AFRICA SOFT POWER & AWB@UNGA 2022

In the post-pandemic world, we find ourselves at the crossroads of change. Immediate intersectional issues – such as climate change, limited resources, anti-democratic and anti-globalisation sentiment, a shift towards the creative and knowledge economies, as well as legacy social issues – threaten our connected community.
To tackle a global tidal wave of change, we require global solutions, and this includes incorporating African voices in the global dialogue.

This year, African Women on Board (AWB) in collaboration with Africa Soft Power, held a special sidetrack event alongside the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Themed, “Africa and the Global Economy: Africa’s Leadership in Transformative Solutions to Intersecting Global Challenges”, taking place at 601 Lexington Ave. (The Citigroup Center) on Thursday 22nd September, we explored two key areas in the fight for future prosperity:

• Africa’s role within the global climate change discourse: action plans and outcomes
• African and diasporan women’s leadership: a transformative solution to intersecting global challenges

Africa is a geographic region that has thus far found itself particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change. But it can also be a pioneer in helping seek solutions to what is now an increasingly universal problem, if only it is given a representative seat at the table.