By Churchill Simiyu Reporter
August 14, 2025
NAIROBI — A wave of unapologetic girl-powered leadership is set to sweep the continent as the She Leads Africa Summit 2025 lands in Nairobi this August, rallying a generation of girls and young women determined to shape Africa’s destiny.
From August 11–14, civil society, policymakers, and trailblazing young leaders from across Africa will gather for the first continental summit dedicated to placing Girls and Young Women (GYW) at the very heart of decision-making.
“With over 116 million young people under 35 in East Africa alone, Africa’s potential is limitless — yet the leadership of girls and young women remains undervalued,” organizers said, warning that the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be met without their full participation.
Hosted by the Horn of Africa Youth Network (HoAYN) and Terre des Hommes Netherlands, alongside a coalition of partners, the summit will run under the rallying theme: “Sustaining Girls and Young Women Leadership in Key Decision-Making Spaces in Africa.”
Organizers say the event comes at a defining moment for the continent — when girls and young women are already leading the fight against climate change, gender-based violence, economic exclusion, and the digital divide, yet too often find themselves locked out of the rooms where decisions are made.
The summit will also serve as the grand finale to the five-year She Leads programme (2021–2025), signalling a bold commitment to policies that view girls and young women not as beneficiaries, but as indispensable partners in Africa’s transformation.