Policy Highlights: Africa

Strengthening Governance: The Role of Women in Rwanda's Transition
Read about release events for the case study on post-conflict governance in Rwanda.
September 2003

Waging network members addressed a group of USAID officials on advancing strategies to mainstream women in peace and development efforts. Parliamentarian Sabine Sabimbona provided her organization’s strategic plan for Burundi to USAID’s new regional director for East and Southern Africa, making a vital connection in support of Burundi’s peace process and laying the groundwork for future collaboration between USAID and women in the field.

New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)
On November 8, 2002, Inclusive Security: Women Waging Peace hosted a consultation among eleven African women leaders from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Sudan and representatives from relevant Canadian, the United Kingdom, and the United States government agencies to discuss the G8's support for NEPAD and its impact on women.

NEPAD Conference List of Participants
Action Steps
Summary of Points from NEPAD
Summary of Points from G8 Action Plan

Regional Meeting in Kigali
In late May, 2001, Inclusive Security: Women Waging Peace held a regional meeting in Kigali, Rwanda. Network members from Burundi, Rwanda, South Africa, and Sudan gathered to take advantage of a wide range of opportunities to strengthen their peace-building work. The regional meeting included orientation sessions for liaisons for each conflict area, networking and strategic planning within a regional context, and a policy meeting with a panel presentation followed by small roundtable discussion groups comprised of network members and regional policy shapers. 198 policy shapers from 10 different countries attended the meeting, including representatives from the US Agency for International Development, the UN, the Rwandan government, and a host of NGOs.

Rwandan President Discusses the Challenge of Reconciliation
In February 2001, Waging was instrumental in bringing the Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, and two prominent women leaders to Harvard University. President Paul Kagame was joined by Waging core network member Aloisea Inyumba, Executive Secretary of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission in Rwanda and a member of the Lusaka negotiating team, as well as Angelina Muganza, Rwandan Minister of Gender and Women in Development. In their meetings and public presentations, they discussed the challenge of reconciliation as the country prepares to reintegrate approximately 85,000 prisoners held since the genocide in 1994, when some 800,000 people were killed in 100 days. While in the US, President Kagame met with Secretary of State Colin Powell and Congo's new president, Joseph Kabila.

Pan-African Conference
In June 2000, several Waging members participated in a pan-African conference hosted by the US Embassy in Kigali, Rwanda. Keynote speaker Ambassador Swanee Hunt (Waging Chair) discussed women-led peace initiatives with Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Subsequently, President Kagame appointed three women to the Rwandan negotiating team for the Congo/Uganda peace talks. The Ugandans followed suit.

Ambassador Hunt Addresses Women in Burundi
At the request of the US Ambassador in Bujumbura, Ambassador Hunt addressed 60 women activists and met with government officials in Burundi in June 2000, encouraging the strong involvement of women in the civil war peace talks.

"Women as Partners for Peace" Conference
In June 2000, a delegation from Inclusive Security: Women Waging Peace participated in the pan-African "Women as Partners for Peace" conference hosted by the US Embassy in Kigali, Rwanda. Waging Chair, Ambassador Swanee Hunt, met with women from all regions of Africa and discussed peace initiatives with Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

Meeting with the National Security Council
In March 2000, the National Security Council of the White House hosted a closed meeting with Waging members (including women from South Africa, Burundi, and Kenya) and 15 officials from the State Department, US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Pentagon, and other governmental agencies to discuss the role of women peacemakers in sub-Saharan Africa. Multiple meetings with high-level USAID officials have resulted.

Waging Delegates Attend World Bank Panel
Resulting from a discussion on Policy Day with Betty Bigombe, the Africa Regional Coordinator at the World Bank, two delegates from Inclusive Security: Women Waging Peace attended a panel on International Women's Day at the World Bank that focused on examples of women peacemakers.

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