Senegal’s First Lady, Marie Khone Faye, has called on African governments, institutions and development partners to move beyond discussions and deliver practical programmes that improve the lives of women and girls across the continent.
Faye made the appeal after participating in the seventh edition of the High-Level Forum of Women Leaders in Bujumbura, Burundi, where African first ladies, policymakers and development organisations gathered to discuss women’s economic empowerment and the challenges facing young girls.
The meeting, held from November 4 to 5, 2026, focused on strengthening women’s participation in economic and social development, improving access to opportunities and building resilience against climate-related challenges.
In her closing remarks, Senegal’s First Lady stressed that the success of the gathering would depend on whether the commitments made during the discussions translated into measurable improvements for women and girls.
She highlighted the importance of professional training, access to financial resources and entrepreneurship opportunities, particularly for women seeking to establish or expand their businesses.
Faye also expressed appreciation for the experiences shared during the forum, saying cooperation among governments, development partners and women leaders would be essential to achieving meaningful progress.
Burundi hosts African women leaders
The seventh High-Level Forum of Women Leaders was organised by Burundi’s Office of the First Lady for Development at the Kiriri Presidential Palace in Bujumbura.
The event was held under the theme of empowering women and girls as a strategic contribution to human capital development and stronger resilience to climate change.
Burundi’s First Lady, Angeline Ndayishimiye, hosted the gathering, which brought together several prominent African women leaders, including Marie Khone Faye of Senegal, Brigitte Touadéra of the Central African Republic and Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço of Angola.
Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who also serves as the African Union’s rotating chairperson, officially opened the event on November 4.
Discussions centred on ways to remove obstacles preventing women and girls from participating fully in economic and social development.
Participants examined issues including unequal access to professional education, limited financing for women-owned businesses, gender-based violence and the need to strengthen women’s involvement in climate resilience programmes.
The organisers also sought to encourage practical commitments from governments and institutions rather than allowing the gathering to remain solely a platform for exchanging ideas.
Marie Khone Faye highlights access to finance and training
Faye’s intervention placed particular emphasis on the economic challenges faced by women entrepreneurs across Africa.
Women play significant roles in agriculture, retail trade, manufacturing and small-scale businesses, but many continue to struggle to obtain affordable loans, professional training and access to wider markets.
These barriers can limit the growth of businesses established by women, making it harder for entrepreneurs to expand operations, employ more people and build sustainable sources of income.
The Senegalese First Lady argued that improving access to financial resources and skills development would help women become more economically independent.
She also encouraged stronger partnerships between governments, financial institutions and development organisations to create opportunities that respond to the needs of women-led enterprises.
Her message was directed at ensuring that the discussions in Bujumbura produce practical benefits beyond the forum itself.
Building Resilience campaign launched
One of the major activities during the gathering was the launch of the Building Resilience campaign, an initiative designed to strengthen communities’ ability to respond to economic, social and environmental challenges.
The campaign, associated with the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development, covers the 2025–2027 period.
It seeks to promote stronger community resilience and encourage initiatives that support vulnerable groups, including women and young people.
The forum also featured the opening of the International Women’s Entrepreneurship Fair, organised within the framework of regional cooperation involving the Economic Community of Central African States.
The exhibition provided an opportunity for women entrepreneurs to present their products and services, connect with potential partners and explore opportunities for business development.
It also highlighted the role of women-owned businesses in supporting economic activity, creating employment and strengthening local communities.
For participants, the fair offered a practical complement to the policy discussions, bringing attention to businesses that could benefit from improved access to finance, markets and technical support.
Climate resilience forms part of the empowerment agenda
Although women’s economic independence was a central theme, the forum also examined the relationship between gender equality and climate change.
Women and girls in many African communities are directly affected by environmental pressures, particularly in areas where households depend on agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods.
Climate-related problems such as drought, flooding, soil erosion and changing rainfall patterns can increase economic difficulties for families and threaten food production.
The forum therefore considered how women could be more actively involved in environmental protection and community adaptation programmes.
Burundi’s First Lady, Angeline Ndayishimiye, encouraged women and girls to participate in initiatives such as tree planting, the construction of anti-erosion barriers and efforts to reduce deforestation.
The discussions reflected a broader approach to empowerment, recognising that access to education and economic opportunities must also be supported by policies that strengthen communities against environmental risks.
Senegalese First Lady meets citizens in Burundi
Beyond the official forum, Faye also met members of the Senegalese community living in Burundi.
The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views with Senegalese nationals abroad and discuss issues affecting women, girls and development initiatives.
Faye described the encounter as warm and welcomed the community’s contributions to the discussions.
She also thanked Burundi’s First Lady for hosting the gathering and acknowledged the participation of other African first ladies and development partners.
The engagement highlighted the potential role of African diaspora communities in supporting development programmes and strengthening cooperation between countries.
Turning commitments into measurable results
Faye’s appeal comes amid continuing discussions across Africa about how to improve women’s economic participation and reduce inequalities.
While women contribute substantially to the continent’s economies, access to credit, formal employment, education and business opportunities remains uneven in many countries.
For women entrepreneurs, limited collateral, high borrowing costs and inadequate business support can make it difficult to establish or expand enterprises.
Young girls also face barriers linked to education, social expectations and unequal access to opportunities in some communities.
The Bujumbura forum sought to address these challenges through cooperation among political leaders, development institutions and organisations working on women’s empowerment.
However, the real impact of the meeting will depend on the implementation of its commitments, including whether women gain access to more affordable financing, relevant training and sustainable business opportunities.
Faye’s message was therefore centred on accountability and follow-through.
The Senegalese First Lady urged participants to ensure that the momentum generated in Burundi leads to practical programmes capable of improving the lives of women and girls.
As African countries continue to pursue inclusive economic development, the challenge will be to turn policy discussions and high-level promises into opportunities that reach women in businesses, rural communities, schools and workplaces across the continent.
