IWD: Urgent Action Needed To Address Gender Equality – Co-Impact

Global philanthropic collaborative Co-Impact has called for urgent action to accelerate progress towards gender equality in Africa, warning that current efforts remain insufficient to meet global targets.

Speaking in an interview with LEADERSHIP commemorating International Women’s Day, Mary Wandia, Co-Impact’s regional director for Africa, stressed the need for systemic transformation to advance women’s rights.   She highlighted the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘Accelerate Action,’ as a call to urgency.

“Despite progress, we are still far from achieving the women’s rights and gender equality targets set by the global community,” Wandia said.

“The 2024 Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum estimates that at the current rate, it will take 134 years to achieve gender parity. We urgently need a step change in our response.”

She said that through its Gender Fund, Co-Impact aims to transform health, education, economic opportunity, and women’s leadership systems and impact at least 100 million people.

Wandia emphasised that sustainable improvements for women and girls require overhauling the structures that shape their lives.  “Our conviction at Co-Impact is that we cannot sustainably improve outcomes for women and girls unless we transform the systems that provide services,” she said.

“By building stronger and more inclusive public and market systems, we can dismantle the root causes of inequality and improve outcomes for everyone.”

Wandia noted that Co-Impact’s commitment to gender equality extends to tackling gender-based violence, including sexual harassment in tertiary institutions.

She stressed that systemic transformation is a long-term effort requiring continuous learning and adaptation.   “Transforming systems to create lasting impact for millions is complex. That’s why we partner with organisations that bring curiosity, openness, and a commitment to learning,” she said.