Call to achieve gender parity on continent

CLOSING the gender gap in Africa and achieving gender parity in all aspects of society has become an urgent imperative as gender inequality has widened further on the continent this year compared to last.

This was the message delivered by delegates at the inaugural Global Gender Summit hosted by the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Kigali, Rwanda this week.

Launching the first edition of the Africa Gender Index, the AfDB and UN Economic Commission for Africa said 70% of women were excluded financially in Africa.

The continent has a $42 billion (around R618bn) financing gap between men and women. And women, who are the majority of farmers, face a financing gap of close to $16bn.

The Gender Index provides tools for engagement and is aimed at informing policies to transform economies and to propel governments to adopt an ambitious agenda for making gender equality a reality throughout the continent.

AfDB president Akinwumi Adesina said challenges were not just about gender, but also about under-representation and the lack of empowerment of women.

“A smarter world must invest in women and girls. Let’s be smart and let’s be wise.

‘‘Women are the best investment any society can make,” Adesina said.