ALF's Commitment to Addressing Unpaid Care and Domestic Work
The Africa Leadership Foundation (ALF), a regional partner of Oxfam in Africa (OiA), remains at the forefront of advocating for gender equality across the continent.
Our recent initiatives under the We-Care Phase V project have centered on influencing conversations and driving policy changes at the regional level. We actively participated in the recent 6th GIMAC Strategic Engagement Meeting which took place on July 13-15, 2024, at the at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Accra, Ghana
Influencing Policy at the 6th GIMAC RECs Meeting
Our participation in the 6th GIMAC Strategic Engagement Meeting was a testament to ALF’s commitment to influencing policy conversations on Unpaid Care and Domestic Work (UCDW) at a higher level.
The meeting, held under the theme “Educational Transformation for Gender Equity and Sustainability: Follow-up Actions to Achieve Agenda 2063”, convened key stakeholders to advance our shared vision for gender equality and educational transformation across Africa.
A pivotal moment at #6th GIMAC RECs Meeting was Dr. Olumide Ajayi, Executive Director of ALF, presenting on 'Understanding and Conceptualizing Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG)' during the Information Panel Session on the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG). .
He presented a comparative analysis of the performance of 5 Member States in Articles 3, 4, and 5 of the Maputo Protocol, focusing on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) based on the latest reports submitted to the Banjul Commission. Using the Maputo Protocol Scorecard and Index (MPSI), the analysis highlighted the implementation levels across these states over two decades since the adoption of the Maputo Protocol. This evidence-based presentation sparked insightful discussions and underscored the importance of a new AU convention on EVAWG. This evidence-based presentation sparked insightful discussions and underscored the importance of a new AU convention on EVAWG. .
Dr. Ajayi also highlighted the need to properly identify, research, understand, and contextualize the various drivers of VAWG as a strategy for addressing its prevalence effectively at all levels. Giving an example on some of the emerging forms and drivers of VAWG, Dr Ajayi referenced H.E. President Macky Sall’s statement from the 2nd AU Men’s Conference on Positive Masculinity held in November 2022, Dakar, identifying negative attitudes toward Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRH&RR) and Unpaid Care and Domestic Work (UCDW) as significant drivers of VAWG. (Read the full statement 2nd AU Men’s Conference concludes with far-reaching recommendations to advance gender transformative social protection. | African Union).
Additionally, Ms. Eniola Adeyemi, the Advocacy and Outreach Lead, participated in a breakout session on "Leadership and Governance," where she discussed the role of the AU and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in fostering resilient education systems that promote gender equality and can withstand future shocks.
Moving Forward
ALF remains dedicated to fostering a more equitable distribution of unpaid care work, empowering youth, and advocating for policies that promote gender equality.