By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Harare— In a packed hall at the Harare International Conference Center, a powerful message reverberated through the Seventh Intergenerational Retreat of the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN): Africa’s digital future will be led by women—or not at all.
Speaking with urgency and optimism, His Excellency Mr. Edward Kallon, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, called on African leaders, development partners, and civil society to “reimagine leadership in the digital era” by putting women at the forefront of technological innovation and transformation.
“African women must not merely be participants but trailblazers,” he declared, “leading the continent’s technological and developmental transformation.”
As artificial intelligence and emerging technologies reshape global economies, Mr Kallon warned that the African continent stands at a critical crossroads.
While the digital economy could unlock an estimated $100 billion annually, much of this potential remains out of reach if women and girls are excluded from the innovation pipeline.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, only 28% of STEM professionals are women. And while women-led AI startups are gaining traction, access to funding and resources remains heavily concentrated in just four countries—Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt—accounting for 83% of 2025 tech investments.
This year, the launch of the Network of African Women in AI marked a turning point. This pan-African initiative is already breaking new ground, promoting ethical AI development, inclusive innovation, and leadership across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and climate resilience.
“This is not just about representation,” Kallon emphasized. “It is about transformation—about equipping women with the tools to lead, innovate, and shape resilient, inclusive digital economies.”
Zimbabwe, the host nation, has shown strong leadership in integrating gender equality into its national digital strategies.
Through a combination of public and private partnerships, the country is advancing bold programs that embed women’s participation into the heart of tech development.
Key initiatives include:
Project IGNITE, launched by Econet Wireless and UN Women, which aims to train 100,000 women and youth in digital skills and entrepreneurship by 2030.
UNDP-supported innovation hubs, reaching 20,000+ young people, mostly women, with training in fintech, coding, and climate-smart technologies.
UNESCO and UN Women’s African Girls Can Code program, introducing 5,000 girls to AI, robotics, and ethical tech design.
These efforts, Kallon said, are not just about “delivering programs” but about “shaping systems.”
“We’re building ecosystems where gender equality is not an afterthought but a core design principle of Africa’s digital economy,” he said.
Since its founding in 2017, AWLN has become a dynamic movement, now active in 39 countries and driven by a unique intergenerational model that bridges experience and innovation.
Mr Kallon praised the network for fostering collaboration that transcends age, geography, and sector.
He reminded delegates that these local initiatives align with powerful global mandates—such as Agenda 2063, the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and international conventions on women’s rights and leadership. These are not abstract ideals, he noted, but “mandates for action.”
Closing his remarks, Kallon issued a challenge to all sectors of society:
To governments: Invest in women-led innovation and digital infrastructure.
To the private sector: Partner with women to scale inclusive solutions.
To civil society: Sustain mentorship and leadership pipelines.
To young women: Lead boldly—your time is now.
Quoting UN Secretary-General António Guterres, he concluded, “When women lead, the world becomes more peaceful, more prosperous, and more sustainable. Gender equality is the unfinished business of our time. Let us finish it together.”
As the retreat continues, one thing is clear: Africa’s digital future will be inclusive—or it will fall short. But with visionary leadership, cross-generational unity, and bold investment in women’s innovation, the continent has the power to set a global example—where women not only rise with the tide of technology but steer its course.
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