The First Lady of Gabon has donated 100 million CFA francs to the Network of African Federations of Rural Women (RAFER), reinforcing efforts to advance the economic empowerment of rural women across Africa. The contribution was made during a high-level meeting between African First Ladies and the leadership of RAFER, held on the sidelines of the 11th summit of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OEACP) in Sipopo. The gathering served as a platform to strengthen cooperation and mobilize support for initiatives focused on improving the livelihoods of women in rural communities.
The donation was warmly received by the Equatorial Guinean First Lady, who serves as honorary president of RAFER. She described the gesture as both timely and impactful, emphasizing the importance of collective action among African leaders to address persistent economic challenges faced by rural women. “I am very pleased with this gesture,” she said, reiterating her call for fellow First Ladies across the continent to actively support RAFER’s programs and expand their reach.
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Founded under the initiative of the Equatorial Guinean First Lady, RAFER works to empower rural women by enhancing their productive capacities, promoting entrepreneurship, and facilitating access to resources and training. The organization collaborates with federations and local partners in several African countries, focusing on agriculture, small-scale enterprises and community-based development projects.
Officials present at the meeting highlighted that financial contributions such as this play a crucial role in sustaining ongoing programs and enabling the expansion of new initiatives. These include vocational training, access to microfinance, and support for women-led cooperatives, all aimed at fostering long-term economic independence.
RAFER’s leadership team, headed by its president, also attended the event and reaffirmed their commitment to scaling up interventions that directly benefit rural women. They stressed that empowering women at the grassroots level has a multiplier effect on families, communities and national economies.
The donation comes at a time when discussions around gender equality and inclusive development are gaining renewed momentum across Africa. Rural women, who form a significant part of the agricultural workforce, often face limited access to funding, education and markets. Initiatives like RAFER seek to bridge these gaps and create sustainable pathways for growth.
Participants at the OEACP summit underscored the importance of partnerships between governments, civil society and regional organizations in achieving these goals. They noted that continued advocacy and investment are essential to ensuring that rural women are not left behind in Africa’s broader development agenda. With this latest contribution, RAFER is expected to strengthen its programs and expand its impact, further advancing its mission to promote dignity, self-reliance and economic opportunity for women in rural communities across the continent.