On 18 and 19 April 2024, the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development (the EJS Center) hosted the first Amujae High-Level Leadership Forum since before the COVID-19 pandemic at the Kigali Convention Center in Rwanda. Paul Kagame of Rwanda was in attendance, and Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia shared a recorded message.
In support of the EJS Center's renowned Amujae Initiative, the Forum gathered a broad cross-section of attendees, including present and former heads of state; government officials; private sector professionals; representatives from multilateral bodies and NGOs; Amujae Leaders; and the EJS Center's Board. Acting as an opportunity for Amujae Leaders to deepen their relationships and connections with one another, the Forum brought together 28
Amujae Leaders from across the continent--many of whom are senior government officials, activists, civil society leaders, development experts, academics, and economists--for a two-day interactive workshop with leadership training exercises and keynote addresses.
H.E., former President of Liberia, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Africa's first democratically elected woman head of state, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, said, "Just look at the difference that leadership and continuity can do for the sustainability of development," during her opening remarks for the Forum. On the subject of advancing women's leadership, Madam Sirleaf continued by saying, "Let's be realistic. It takes others, it takes colleagues, it takes supporters, it takes mentors, it takes partnership for us to achieve those goals....thank you to all of you Amujae leaders for helping to bring about a wave of emerging African women leaders."
The Forum allowed Amujae Leaders to refine their skills as accomplished women leaders, learn from one another, and exchange insights from their individual leadership journeys. The Forum was an important moment for self-reflection and development for many of the Amujae Leaders, as many have their sights set on running for public office in various elections taking place throughout 2024. Tailor-made sessions for Amujae Leaders running election campaigns provided them with the tools to run successful campaigns and the confidence to lead a team, develop a coherent message, and listen to people's concerns with empathy.
H.E. President Paul Kagame addressed the Forum and discussed how African nations can achieve gender equality in public leadership. Moderated by Binaifer Nowrojee, the incoming President of the Open Society Foundations, the intimate conversation allowed Amujae Leaders to ask President Kagame how Rwanda achieved the world's leading representation of women in its parliament.
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Speaking to attendees, President Kagame said, "When we started this process of rebuilding, the thing we discovered we had to do was to change the thinking of our own people." When speaking of the need to advance women's leadership and representation in the country, President Kagame reiterated the change that had to be put in place for Rwanda to succeed in its mission of supporting women in public life.
The Amujae High-Level Leadership Forum is a milestone moment in the EJS Center's programming--it provides a space for Amujae Leaders to network with one another, engage with the EJS Center, and meet with high-level officials and organizations to advance their own leadership journeys. Speaking of the importance of women's leadership, H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde addressed the Forum via a recorded message on the final day, stating, "We cannot just sit down and watch. One of the critical measures is to bring more women in public leadership in Africa, including at the highest level."
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Te Amujae Initiative supports women in African public leadership who have proven their dedication to their communities and uplifting fellow women. It is the only initiative in the world specifically designed to support accomplished African women leaders in advancing their public leadership journeys. For further information on the various Amujae Leader cohorts and the initiative, visit the website.
