Tackling Climate Change and Unleashing Women’s Economic Power

Greetings!

This year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) focused on pressing global challenges including climate change, poverty, inequality, ongoing conflicts, and global health crises. As these overlapping issues continue to impact Africa, Leading African Voices have been highlighting the importance of tackling the climate crisis and unleashing women’s economic power.

In this month’s newsletter, we share a round-up of highlights from UNGA 79 that have the power to shape Africa’s future, alongside insights from the 12th Climate Change and Development in Africa Conference (CCDA-XII) , where African leaders called for a more robust response to climate change. We also feature an inspiring leader who is advocating for women’s economic power by transforming the care economy. Read on for more!

UNGA 79 ROUND-UP ?

Africa needs an estimated $1.3 trillion a year to have a fighting chance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the 2030 target. This revelation, shared by the United Nations during UNGA 79, points to the urgent action needed to accelerate progress toward the SDGs, which are woefully off-track as African nations juggle multiple challenges and conflicting priorities in the wake of climate change, disease outbreaks, unsustainable debt, and civic unrest.

World leaders emphasized the importance of international collaboration to tackle communal challenges and committed to decisive actions such as reducing antimicrobial resistance (AMR)? and strengthening global efforts to ensure peace and security. Many African leaders also called for greater representation of the continent in multilateral bodies to reflect current realities and stressed the need for collaboration that enables Africa to fulfill its immense potential.

Summit of the Future: Strengthening Global Institutions for a Changing World

During the opening ceremony of the Summit of the Future , the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres, underscored the urgent need for deep reforms in global institutions to make them more legitimate, fair, and capable of addressing 21st-century challenges including rising conflicts, inequalities, climate crises, and unregulated development of Artificial Intelligence (AI).?

A key outcome from the summit was the Pact for the Future , which encompasses the Global Digital Compact , and the Declaration on Future Generations . The Pact aims to ensure that international institutions can deliver in the face of a world that has changed dramatically by strengthening commitments to climate action, gender equality, and sustainable development financing, focusing on supporting developing nations. The Pact holds particular significance for Africa as it seeks to reform global financial and multilateral systems, potentially amplifying Africa’s voice within key institutions and unlocking the financing needed to meet the continent’s development goals.?

SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN’S ECONOMIC POWER?

From Invisible to Essential: Transforming Africa’s Care Economy

The care economy in Africa has long been undervalued and unrecognized, with caregiving responsibilities largely falling on women, as is the case in many parts of the world.

Although most African countries have policies related to care work, according to the 2022 Africa Care Economy Index , their effectiveness varies widely and is influenced by each country’s economic and social context. These policies include maternity leave, childcare, and protections for domestic workers, but their enforcement and impact remain limited.

Increasingly, care is being seen as a universal right and an essential building block for economic and social well-being. However, its unequal gender distribution and low status constitute a key barrier to women’s empowerment, as highlighted in a 2022 UN Women toolkit on paid and unpaid care work .

Blessing Oyeleye Adesiyan , Founder and CEO of Mother Honestly Group Inc ., has been advocating for the recognition of care work as vital to both the economy and society. She emphasizes the need for greater investment in paid leave, affordable childcare, and fair wages for caregivers to ease the financial, mental, physical, and emotional burden of caregiving, which disproportionately falls on women.

In this latest Forbes Africa feature, Blessing discusses the urgent need for innovative strategies, workplace flexibility, and male allyship to support women and close the care gap. She also highlights how these efforts can advance women’s economic power across Africa. Read more about her story here .?

LEADING AFRICAN VOICES: FOCUS ON ADAPTATION FINANCING, ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AND AI FOR HEALTH

Closing the Climate Finance Gap: Boosting Adaptation Financing for Africa

Despite contributing the least to global warming, Africa faces severe risks from climate change , threatening its economies, food systems, and public health, pushing millions deeper into poverty.

While these risks to the continent’s development are widely acknowledged and documented, financing for climate action in Africa remains insufficient. The goal of mobilizing $100 billion per year by 2020 promised under the Paris Agreement was reportedly achieved in 2022, but it still falls far short of the estimated $1.3 trillion (annually) demanded by African climate negotiators for developing countries.?

Adaptation financing is a priority across Africa, but African Ministers and negotiators are calling for a shift from climate finance largely based on loans, which increase countries’ debt burdens, to funding in the form of grants and highly concessional finance.

At the 12th Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-XII), Leading African Voices Alvin Tofler M. and Anita Soina (The Green MP) spotlighted the need for increased and sustainable adaptation financing that does not exacerbate the region’s mounting debt crisis. They also reiterated the importance of aligning with the Paris Agreement's principle of common but differentiated responsibilities ahead of COP29.

Devex Summit at UNGA 79 - Unlocking Africa's Potential: The Path to Economic Transformation on the Continent

Africa's economic growth faces significant barriers, threatening the continent's ability to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).?

A panel discussion at UNGA 79 titled Unlocking Africa's Potential: The Path to Economic Transformation highlighted the key barriers and solutions to Africa’s economic transformation.

Leading African Voice, Dr. Daouda Sembene, PhD , Founder and CEO of AfriCatalyst, noted that the global community needs to partner with Africa to address the mounting debt issue on the continent. Approximately 22 countries are already in debt distress or at high risk of debt distress. For Dr. Sembene, one solution is to create an effective debt restructuring mechanism that supports the needs of African countries.?

Other panelists stressed the importance of reducing the cost of capital and improving investment conditions through better governance, transparency, and international partnerships. Watch the conversation here .

The Africa HealthTech Podcast - Improving the Future of Healthcare in Africa

Innovations in AI and other digital tools are helping to address critical health challenges on the continent. From improving diagnosis and treatment in under-resourced areas to fostering equitable access to care, technology is bridging gaps in Africa’s healthcare systems.

In the latest episode of the Africa Healthtech Podcast, Leading African Voice, Prof. Kelly Chibale , PhD, FRSSAf, FRSC, professor of organic chemistry at the University of Cape Town, is joined by Dr. Zameer Brey, Deputy Director of Technology Diffusion at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in a conversation that explores the transformative potential of technology in advancing healthcare across Africa and touches on the importance of partnerships, responsible AI development, and the broader societal impacts of these innovations. Catch the conversation here .

Key Takeaways from Leading African Voices @ UNGA 79

NEWS YOU COULD USE

Introducing the Leading African Voices Twitter Page!

We are excited to announce the launch of the Leading African Voices Twitter page, a platform where we will continue collaborating with influential African leaders, innovators, and changemakers to share insights, drive impactful conversations, and showcase practical solutions from Africa’s leaders. Follow us on Twitter @leadingafricans for timely updates and engaging discussions on Africa’s most pressing issues in health, economic empowerment, technology, and more.?

Scaling Up Africa’s Fight Against Mpox?

The number of suspected and confirmed mpox cases across the continent continues to rise, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi among the most affected countries. While most people infected with mpox recover fully, in some cases, the virus can lead to severe illness or even death.?

Since the recent outbreak in Africa, health organizations including Gavi, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have been instrumental in helping contain the spread of the virus. WHO has approved the use of an mpox vaccine for the first time , aiming to ensure timely and expanded access for millions at risk as the number of reported cases surged to over 20,000 in Africa this year alone.?

Gavi is set to purchase 500,000 doses of the MVA-BN mpox vaccine from Bavarian Nordic as part of a global initiative to combat the outbreak in affected regions. This procurement is being facilitated through Gavi's First Response Fund, a financial mechanism designed to quickly provide resources for vaccine acquisition during public health emergencies, ensuring critical support for Africa in its fight against mpox.?

LOOKING AHEAD

World Mental Health Day, October 10 – This is a global day dedicated to raising awareness about mental health issues and mobilizing efforts to support mental health. This year’s theme, “Mental Health at Work, ” emphasizes the importance of creating safe and healthy working environments to protect and support mental health, and highlights the need for urgent action from all stakeholders to prevent risks and promote well-being in the workplace.

International Day of the Girl Child, October 11 – This day is dedicated to raising awareness about the unique challenges girls face around the world while promoting their empowerment and rights to education, health, and equality. This year's theme, "Girls’ Vision for the Future," underscores both the urgency for action and the enduring hope driven by the power of girls' voices and their vision for a brighter future.

2024 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG), October 21-26 – These sessions will bring together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, private sector executives, and academics in Washington D.C. to discuss global economic issues, development challenges, and the effectiveness of international financial institutions. This event serves as a platform for dialogue on critical topics such as poverty reduction, economic growth, and the impact of climate change on development.

Galien Forum Africa, 22-25 October – The 7th Edition of the Galien Africa Forum will be held in Dakar, Senegal. This year's edition is titled "Health and community actions under climate and environmental crises in Africa.” The forum will convene global health leaders, policymakers, and innovators to discuss transformative solutions in healthcare and innovation for Africa, exploring key issues such as pharmaceutical development, digital health, and universal healthcare to drive progress and improve health outcomes across the continent.

World Polio Day, October 24 – Established by Rotary International, this day is observed annually to raise awareness about polio eradication and the critical role of vaccination in preventing this debilitating disease. It highlights global efforts to eliminate polio and celebrates the significant progress made toward achieving a polio-free world.

International Day for Care and Support, October 29 – This day highlights the critical role of care work in society, both paid and unpaid. It aims to promote gender equality, recognize the contributions of care workers, and advocate for a robust, inclusive, and sustainable care system.