President John Dramani Mahama has urged African leaders to prioritise funding for gender equality, warning that without sustained financial commitment, the continent’s development will remain incomplete.

Delivering the keynote address at the High-Level Breakfast Meeting on Financing and Reaffirming Africa’s Gender Commitments in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Mahama said gender equality is fundamental to Africa’s economic transformation and long-term prosperity.

He stressed that accelerating Agenda 2063 and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals requires harnessing the full potential of Africa’s human capital, particularly women, whom he described as the continent’s most underutilised resource.

Despite decades of declarations, he noted that Africa’s gender agenda remains chronically underfunded, with gender-responsive programmes often becoming the first casualties of fiscal constraints.

According to him, when austerity measures are implemented, initiatives aimed at empowering women and girls tend to suffer the most.

President Mahama further lamented that women’s organisations are expected to deliver transformational outcomes with minimal resources, while the care economy—largely sustained by African women—remains invisible in national budgets.

He added that efforts to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls are severely under-resourced, underscoring the urgent need for African governments to match commitments with adequate financing.

“Despite decades of declarations, Africa’s gender agenda remains chronically underfunded. Gender-responsive programmes are often the first casualties of fiscal constraints; when austerity measures are implemented, these programmes suffer the most."

“Women’s organisations are expected to deliver transformational outcomes with minimal resources. The care economy, largely sustained by African women, remains invisible in national budgets. Efforts to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls are severely under-resourced,” President Mahama said.