Across Africa, governments have made numerous formal commitments to gender equality.
These include constitutional guarantees of equal rights, ratification of international treaties such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and legislative measures targeting equality in employment, politics, and social protection. Despite these commitments, the lived realities of many African women continue to reflect entrenched inequalities in both the public and private spheres.
A key area of formal commitment has been political representation. African states have repeatedly pledged to increase women’s participation in decision-making at all levels of governance, including through quota systems and gender parity laws. Yet women remain underrepresented across political institutions.
On average, women hold about 24–27% of parliamentary seats in Africa, far below the African Union’s target of 50% and below global benchmarks for gender parity in governance. Representation in local councils and executive positions is also limited, while women occupy a disproportionately small share of top executive leadership roles.
There are notable exceptions where reforms have led to more balanced representation. Namibia stands out in Africa, with women holding close to half (42.3%) of parliamentary seats, reflecting the impact of sustained political party quotas and institutional commitments to gender inclusion. Senegal’s parity law, requiring alternating male and female candidates on party lists, has helped increase women’s seats to over 40% in the national assembly.
Yet progress in political representation has not always translated into broad empowerment or equal influence. In many countries, women continue to face economic and social barriers to leadership, including unequal access to campaign financing, pervasive gender norms that constrain public life participation, and limited enforcement of gender equity laws.
In the economic sphere, legislative frameworks have expanded maternity protection and anti-discrimination provisions, but implementation gaps remain. For example, in Kenya, courts have repeatedly had to intervene to uphold women’s rights in the workplace.
A notable ruling ordered compensation for a woman who was dismissed after notifying her employer of her pregnancy, affirming that pregnancy discrimination violates constitutional rights to equality and dignity. Elsewhere, legal frameworks on maternity leave and workplace equality have expanded unevenly across Africa: While some countries provide statutory maternity protection aligned with International Labour Organization (ILO) standards, many others still lack comprehensive legal protection, and enforcement mechanisms are weak.
Legal reforms have also sought to strengthen protections against gender-based violence and discrimination. In Sierra Leone, the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act mandates minimum workforce participation, extends paid maternity leave and enforces penalties for discrimination, reflecting a more expansive legislative vision of women’s rights. Other states have passed laws addressing domestic violence, inheritance rights, and harmful practices, though gaps in enforcement and awareness often limit their impact in practice.
Despite legal progress, lived experiences for many women remain shaped by structural gender inequalities. Maternal mortality rates remain high compared to global targets, highlighting persistent gaps in health systems, while cultural norms and gender roles continue to influence women’s access to care and decision-making. Unpaid care and domestic work remain highly unequal across Africa. Women spend, on average, more than four times the amount of time men do on these activities, with country-level differences showing both moderate and severe disparities.
Afrobarometer’s latest Round 10 findings highlights the gaps between these commitments and citizens lived realities. While large majorities of Africans express support for women’s rights, significant proportions report persistent barriers in practice, including discrimination in schools and workplaces, constraints on women’s economic participation, and concern that police and courts are not doing enough to protect women and girls. Public attitudes toward gender equality are not uniform.
They vary by gender, education, and socio-economic status, and in some cases show signs of stagnation or decline. These views matter because they shape the political and social space in which gender policies are designed, implemented, and enforced.
The webinar, organised by Afrobarometer in collaboration with GIZ and the World Bank Economists for Transformation Network, will feature a dedicated thought leadership conversation with Amina Oyagbola, Afrobarometer board chair, to reflect on the state of women’s rights in Africa and the importance of evidence-based leadership in advancing inclusive and accountable governance.
This reflection will be followed by a presentation of Afrobarometer’s latest gender findings and a panel discussion designed to connect research, policy, and practice.