Ministerial conference puts women’s financial, economic inclusion back on track

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African leaders and policymakers have intensified calls to fast-track women’s financial and economic inclusion, warning that slow progress is not only limiting opportunities for women but also holding back the continent’s broader economic transformation.

This was the central message at a high-level ministerial dialogue held on Wednesday, April 01, in Tangier city in Morocco under the framework of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Centre for Economic Transformation, alongside the 2026 Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

The Dialogue on the African Women’s Decade on Financial and Economic Inclusion brought together policymakers, economists and development experts to examine how governments can elevate women’s inclusion as a core economic priority, guided by Africa-led data tools such as the African Gender and Development Index and the Africa Gender Index.

Opening the session, Nadia Alaoui challenged leaders to rethink the structural barriers women face, describing exclusion as a governance failure rather than a social issue.

“We face a reality we must acknowledge. Women are trained, but they are not hired. They are hired but not promoted. They are present but not deciding. This is not a pipeline issue. It is a governance problem,” she said.

She stressed that real transformation depends on power and decision-making.

“Inclusion will never be complete without women being part of decision-making. We will not transform our economies by including women in numbers and excluding them from power,” Alaoui added.

She highlighted the importance of leveraging data, technology and innovation, noting that while data makes women visible, technology scales inclusion, and innovation ensures impact.

She pointed to reforms in Morocco aimed at improving access to transport, childcare and financial services as practical steps toward inclusion.

However, experts warned that progress remains far too slow. Hanan Morsy noted that despite gains, nearly 89 percent of African women remain trapped in informal employment, with limited access to finance and social protection.

“Closing gender gaps can boost economic growth, yet our ability to measure these losses remains constrained by serious data gaps. The less we measure, the more we undervalue both the cost of exclusion and the benefits of reform. Without gender-responsive data, we are effectively making policy with partial sight. This is something we can no longer afford,” she said.

Morsy urged governments to invest in data systems and design financial and digital frameworks that reflect women’s realities.

“If we align financial reforms with the realities of women’s lives, we will not only advance equality, but we will also unlock a powerful engine of productivity, resilience and inclusive growth across Africa,” she added.

Adding urgency to the debate, Theophiline Bose-Duker revealed that at the current pace, full financial inclusion for women in Africa may not be achieved until 2093.

“Progress is not happening fast enough. Africa’s average inclusion score has risen from 45.6 in 2011 to 53.5 in 2022. But at this pace, full inclusion will not be achieved until 2093. That is a sobering reality,” she said.

She attributed the slow pace to weak implementation of gender policies, citing funding gaps, poor data systems and limited institutional coordination. Bose-Duker called for stronger integration of gender priorities into finance ministries, sustained investment in inclusive digital infrastructure, and better use of accountability tools.

A fireside discussion featuring Zuzana Schwidrowski, Keiso Matashane-Marite and Adamnesh A. Bogale explored practical solutions to empower women economically. These included investing in care systems to free women’s time, formalising informal work, and expanding digital access and literacy.

The outcomes of the dialogue are expected to feed into the African Union’s Women’s Decade on Financial and Economic Inclusion, reinforcing continental efforts to close gender gaps and unlock Africa’s full economic potential.