News & Analysis Event Summaries

GIWPS Reflections from the NALAFEM Summit: When Power Meets Capital to Advance the Priorities of African Women

July 18, 2026

• Gihan Elhadidy

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  • https://giwps.georgetown.edu/2026/07/18/giwps-nalafem-summit-power-capital-advancing-priorities-african-women/
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The NALAFEM Summit, which took place this month in Nairobi, Kenya, was unlike most conferences I have attended. The event brought together over 1000 women from across Africa to foster strategic alliances, enable sustainable leadership, and mobilize collective commitments to advance women’s leadership on the continent. But it was more than that: it was a space of empowerment, solidarity, sisterhood, and wellbeing. 

The central theme of the summit was clear: power without capital is fragile. Nalafem Founder and 2025 GIWPS Women Changemaker, Aya Chebbi, invited participants to rethink how women and their work are supported across Africa, asking not only what is being funded, but who is being funded. Rather than investing in only projects, she urged funders to invest in the women leading them. This message was echoed by keynote speaker Rose Wachuka Macharia, Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chief Justice of Kenya, as well as in video messages from former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous, and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed. Across the sessions, speakers emphasized that women’s leadership must be backed by financial resources, ownership of assets, and long-term investment. However, encouragement and symbolic representation are not enough. A notable announcement came from the Colmena Fund, which pledged $500,000 to strengthen African women’s leadership as part of a broader $5 million initiative.

The summit also delved deeply into the structural barriers facing women in politics and peacebuilding. During a side event on Sudan, speakers argued that peace negotiations often exclude the very voices most affected by conflict. They stressed that sustainable peace requires addressing not only armed violence, but dismantling the systems that create and sustain violence, militarization, patriarchy, and economic interests. On behalf of GIWPS, I moderated a side event on grassroots feminism and inclusive governance in Africa, organized by the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA Network). Speakers from Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and Uganda shared powerful testimonies about the realities facing women who challenge violence and injustice. Except in Uganda, where the speaker noted gradual progress, the stories painted a troubling picture of widespread physical and digital violence against women activists. Yet despite limited resources and often weak support systems, their resilience and determination remained unwavering, a powerful reminder that meaningful leadership often emerges under the most difficult circumstances.

One conversation that I found particularly insightful featured Aya Chebbi in discussion with Zainab Bangura, Director-General of the UN Office in Nairobi and former UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. She drew lessons from her personal journey, emphasizing the transformative power of education, the importance of women supporting one another, and the value of building strong professional networks. She also shared practical lessons from years of diplomacy and mediation: prepare thoroughly, understand your audience, tailor your message, and build trust before seeking change. Her reflections on the United Nations, Africa’s growing strategic importance, and the need for African voices to be present in global decision-making were particularly compelling. 

The Summit went beyond panels and discussions, emphasizing solidarity and well-being. The yellow and pink dress code set the tone from the outset, creating a colorful and warm atmosphere. The organizers intentionally centered well-being throughout the two-day event. Each morning began with a “grounding” session that included meditation and healing rituals. This deliberate focus on creating a sense of safety and belonging was the backdrop of discussions on women’s leadership and political participation.

I left inspired by the incredible women I met, the work they are doing, the solidarity they have for each other, and their commitment to well-being, as well as their commitment to tackling structural barriers and resourcing women’s leadership across the continent.