Feminist Leaders Convene in Nairobi to Advance Gender-Transformative Education in Africa

By Fride Amiani 

 The Feminist Network for Gender Transformative Education (FEMNET4GTE) has launched its Africa Regional Action Workshop in Nairobi, drawing over 50 leaders, policymakers, activists, and education experts for a two-day dialogue on dismantling structural barriers in education and embedding gender equality at the heart of learning systems across Africa.

The workshop, which opened today, marks FEMNET4GTE’s continued commitment to transforming education into a powerful driver of justice and equality. Since its founding, the networkan intergenerational movement of more than 210 organizations, governments, researchers, and advocates has brought together diverse actors to strengthen solidarity, share best practices, and co-create strategies for transformative change.

Speaking during the opening session, Ms. Lydia Madyirapanzi, Executive Director of FAWE Zimbabwe, emphasized the urgency of rethinking education as a site of justice and liberation.

 “Education is a tool for reparative justice, and we must ensure that its content, pedagogy, and environment truly challenge gender norms and drive transformation. This means valuing intergenerational leadership and ensuring young feminist activists are co-leaders at the decision-making table,” she said.

Ms. Madyirapanzi stressed the need to address intersectional challenges, noting that gender inequality in education cannot be tackled in isolation from other systemic barriers. 

“We must consider how gender intersects with disability, displacement, poverty, and crisis contexts, so that no learner is left behind. And critically, without adequate financing, gender-transformative education remains a promise unfulfilled bzwe must not only advocate for sustainable investments, but also interrogate how we use our resources in Africa, for Africa.”

This year’s workshop coincides with the African Union’s 2025 Theme of the Year. 

“Building a united front to advance the cause of justice and payment of reparations to Africans.Organizers underscored how education plays a central role in reparations, dignity restoration, and long-term social transformation. The workshop also builds on outcomes of global and continental platforms, including the Beijing+30 review, the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA), and the Gender Is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC).

Ms. Alinafe Malonje, FEMNET4GTE’s Community Coordinator, highlighted the stark realities facing millions of children across the continent. 

“We are deeply grateful to FAWE, Oxfam, Plan International, Usawa Agenda, GCE, ANCEFA, and all members of the organizing committee for their leadership and commitment to gender-transformative education. Yet, we cannot ignore the realities 122 million girls are out of school, one in five faces early or forced marriage, 138 million children are in child labour, and every four minutes, a child is lost to violence,” she said.

Ms. Malonje lamented the declining international support for gender equality, girls’ education, and women’s rights, warning of the dangers posed by rising division and extremist ideologies.

 “Too many boys are growing up believing they are superior to girls, and tragically, many girls believe it too. But children are not born this way division is taught. And together, through education, we can unteach it and build a world grounded in equality and justice.”

The Nairobi convening seeks to align national and continental education strategies such as CESA 2026–2035 and the Continental Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) agenda with gender-transformative approaches. The workshop will also support countries in developing national action plans that integrate feminist insights and evidence-based practices to ensure inclusive and impactful change.

Central to the workshop’s objectives is amplifying feminist and youth voices in policymaking. Organizers have designed sessions to facilitate intergenerational dialogue, youth-led roundtables, and collaborative policy discussions, ensuring that young feminist activists are not just included but positioned as leaders shaping the future of education.

Participants are also expected to explore sustainable financing models for gender-transformative education. With traditional funding streams under pressure, speakers urged African governments and civil society to prioritize internal resource mobilization and strengthen accountability for education budgets.

Beyond immediate policy goals, the workshop aims to nurture a community of practice among governments, grassroots organizations, civil society, and academia. By strengthening solidarity and collaboration across sectors, FEMNET4GTE hopes to build resilience and accelerate progress toward educational justice in Africa.

Outcomes from the Nairobi workshop will feed directly into global advocacy platforms. FEMNET4GTE plans to carry insights and commitments from the convening to the upcoming United Nations General Assembly and its own all-network convenings later this year. Leaders say these efforts are critical to ensuring that gender equality in and through education is firmly embedded in the post-2030 global development agenda.

For FEMNET4GTE and its partners, this gathering represents more than a workshop it is a rallying call to action. As global inequalities deepen and threats to human rights escalate, advocates argue that education must be reclaimed as a site