Press Release
For Immediate Release
Addis Ababa, September 29, 2025
OAFLAD Launched New Campaign:
Building Resilience for Women and Girls in the Face of Climate Change and Conflict
On September 23, 2025, the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) officially launched its 2025–2027 campaign “Building Resilience for Women and Girls in the Face of Climate Change and Conflict”, during a high-level side event at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80).
The event took place at the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice in New York, bringing together 8 African First Ladies, international leaders, and development partners to mobilize around urgent solutions for women and girls in Africa.
Key Highlights
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In her opening remarks, H.E. Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone and President of OAFLAD, highlighted the disproportionate risks borne by women and girls in climate-vulnerable and conflict-affected regions—ranging from food insecurity and unpaid care burdens to gender-based violence and health complications.
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She called for collective action to ensure women’s uninterrupted access to health, education, and protection services, while championing their leadership in peacebuilding and climate resilience.
First Ladies from Sierra Leone, Angola, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Ghana, and Gabon made concrete commitments to:
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Health, education, and empowerment
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Equity and opportunity creation
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Climate justice
placing women and girls at the center of Africa’s response to today’s multiple crises.
Campaign Ambitions
Building on the legacy of OAFLAD’s #WeAreEqual campaign, the new campaign sets ambitious goals to:
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Protect essential services for women and girls
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Integrate gender into climate strategies
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Empower women through economic opportunities
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Strengthen advocacy for peace, health, and resilience across Africa
Voices from the Event
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A keynote by Prof. Senait Fisseha (Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation)
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A dynamic panel featuring global champions including:
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Monica Geingos (former First Lady of Namibia)
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Amb. Liberata Mulamula (AU Special Envoy)
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Dr. Maliha Khan (President, Women Deliver)
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All reaffirmed the urgency of coordinated solutions and the importance of intergenerational leadership.
A Call for Partnership
OAFLAD stressed that resilience cannot be achieved alone. This campaign is a movement requiring strong and transparent partnerships across:
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Governments
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Civil society
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Private sector
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Academia
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International organizations
Together, these alliances will translate shared commitments into measurable results that uplift women and girls as leaders of Africa’s future.
Closing Remarks
In her closing statement, H.E. Ana Dias Lourenço, First Lady of Angola and Vice President of OAFLAD, affirmed:
“This campaign is more than an initiative—it is a movement. Through empowerment, inclusion, accountability, and transparent partnerships, we will build a prosperous Africa that honors and uplifts every woman and girl.”
Media Contact
Dr. Nardos Berhanu
Secrétaire Exécutif
📧 [email protected]
