This archive report was first published on 20 September 2019.
On the continent, there is a pressing need for women to be placed in productive employment, including in senior positions.
Speaking at the 42nd Organization of African Trade Union Unity Conference, Federation of Kenyan Employers Director Jackline Mugo emphasized the importance of women's representation in the workforce.
"Let us advocate for the empowerment of women both professionally and financially. We cannot succeed as a society without doing this," Mugo said during the conference.
According to Mugo, the Female Future Leadership Development Programme has been instrumental in strengthening gender equality in the workplace by improving women's representation in management.
Launched in partnership with the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO), the Programme has trained 300 women over the past six years, equipping them with the skills to take on leadership positions in both the private and public sectors.
Kenya leads the way in Africa, with 19.8 percent of women serving on company boards, surpassing the global average of 15 percent, as per data from the International Finance Corporation.
South Africa and Botswana follow closely, with 17.4 percent and 16.9 percent of women on company boards, respectively.
On the other hand, Morocco and Cote D'Ivoire have the lowest representation, with 5.9 percent and 5.1 percent of women on company boards, respectively.
