The capital city of Sierra Leone is set to host the continent’s most dynamic political feminist gathering as the 4th Nalafem Summit kicks off from July 1 to 2, 2025, under the theme “From Representation to Power: Women Leading in Crisis & Peace.”
The high-profile summit will be hosted by the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, and convened by the Nalafem Collective, bringing together 100 influential leaders from across Africa including ministers, parliamentarians, young leaders, activists, and survivors to move beyond symbolic representation and push for transformative women’s leadership in politics, peace, and crisis response.
Notable speakers include UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed (via video), former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Africa’s youngest minister, Hon. Emma Theofelus of Namibia.
The summit will provide a platform for bold dialogue, intergenerational exchange, and tangible commitments to accelerate gender equity in political decision-making.
Over the two-day gathering, participants will sign the Nalafem Freetown Declaration and secure more than 50 institutional pledges aimed at promoting gender equality in executive leadership.
These pledges will include time-bound targets, budget allocations, and policy commitments to advance women’s participation in governance and peacebuilding efforts across the continent.“Freetown is proud to host this bold Nalafem gathering,” said Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, who also serves as Patron of the Summit. “This is not just about women being seen it’s about women shaping policy, leading peace, and reimagining the very nature of power.”The summit will culminate in the prestigious Nalafem Awards Ceremony & Gala Dinner, headlined by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
The event will honor exceptional women driving change in peacebuilding, governance, and intergenerational feminist solidarity.The Nalafem Summit builds on a legacy of impactful convenings: Abuja (2021) launched Nalafem’s five-year strategy and the Abuja Declaration; Nairobi (2022) introduced the I AM NALA Fellowship for women under 40 in politics; and Windhoek (2024) hosted by now President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah inaugurated the Nalafem100, a network of continental women political thought leaders.
“This is not another conversation about women,” said Aya Chebbi, Founder and President of Nalafem. “This is a power-building platform. We’re not here to inspire we’re here to influence policy, shape peace processes, and mobilize collective feminist leadership to govern, rebuild, and transform the continent.”
The summit will be livestreamed and open to the public, with media invited to register for in-person coverage.
