African Union women’s economic inclusion initiatives

The African Union launched the second Egumeni Dialogue in Addis Ababa, aiming to unlock $100 billion in economic opportunities for at least 10 million African women and youth by 2030. The high-level meeting brought together over 250 participants, including ministers and financial regulators, to address systemic barriers such as limited access to finance, land, technology, and markets.

During the dialogue, Selma Malika Haddadi, Vice-President of the AU Commission, characterized women’s empowerment as both a “social justice issue and a strategic economic priority” for transforming African economies. The AU leadership called for stronger political commitment to translate frameworks like Agenda 2063 and the Maputo Protocol into concrete results.

As part of the proceedings, Tunisia was recognized as one of seven nations making advancements in economic inclusion. The AU highlighted Tunisia’s ‘Raïdet’ program, which has supported female entrepreneurship and facilitated access to financing, contributing to the creation of over 10,000 jobs.