"International Women's Day is a day of celebration and a day of challenge, often rolled into one. In realizing how far we have come towards ensuring genuine equality of opportunity for women as for men, it becomes clear how far we still have to go." Read more

"To ensure that they get the best education possible - quality education - to enable us to increase the level of our participation, particularly among women in our society at all levels, to ensure that we become more competitive nationally and regionally. My message is to continue to pursue aggressively the skills, the education, the capacity that will make Africa as competitive in the world as any other region." Read more

AfDB Experience in Promoting Gender Equality in Africa

African Development Bank operations have had a profound impact on women's lives in Africa. Several successful examples from various education, employment, microfinance, social protection and health projects indicate that women and girls have better access to services and opportunities that have led to reductions in gender disparities and improvements in gender outcomes including women's participation and empowerment. Read more

AfDB Private Sector Operations Create Opportunities for African Women

Alleviating poverty through entrepreneurship is a key tool for economic empowerment of women in Africa. Women represent over half of Africa's population and have the potential to transform economies into thriving enterprises. Women entrepreneurs and leaders are the key pillar of an inclusive, private sector-led growth in Africa. Read more