Generation Equality Action Coalition on Economic Justice and Rights Leaders convene in Kenya

The Economic Justice and Rights (EJR) Action Coalition Leaders consisting of governments, international organizations, civil society, youth, the private sector and philanthropies gathered for a three-day retreat in Nairobi to review progress, strengthen partnerships, and strategize planned activities for the future.

Since its inception in 2020, the EJR Coalition has championed women’s economic justice and rights, evolving from virtual engagements during the COVID-19 pandemic to impactful in-person gatherings. Centered on feminist principles of solidarity and intersectionality, the retreat aimed to define actionable pathways for advancing the Action Coalition’s work on the care economy, decent work, productive resources, and gender-transformative economies in the years ahead.

“Feminist economic justice is not just about empowering women; it’s about dismantling systems that perpetuate inequality. It’s about creating economies where care work, community resilience, and equitable redistribution of resources are central,” said Dr. Jemimah Njuki, Chief of Economic Empowerment at UN Women, during the opening session.

Anna Mutavati, UN Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, welcomed participants, stating: “I am delighted that our region is hosting the EJR Action Coalition Leaders Retreat for the second consecutive year, building on the success of the 2023 Leaders Retreat in South Africa.  This reflects our enduring commitment to advancing women’s rights. Let us build on the momentum toward Beijing+30, using this retreat as an anchor to advance women’s economic justice and rights globally.”

Through interactive sessions, participants reviewed progress on collective commitments and explored cross-Action Coalition collaboration opportunities to leverage synergies for greater impact in areas such as women’s land rights, climate justice and ending violence and harassment in the world of work. Discussions focused on defining priorities for 2025, including key moments such as Beijing+30, CSW69, the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), ensuring commitments are translated into actionable steps with clear timelines.

A dedicated session on youth engagement provided a platform for young leaders to share challenges and ideas, reinforcing the coalition’s commitment to fostering intergenerational leadership in economic justice efforts. Forward-looking discussions also addressed the vision for 2026 and beyond, reflecting on lessons learned and identifying strategic directions for sustainability and impact.

On the final day, the leaders engaged with Kenya-based Generation Equality Commitment Makers to discuss the importance of localizing Generation Equality commitments and strengthening partnerships at regional and country levels. Commitment Makers shared their experiences, successes, and challenges, emphasizing the importance of accountability, transparency, and leveraging local knowledge to drive meaningful change.

"We need to amplify local stories, grassroot voices, and solutions. Strengthening connections among stakeholders and fostering coordination are essential to achieving our goals," Esther Mwaura-Muiru, Global Advocacy Director from Stand for Her Land campaign, Landesa, one participant emphasized, urging the coalition to create more opportunities for dialogue and collaboration.

The retreat concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthen global, regional, and cross-coalition partnerships, enhance youth engagement strategies to empower future leaders, and to implement a comprehensive 2025 work plan aligned with global frameworks such as Beijing+30 and CSW69.

Reflecting on the Action Coalition’s multi-stakeholder model, Sofie Lambert from the ILO remarked: “These partnerships have a unique strength in bringing together diverse perspectives, resources, and knowledge. For the ILO, tripartism is a key strength, and when complemented by civil society, philanthropy, and international organizations, we can truly amplify our efforts and advocacy.”

The retreat was graciously hosted by the African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET), an EJR Action Coalition Leader. From logistical arrangements to ensuring participants experienced the beauty of Kenya, their efforts were deeply appreciated.

“We are an Action Coalition, and we believe in movement. This retreat has provided a vital space for strategizing and collective action to push forward our feminist agenda,” said Ms. Memory Kachambwa, Executive Director of FEMNET.

As participants departed, they carried with them a renewed sense of purpose and a shared vision for achieving economic justice and rights for women worldwide.