The Africa Leadership Foundation (ALF), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting leadership, good governance, and sustainable development across the continent, has launched the first-ever Pan-African Gender Budgeting Network (AGEBUN) to strengthen gender equality and inclusive fiscal governance in Africa.
ALF, known for its work in capacity building, policy research, and advocacy, says the initiative reflects its ongoing commitment to ensuring that African development frameworks work for everyone, especially women and youth.
ALF stated that AGEBUN was created as a response to findings from its previous gender programmes, which showed the need for a sustained, continent-wide platform that connects practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and advocates.
This idea gained further momentum during the June 2025 Regional Advocacy Workshop on Gender-Responsive Budgeting, organised by ALF and attended by more than 600 participants from 31 African countries.
Formally launched on September 17, 2025, the new network marks a significant step toward institutionalising gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) within national and regional fiscal systems.
The launch was convened in partnership with UN Women, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the African Union Commission’s Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (AUC WGYD), and Oxfam in Africa (OiA).
The event brought together high-level representatives from partner institutions, including Mr. Paul Vingi, Interim Gender Justice Lead at Oxfam in Africa; Mme. Cleopatra Hurungo, Regional Advisor and Gender Team Leader at UNDP; Mme. Judith Beatrice Auma Oduol, representing UNECA; Ms. Ilwad Elmi Mohammed, representing the AUC’s Women, Gender and Youth Directorate; and Madame Doris Mpoumpou, Special Representative of UN Women to the African Union.
Speaking during the launch of the initiative, Dr. Olumide Ajayi, Executive Director of ALF, reaffirmed the organisation’s leadership in driving gender-inclusive policy reforms. “Gender-responsive budgeting is not new to Africa, but it remains underutilised due to limited knowledge, weak capacity, and widespread misconceptions,” he said. “AGEBUN was established to bridge these gaps through knowledge sharing, peer learning, and coordinated advocacy, connecting practitioners, advocates, and stakeholders with the tools and resources needed to make fiscal systems truly inclusive.”
In a symbolic moment, Madame Mpoumpou officially inaugurated AGEBUN on behalf of UN Women, applauding ALF for its leadership and vision. “Budgets are not just technical tools, but political statements that reflect what societies value,” she said. “AGEBUN provides the platform to ensure our fiscal choices truly represent the priorities of women, men, and youth across Africa.”
Findings from the Africa Gender Index 2023 Analytical Report, jointly produced by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and UNECA, emphasize the importance of such an initiative. The report shows that women’s economic parity in Africa declined from 61% in 2019 to 58.2% in 2023, reflecting widening gender gaps in employment, income, and access to productive resources. It calls on African governments to adopt evidence-based gender budgeting to promote equitable and sustainable development.
The establishment of AGEBUN also aligns with global and continental policy frameworks, including Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 5 on Gender Equality and SDG 16 on Inclusive Institutions, as well as Agenda 2063’s Aspiration 6 and Goal 17, which champion full gender equality and women’s empowerment. Since its launch, the network has attracted over 250 members from 32 African countries, creating a growing community of practitioners and policymakers dedicated to advancing GRB implementation and policy reform.
With ALF’s leadership and continued collaboration with its development partners, UN Women, UNDP, UNECA, AUC, and Oxfam in Africa, AGEBUN is poised to become a cornerstone in Africa’s efforts to make fiscal policies inclusive, transparent, and reflective of the priorities of all Africans.