On September 22, 2026, representatives of Liberia’s House of Representatives, the National Elections Commission (NEC), the Law Reform Commission, the Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia, and United Nations partners concluded a two-day dialogue on electoral reform, reaffirming a shared commitment to strengthening Liberia’s democracy through nationally owned, inclusive, and evidence-based reforms. Convened by the House Committee on Elections and Inauguration with support from the Liberia Electoral Support Project, the dialogue focused on reforms that can enhance electoral integrity and expand opportunities for women’s representation in elected office.

For Khady Niang Sylla, becoming Deputy Mayor of Dakar is more than a personal achievement, it is a collective victory. In this conversation, she reflects on the barriers women face in politics, the power of solidarity among women leaders, and the importance of creating opportunities for the next generation of women in leadership. Her journey shows how collective action can help build more inclusive and equitable decision-making.

Communities in Moyamba, Kailahun and Falaba districts are taking the leading role in ending violence against women and girls through the establishment of community owned safe spaces under the Spotlight Initiative Programme in Sierra Leone.

For years, Warrant Officer Amel Kuach Ariak served in South Sudan's Wildlife Service with dedication and commitment. Yet like many women in uniform, she often felt isolated in a sector where leadership opportunities for women were limited, and their voices were rarely included in decision-making. Despite her years of service, opportunities to connect with experienced women leaders, learn from peers, and build professional networks were scarce. Many women officers faced similar challenges, often navigating workplace barriers, gender stereotypes, and limited support systems on their own.

In 2022, a group of 30 determined young people, comprising 15 women and 15 men, came together with a shared vision of improving their livelihoods and creating economic opportunities in their community. They formed Paaro Group, a youth-led initiative driven by the belief that collective action could help them overcome economic challenges and build a better future.

September 17, 2026, Monrovia - The Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia (WLCL), with support from UN Women and the India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) Fund administered by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), has launched its Mentorship and Internship Initiative, welcoming 23 young women into a four-month programme designed to strengthen women’s leadership and participation in governance.

September 21, 2026 | Monrovia, Liberia – The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection hosted a High-Level Side Event on Women, Peace and Security under the theme “From Pioneers to Global Leaders: Liberia’s Journey in Women, Peace and Security” on the sidelines of the 81stUnited Nations General Assembly (UNGA). With support from UN Women, members of the National Peace Hut Women and the Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET) gathered at the National Peace Hut at Fish Market in Monrovia and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection office to witness the livestream of the event. The event marked a significant milestone in Liberia’s commitment to advancing women’s leadership in peacebuilding and promoting the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

Ziguinchor, Senegal — Across Casamance, women are producing, running businesses, supporting their communities and helping build peace. A regional mission led by Dr Maxime Houinato, UN Women Regional Director for West and Central Africa, focused on what could help them go further. Dr Houinato, met women farmers and entrepreneurs, women working for peace, service providers and local leaders alongside UN Women Senegal Representative Arlette Mvondo. Across these exchanges, the priorities were concrete: greater economic opportunities, better access to essential services, more influence in decisions on peace, and stronger engagement from community leaders.

Across Africa, growing attention to sustainable finance is creating new opportunities to mobilise capital towards development priorities, including gender equality and women's economic empowerment. For UN Women, unlocking this opportunity requires more than developing new financial instruments. It requires strengthening the capacity of financial institutions to understand, design, evaluate and implement financing approaches that integrate gender considerations into investment and capital mobilisation.

September 14, 2026, Monrovia – UN Women, in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), and Kvinna till Kvinna (KTK), rolled out the Gender Promotion Initiative (GPI) 2.0, a three-year programme funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).

UN Women, UNDP and UNFPA have convened the newly constituted Civil Society National Reference Group (CS-NRG) for Liberia’s European Union-funded Spotlight Initiative 2.0, bringing together 11 civil society representatives to strengthen their role in efforts to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls (VAWG), sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and harmful practices.

Observed annually on 12 August, International Youth Day highlights the contributions of young people to sustainable development while drawing attention to the challenges they continue to face. The 2026 theme acknowledges that while youth come from diverse geographical, social, economic, and cultural backgrounds, their aspirations remain remarkably similar. It also emphasizes the importance of global solidarity, collective solutions to shared challenges, and youth-led innovation. Around the world, young people are stepping forward to address issues such as unemployment, digital exclusion, mental health, climate change, and inequality. Their efforts demonstrate resilience, creativity, and a determination to build inclusive and sustainable societies.  AGCCI alumnae are among those translating ambition into action, using technology and innovation to tackle challenges in their communities.

Seeing community priorities translated into action has given me hope. The construction of local infrastructure and improvements to services demonstrate that when citizens engage constructively with government, positive change is possible. It has also strengthened my belief that women should not only participate in decision-making but should also take on leadership roles within their communities.

The policies and budgets that shape the lives of millions of Nigerians pass through the Federal Civil Service. To ensure those systems work more equitably for women and men, UN Women and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) have inaugurated the Steering Committee and Technical Working Group on Gender-Responsive Planning and Budgeting (GRPB) and the INSPIRE Programme. The inauguration marks a significant milestone in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UN Women and the OHCSF to advance gender equality and strengthen women's leadership within Nigeria's Federal Civil Service. The newly inaugurated structures will provide strategic and technical oversight for integrating gender-responsive approaches into planning, budgeting, policy implementation, and institutional reform across government ministries, departments, and agencies.

When Bajeti Hub introduced the public participation training, it changed my understanding completely. For the first time, I learned how county planning and budgeting processes work and how citizens can contribute to shaping development priorities. The training opened my eyes to the importance of accountability and the role that communities play in ensuring that public resources are used effectively.

Bujumbura, 14 August 2026 – Nearly 200,000 people reached through awareness-raising, more than 6,700 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) supported, 1,500 survivors assisted to strengthen their livelihoods, and 72 government officials trained: after two years and nine months of implementation, the project supporting the establishment of the National Observatory to Combat Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Burundi has delivered significant results in strengthening the national response to violence against women and girls, Ms. Laure Drege SENTAMBA, Head of the "Governance and Basic Services" team at the Delegation of the European Union to Burundi, emphasized this point.

In Musenyi, refugee women and women from host communities are taking on a stronger role in preventing conflict and building peace within their communities. On 19 and 20 August 2026, a monitoring mission took place at the Musenyi refugee site, in Musongati Commune, Burunga Province, as part of a project supported by the Government of Japan’s Supplementary Budget. The project aims to address the urgent protection and livelihood needs of 10,000 people displaced by the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and floods in Burundi.

More than 60 representatives from civil society organizations, women’s rights organizations, grassroots and youth-led organizations, government, academia and development partners gathered in Dar es Salaam on 8 September for the Tanzania Civil Society Engagement Forum on Women, Peace and Security.

For many rural women caring for children with disabilities, caregiving is a full-time responsibility that often comes with emotional, social, and financial challenges. Yet, through targeted caregiver training supported by UN Women Kenya and its partners, many women are finding renewed hope, practical skills, and a stronger support network to help them navigate their journeys.

For many families in Kenya, caring for a child with disability is not only emotionally demanding but also financially and socially overwhelming. Across communities, parents and caregivers often battle stigma, isolation, and a lack of information on how to provide proper evidence-based care. Women, who shoulder most unpaid care work in homes, are particularly affected, often sacrificing employment opportunities, education and personal wellbeing to care for their loved ones.