Gathered for a webinar organized by Speak Up Africa and its partners, African scientists and leaders advocated for strengthening women’s leadership in health research and development. Addressing structural obstacles and a lack of investment, the speakers called for a shift from political commitments to concrete action.

As Africa strives to strengthen its health sovereignty, the role of women in scientific research remains a central issue, yet one that is still insufficiently addressed. This observation was shared by several experts and leaders gathered on March 12th for a webinar dedicated to women’s leadership in health research and development (R&D) on the continent.

Organised by Speak Up Africa, Gawani Africa, Africa Centre for Health Systems and Gender Justice and Youterus, the meeting was a follow-up to International Women’s Day and aimed to transform political commitments into concrete actions.

“Women’s leadership is not just a matter of equity, it is a strategic necessity to improve African health systems,” stressed Fara Ndiaye, Deputy Executive Director of Speak Up Africa, in her opening remarks.

Obstacles that are still deeply rooted

Despite the ambitions displayed by the African Union through Agenda 2063 and continental policies on science and innovation, women remain underrepresented in decision-making positions and access to research funding.

For Professor Coumba Touré Kane, a microbiologist and virologist at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, the obstacles are numerous: cultural stereotypes, family responsibilities and inequalities in access to resources.

“The systems in which we operate do not always guarantee equality. Women scientists must first have confidence in themselves, but above all they need a supportive institutional environment and equitable access to funding,” she explained.

The figures demonstrate the scale of the challenge: while Africa bears nearly 25% of the global burden of morbidity, the continent accounts for only about 3% of global clinical trials, the researcher noted.

Regulation and innovation at the heart of the issues

Director General of the African Medicines Agency, Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, stressed the importance of harmonized regulatory systems to facilitate research and accelerate innovation on the continent.

“If each country applies different requirements, it creates a barrier to investment and research. Regulatory harmonization is essential to transforming innovation into solutions accessible to African patients,” she stated.

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the continent’s dependence on external sources for vaccines and medical technologies, reinforcing the urgency of investing in local production and African research.

The challenge of scaling up

For Dr. Stellah Bosire, executive director of the Africa Center for Health Systems and Gender Justice, the obstacles are not limited to policies but also stem from persistent social norms.

According to her, female scientists often face cultural expectations, limited access to research resources, and underrepresentation in scientific governance bodies.

“We have progressive policies in several countries, but the challenge remains their effective implementation,” she said.

Investing in female talent

Beyond diagnoses, the speakers stressed the importance of mentoring and capacity building to support the new generation of African scientists.

For Professor Nothando Ngwenya, academic lead at the Africa Health Research Institute, the main challenge is not a lack of talent but a lack of leadership opportunities.

“There are many talented women in science in Africa. The problem lies after training: very few access leadership positions or major research funding,” she stressed.

A strategic question for the future of the continent

In summary of the discussions, Martin Eigbike, managing partner of Gawani Africa, recalled that women’s leadership in research goes beyond the mere question of representation.

“When women lead research and innovation, solutions become more inclusive and better suited to the needs of populations,” he said.

For the participants, accelerating women’s participation in health research is therefore an essential condition for strengthening African health systems and supporting the continent’s scientific autonomy.