Africa: African Development Bank Group Presses Case for Investing in Women

What the report says

The African Development Bank Group is using its New York engagements to argue that investing in women should be treated as a core development strategy, not a side issue. In coverage distributed by AllAfrica from an African Development Bank statement, the message was tied to the UN Commission on the Status of Women session in March in New York, where member states for the first time in decades had to vote on a declaration on women’s access to justice after consensus failed.

Dr. Jemimah Njuki, the Bank’s director for gender, women and civil society, said African women make up half the continent’s population but face a large financing gap. The Bank said its priorities include expanding access to capital, supporting women entrepreneurs, and helping build more resilient economies. It also linked this agenda to its 2026 Annual Meetings in Brazzaville and to its Ten-Year Strategy.

A major focus was the Bank’s upcoming Gender Action Plan for 2027-2031, which is intended to move gender work beyond isolated projects toward broader system changes in labour markets, infrastructure and economic policy. The Bank said it is shaping the plan with women leaders and partners, including through work with the African Women Leaders Network.

The report also highlighted partnerships with UN Women and the Bank’s AFAWA initiative, which aims to improve finance for women-owned businesses. The Bank said AFAWA has worked with more than 200 financial institutions and has channelled more than $3.1 billion to women-led businesses. The broader significance, as presented by the Bank, is that better financing and policy support for women could strengthen growth, resilience and inclusion across Africa.