women's participation in social and economic
activities continues to be mediated by their husbands and fathers on a regular basis.
CONCLUSION

For Africa, the current period is optimistic. After a decade of strong economic growth, African
countries are better able to generate the resources needed to invest in national development and
stabilize their prosperity growth. However, the current prosperity can only benefit all Africans and be
sustainable if the African authorities undertake a profound transformation of their economies and
societies. It is imperative that Africa make dramatic breakthroughs in productivity — especially in the
agriculture and small business sectors that provide livelihoods for most Africans.