KAMPALA, February 26, 2026 – In celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day [IWD], the International Cooperative Alliance – Africa [ICA-Africa], in partnership with the Co-operative University of Kenya, will host a special online Leadership Programme for Women Cooperative Leaders from March 2-6, 2026.
The five-day programme, themed “Women in Cooperative Leadership for Inclusive Economic Growth and Democratic Governance”, seeks to strengthen women’s leadership, governance and decision-making skills within cooperative institutions across the continent.
Organisers say the initiative is designed to equip participants with practical tools to lead effectively and champion inclusive growth within their organisations.
The training will focus on key areas including transformational leadership, governance and accountability, gender-responsive governance, advocacy and negotiation, confidence and public speaking, as well as mentorship and networking.
Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with a diverse network of women leaders from across Africa, fostering peer learning and long-term mentorship relationships aimed at sustaining women’s active engagement in cooperative governance.
The programme is being delivered under the ICA–EU Partnership, an initiative aimed at strengthening women’s leadership capacity and enhancing their meaningful participation in cooperative governance and decision-making structures.
Female cooperative leaders and aspiring leaders are expected to attend, alongside male allies who support gender equality, youth representatives and women champions within cooperative movements.
By bringing together emerging and established leaders, ICA-Africa and the Co-operative University of Kenya hope the programme will contribute to more inclusive economic growth and reinforce democratic governance within Africa’s cooperative sector.
Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, every year, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality. IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people.
This year’s IWD will be marked under the theme, “Give To Gain”. The Give To Gain Campaign encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration. Give To Gain emphasises the power of reciprocity and support.
“When people, organisations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. Giving is not a subtraction, it’s intentional multiplication. When women thrive, we all rise.”
It is been stated that whether through donations, knowledge, resources, infrastructure, visibility, advocacy, education, training, mentoring, or time, contributing to women’s advancement helps create a more supportive and interconnected world.
World-renowned feminist, journalist and activist, Gloria Steinem, reportedly once explained: “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”
Groups can choose to mark IWD in whatever manner they deem most relevant, engaging, and impactful for their specific context, objectives, and audiences. IWD is about gender equality in all its forms. For some, IWD is about fighting for women’s rights. For others, IWD is about reinforcing key commitments, while for some, IWD is about celebrating success
https://thecooperator.news/womens-economic-opportunity-laws-only-half-enforced-globally/
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