Source: GlobalPost
African women are behind the continent's socioeconomic renewal among strategic positions in politics, academia and industry, the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Planning and Devolution, Anne Waiguru said on Tuesday.

In an email interview with Xinhua ahead of the AU ministerial summit in Addis Ababa, Waiguru said that African women have defied profound obstacles to pursue a progressive agenda for the continent.

"Africa has made significant strides in women's empowerment in the last 50 years. Women in this continent have seized the moment and are the key drivers of our progress," Waiguru said.

As a holder of a powerful docket in the Kenyan government, Waiguru said that women and girls have enjoyed gains made possible through affirmative action, modernity and economic growth.

"The political, socioeconomic and cultural landscape of women and girls in the region has significantly improved. In Kenya for instance, gender equality is explicitly provided for in the constitution," said Waiguru.

African Ministers and experts who gathered in Addis Ababa on Tuesday discussed progress countries have made to narrow gender gap in key area like education, health, employment, leadership and representation.

Waiguru said African women have become a force to reckon with despite existence of structural barriers.

"As a continent, we have accelerated progress towards millennium target on gender equality. The resilience of African women has not been vanquished by obstacles occasioned by cultural taboos, poverty or illiteracy," Waiguru said.

She said several African states have implemented robust policies and laws to close the gender gap.

"Rwanda ranks 6th on the global gender gap report of 2014 on political empowerment of women. Additionally, South Africa, Senegal and Rwanda are ranked among top ten countries with highest number of women in parliament," Waiguru told Xinhua.

Besides occupying national leadership positions, African women are fuelling economic growth and social renewal in the continent.

According to Waiguru, affirmative action in countries like Kenya, Ghana and South Africa has promoted female owned businesses.

"Africa has the highest growth rate of women run enterprises in the world. Currently, women have enhanced opportunities to build successful enterprises thanks to better access to financial services," Waiguru said.

She urged African governments to harness women's social capital to accelerate economic transformation.

Political goodwill, adequate financing and implementation of progressive laws are key to eliminate barriers to women progress across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Waiguru challenged governments to scale up funding towards programs that addresses maternal health challenges, illiteracy and gender violence.

"As a continent, our future prosperity is linked to harnessing women's potential. We must therefore knock down obstacles that relegate women at the periphery to sustain the Africa's rising narrative," said Waiguru.