African Women Step Into Leadership as WGC Africa Elects New Coordinators Ahead of COP32 in Ethiopia
At the sidelines of the ongoing Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB64), members of the Women and Gender Constituency Africa elected a new regional coordination team to serve from 2026 to 2028. The transition marks a significant moment for feminist climate organising within the Women and Gender Constituency, as Africa prepares to host COP32 in Ethiopia.
Among those elected is Memory Kachambwa, Executive Director of FEMNET, who will serve as one of the incoming regional coordinators. She joins a diverse leadership team drawn from across the continent to strengthen African feminist engagement in global climate negotiations.
The outgoing coordination team, led by experienced feminist climate advocates, including Zoneziwoh Mbondgulo-Wondieh, reflected on their two-year tenure (2024–2026), describing it as a period of sustained feminist organising, increased visibility, and the amplification of African women’s voices within UNFCCC processes, particularly during SB64.
Zoneziwoh Mbondgulo-Wondieh, outgoing regional coordinator for the Women and Gender Constituencies Africa.
Looking ahead, the incoming team assumes leadership at a critical juncture. With COP32 set to take place on African soil in Addis Ababa, expectations are high for a more inclusive and responsive climate governance process.
Leadership for a pivotal moment
The election of the new coordination team is more than a routine transition—it is a strategic moment for African feminist leadership in global climate spaces. However, it also comes against the backdrop of persistent structural barriers that continue to limit the participation of African women in international climate negotiations.
Visa restrictions remain one of the most significant obstacles, with many delegates facing delays, denials, or uncertainty, undermining their ability to attend critical negotiations. Financial constraints also continue to exclude grassroots women’s rights organisations and young feminists who often lack access to travel and accommodation funding required to participate meaningfully.
In addition, feminist perspectives are still frequently marginalised within formal negotiation spaces, where decision-making power is unevenly distributed. This results in the underrepresentation of women—particularly those from frontline and rural communities—in shaping climate policies that directly affect their lives.
A section of Women & Gender Constituency Africa members holding an informal catch-up with Arsema Tesfaye from the Ethiopian Delegation at SB64.
A commitment to inclusion and feminist climate justice
Speaking during the handover, Memory Kachambwa reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that COP32 reflects the spirit of Africa and the inclusion of women and girls who have long been excluded from climate decision-making spaces:
“As we journey towards COP32 in Ethiopia, we have a responsibility to ensure that this conference reflects the true spirit of Africa—one rooted in solidarity, inclusion, resilience, and justice. For too long, women and girls, particularly those from grassroots communities and marginalized groups, have been left behind in climate decision-making spaces. Our commitment as the incoming coordination team is to work collectively to open these spaces wider, amplify African feminist voices, and ensure that those most affected by the climate crisis are at the centre of shaping the solutions. COP32 must be a turning point for inclusive and feminist climate leadership on the continent.”
Her remarks underscore the urgency of ensuring that COP32 becomes not only a geographical milestone for Africa but also a transformative moment for equity and representation in global climate governance.
A renewed chapter for African feminist organising
As the new coordination team steps into leadership, the Women and Gender Constituency Africa is expected to deepen its advocacy for gender-responsive climate action, strengthen solidarity across regions, and push for more accountable and inclusive negotiation processes.
With COP32 approaching, the road ahead is both demanding and full of opportunity. The incoming leaders carry the responsibility of ensuring that African women are not only present in climate spaces but are actively shaping the decisions, policies, and futures that emerge from them.
The transition in Bonn signals a renewed chapter—one defined by continuity, resilience, and a strengthened commitment to feminist climate justice across Africa and beyond.