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Dr.
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Dr. Judy Kuriansky:
First Ladies of Africa Commit to Deliver for Women and Girls
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Dr. Judy Kuriansky
Black Tie
International Magazine:
Organization of African First Ladies for Development |
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First Ladies of Africa Commit to Deliver
for Women and Girls |
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“A Legacy of
Leadership – Delivering for Women and Girls” was the focus
of eleven African First Ladies, one First Gentleman, and
international partners who convened in New York City during
the 2026 United Nations General Assembly in September for a
meeting of the Organization of African First Ladies for
Development (OAFLAD). They reflected on their advocacy and
projects as they look ahead to the organization’s formal
25th anniversary in 2027.
The afternoon event was held at the Ford Foundation Center
for Social Justice, the landmark New York City headquarters
of the multibillion-dollar global philanthropy organization.
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“A Legacy of
Leadership – Delivering for Women and Girls”
Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD)
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The current
President of OAFLAD and host of the meeting, First Lady of
Sierra Leone Fatima Maada Bio, made opening remarks
congratulating her peers on their increased commitment to
investing in healthcare, education, and women’s economic
empowerment to build resilience. As a psychologist who
conducts resilience trainings and workshops across Africa, I
am delighted that the flagship theme and strategic plan of
their collective work uses that word “resilience” in the
title “Building Resilience for Women and Girls in the Face
of Climate Change and Conflict.” |
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First Lady of
Sierra Leone Fatima Maada Bio opening the meeting
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I am also glad that
the campaign brings together various issues, namely
healthcare, education, climate change, and economic
empowerment, since I speak often about the nexus of these
topics which must be considered together.
As a representative of the First Lady’s invaluable projects,
including Hands Off Our Girls and the General Assembly
Resolution for an International Day on the Elimination of
Child, Early and Forced Marriage, I was honored to be among
the 238 participants. This continued my participation in
their meetings in Freetown and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. See my
previous coverage in
Business Traveller Africa, pages 55–58.
The First Lady has achieved remarkable national legislative
progress, notably in protecting the rights of women and
girls and banning child marriage so that girls can remain in
school. Her efforts have also extended to the global stage.
During the OAFLAD presidency of H.E. Fatima Maada Bio, the
resilience campaign has rolled out in multiple nations. In
mid-October, Senegal officially became the seventh country
to formally launch the campaign, bringing its goals into
national policy frameworks. First Lady Fatima Maada Bio also
serves as an ambassador for the Merck Foundation’s “More
Than a Mother” initiative. |
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(right to left):
the First Lady of Sierra Leone with the First Lady of
Botswana and the First Lady of Ghana |
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The attending First
Ladies, as well as the First Gentleman of Namibia—the First
Spouses
of the country’s female head of state (therefore, more
accurately calling the organization the First Spouse of
Africa!) — presented their projects related to the OAFLAD
campaign. Ahead of the OAFLAD Silver Jubilee to be
celebrated in 2027, they all pledged their commitment to
advancing women’s empowerment, climate action, and the
well-being of children. |
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(left to right):
First Lady of Senegal, First Lady of Sierra Leone,
First Gentleman of Namibia |
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Program of the
OAFLAD September meeting |
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Keynote remarks by H.E. Ambassador Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of
the African Union Commission stressed that grassroots
efforts of First Ladies should tie directly into the African
Union's long-term master plan – Agenda 2063 -- to foster a
unified, stable, and self-reliant continent. Guest speaker
Professor Senait Fisseha, representing the Susan Thompson
Buffett Foundation in her capacity as the Vice President of
Global Programs, focused on the vital role of strategic,
long-term philanthropic investments in reinforcing African
institutions and scaling healthcare access for women and
youth. |
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A video was shown of
the evolution of OAFLAD from its beginnings focused on HIV/AIDs
to the current expansion of its Resilience agenda and
preparing women for leadership |
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First Lady of
Senegal Marie Khone Faye and Dr. Judy Kuriansky |
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In promoting the
“Building Resilience” campaign, First Lady of Senegal Marie
Khone Faye emphasized the need for safety nets for African
women and girls facing the severe impacts of climate change
and security conflicts. Education for girls and the economic
empowerment of women are intertwined, as she says: “An
educated girl becomes an autonomous woman, and an autonomous
woman keeps her daughters in school.” Young African girls
must be prepared for the future with scientific,
technological, and digital skills. |
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(left to right):
Dr. Judy Kuriansky with the First Lady of Ghana
and the First Lady of Kenya |
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First Lady of
Kenya Rachel Ruto |
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“Africa’s progress
is inseparable from the progress of its women and girls,”
said First Lady of Kenya Rachel Ruto. Women and girls must
have a voice in decisions that affect their lives, she
explained. She emphasized the need to build resilient
communities where women and girls have access to finance,
clean energy, and sustainable livelihoods. Policies must
also address the disproportionate impact of climate change
on women and girls. |
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First Lady of
Burundi Angeline Ndayishimiye |
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Reproductive health,
wellness, and family development were the focus of comments
by First Lady of Burundi Angeline Ndayishimiye. Her Bonne
Action UMUGIRANEZA Foundation provides medical support,
healthcare access, and nutritional assistance to vulnerable
women and children. As Chair of the African First Ladies
Peace Mission (AFLPM), she emphasized that women’s voices
must be central to all negotiations to achieve sustainable
peace and economic growth |
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First Lady of
Ghana Mrs. Lordina Dramani Mahama |
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First Lady of Ghana
Mrs. Lordina Dramani Mahama, founder of the Lordina
Foundation, issued a call to action to global partners to
scale up efforts to empower women and vulnerable children,
improve healthcare infrastructure, and boost vocational
training. |
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First Lady of the
Republic of The Gambia Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow |
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Eradicating
obstetric fistula by 2030 is a priority for the First Lady
of the Republic of The Gambia. Her foundation’s work aligns
with that of her peers to overcome gender imbalances and
achieve health equity and youth development across the
continent. Her emphasis on empowering African communities
through cultural heritage resonates with my own commitment
to cultural diplomacy. |
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First Lady of
Botswana Mrs. Kaone Boko |
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A particularly
captivating concept was presented by the First Lady of
Botswana Mrs. Kaone Boko: a comprehensive life-cycle
approach to create a “continuum of opportunity.” This means
investing in the growth of women, girls, and boys so that
opportunities created at one stage of life open
possibilities for the next. This approach, she said, should
also shape the next stage of OAFLAD. |
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First Lady of
Mozambique Gueta Selemane Chapo |
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Putting the economic
independence of African women at the forefront of the
continent’s development initiatives is “a pact with the
future of the continent,” said First Lady of Mozambique
Gueta Selemane Chapo. Given the compounding global
challenges of climate change, armed conflict, and
humanitarian crises, which disproportionately threaten
African women and girls, she called on governments, global
partners, and local communities to protect them, end
violence against children, and ensure their access to
adequate food, shelter, and uninterrupted education. |
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The First Gentleman
of Namibia |
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We must not forget
the boys! "True gender equality leaves no child behind," was
the message of the First Gentleman of Namibia Lieutenant
General (Rtd.) Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, emphasizing the need
to support and empower the boy child alongside the girl
child to achieve true gender equality. To this end,
Namibia's policy journey has transitioned from a department
of "Women Affairs" to the "Ministry of Gender Equality and
Child Welfare" to ensure both boys and girls are treated
equally under child welfare. |
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The former First
Lady of Ghana |
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The
interconnectedness of healthcare with education, economic
empowerment, and gender equity for women and girls was also
emphasized by the former First Lady of Ghana, H.E. Lordina
Mahama.
A panel of high-level speakers addressed advocacy in Africa
and considered the next steps for action. The moderator,
Marie Chantal Niyonkuru, a Rwandan software developer and
advocate for women in STEM, is an example of rural girls
achieving leadership and passing it forward. A graduate from
AkiraChix in Kenya with training with the African Girls Can
Code Initiative, she now teaches local children in Rwanda.
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H.E. Ambassador
Liberata Mulamula, Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the
African Union Commission on Women, Peace and Security (WPS),
a prominent Tanzanian career diplomat and politician,
emphasized the importance of moving from words to action and
making laws that change the daily lives of women and girls. |
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Dr. Judy giving
Ambassador Liberta Mulamula a copy of the Business Traveller
magazine with my article profiling OAFLAD in theMay/June
2026 issue |
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Sonia Ndimbira, who
served as OAFLAD’s first Executive Secretary and as campaign
lead of Africa Reach, working to end HIV/AIDS on the
continent, reflected on the organization’s journey. It has
evolved from a forum of ideas for fighting HIV/AIDS into a
major institutional force driving broader development,
health, and gender equity across Africa. She emphasized the
importance of partnerships and sustained, high-level
advocacy. |
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Dr. Judy
Kuriansky with Monica Geingos, former First Lady of Namibia
and former OAFLAD President |
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Who better than
former OAFLAD President and former First Lady of the
Republic of Namibia Monica Geingos to point out that First
Ladies are more than ceremonial figures with formal titles?
Their advocacy and leadership create meaningful change in
development, empowerment, and resilience—examples of soft
power in action. This resonates with my co-founding of
Women4Diplomacy International, which focuses on cultural
diplomacy. Her One Economy Foundation is a Namibian social
welfare organization focused on empowering vulnerable youth
and women by lifting them out of generational poverty. |
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Dr. Jenelle
Krishnamoorthy, Senior Vice President and Head of Global
Policy and Public Affairs for Merck & Co. |
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Since the private
sector is such an important partner in expanding healthcare
access for women and girls, it was inspiring to hear the
intervention by Dr. Jenelle Krishnamoorthy, Senior Vice
President and Head of Global Policy and Public Affairs for
Merck. She noted the value of collaboration between
private-sector organizations like Merck and the First
Ladies, and her commitment to building sustainable health
systems and advancing comprehensive, long-term educational
and health opportunities throughout Africa. In my view, this
is exceptionally positive as OAFLAD prepares for its
upcoming 25th anniversary.
Having major private-sector global health partners in the
room is pivotal to achieving the healthcare objectives the
First Ladies addressed. As a mental health advocate, I am
impressed with the Merck Foundation’s long-standing “More
Than a Mother” initiative which aligns with mental health
and psychosocial support priorities that I believe are
essential for building resilience and dismantling
deep-seated health stigmas.
During the meeting, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio placed the
"#WeAreEqual" campaign pin on her fellow First spouses. The pin represents
OAFLAD’s continent-wide campaign focused on four essential
pillars: health, education, economic empowerment, and
freedom from gender-based violence. Placing these pins on
the other First Ladies symbolically unites them under their
shared mission to advocate for the rights and resilience of
women and girls on the global stage
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OAFLAD’s current
President, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, places the #WeAreEqual
campaign pin on the First Lady of Ghana |
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OAFLAD’s current
President, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, places the #WeAreEqual
campaign pin on the First Lady of Senegal |
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Dr. Judy,
grateful for a gift from the First Lady of Senegal: a
gold-plated container filled with Senegalese
confectioneries, bearing the message
“Terre de Saveurs, Terre d’hospitalité”—a land of flavors
and hospitality |
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Dr. Judy
Kuriansky with Angel Villalon, Senior Director of Security
for the Manhattan Campus of the Ford Foundation |
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I was particularly
pleased to again witness the collective commitments made at
this meeting which address Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG
5) on gender equality and the empowerment of women and
girls, though it was not mentioned as such. That healthcare
is so deeply integrated into their projects is particularly
appealing through my lens and expertise as a psychologist.
Such an holistic approach to the Sustainable Development
Agenda -- connecting SDG3 (health and wellbeing) , SDG 4 (education), SDG 8 (decent work
and economic growth), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 13
(climate action), and SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong
institutions) – is required in order to achieve true progress
and the resilience headlined in the OAFLAD theme.
The future for OAFLAD, and therefore for women and girls on
the continent, looks bright as we look ahead to the 25th
Silver anniversary celebration next year. A girl’s opportunity to
remain in school, a mother’s access to healthcare, and a
woman’s ability to earn a livelihood are essential for
emotional well-being and hope for the future of Africa on
all levels.
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Bookmark Dr. Judy's Column on Black Tie International
Magazine
https://blacktiemagazine.com/Judy_Kuriansky/Judy_Kuriansky_Main_page.htm
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