Across the world and across all sectors women’s leadership continues to be underrepresented. Women must contend with discriminatory laws, institutions, and attitudes that restrict their leadership and full participation in public life. Women are also disadvantaged by unequal access to the resources needed to become effective leaders.

Young women experience discrimination based both on gender and on age. In particular, critical gaps in funding and resources for education, skills development and mentorship impact the ability of young women to realize their full potential as leaders.

Investing in women’s leadership requires a lifecycle approach to strengthening and supporting girls’ leadership, adolescent girls’ leadership, young women’s leadership, and women’s leadership. We know that investing in young women’s leadership will not only change the trajectory of their future, but that of their communities as well.

WAWA Kenya works to strengthen young women’s leadership through a number of different approaches.