Over two days of captivating exchanges, this event, which will take place in French only, invites you to explore the challenges and opportunities linked to diverse leadership in West and Central Africa.
The first day, featuring dynamic panel discussions, will highlight the crucial role of education in the development of female leaders and young girls in crisis situations, while examining the synergies between international NGOs, national NGOs and local authorities in building diverse and powerful leadership.
The second day, in the form of an interactive workshop, will give you the opportunity to put these discussions into practice through practical and collaborative sessions. Join in this collective reflection to shape the future of diverse leadership in Africa.
SIGN UP HERE
Speakers & Moderators
Panellists:
- Professeur Ndioro Ndiaye, Ambassador for the DESLH course 2024-25
- Afiwa Amelessodji, Director of the youth and women’s involvement project for social cohesion in the Savannah region, Plan International
- Cica Mathilda Dadjo, Global Director, gender equality, diversity & inclusion, International Rescue Committee
- Dr Phoebe Downing, Research Fellow, CHL
- Mme Khady Fall Tall, President, West African Women’s Associaton
- Nafissatou Faye, Regional Director, gender equality, diversity & inclusion, International Rescue Committee
- Arame Gueye Sène, Executive Director, Social Change Factory/ Vice President Consortium Jeunesse Sénégal
- Fatoumata Konate, Deputy Director, ICVA
- Ndeye Kebe, Head of Career Management, Médecins Sans Frontières
- Justine Gomis Tossou – Country Director, Oxfam DRC
- Anne-Judith Ndombasi K. Ndamuso, Coordinatrice inter-agences pour la protection contre l’exploitation et les abus sexuels au Soudan, NRC (PSEACap) – UN OCHA Soudan
- Fanta Touré Diop, Director, Action Contre la Faim ROWCA
- Nguissali Turpin, Executive Director, ENDA Santé
Moderators
- Ousmane Seye, Regional Representative ROWCA, CHL
- Romain Lejeune, Development Manager for the Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures en Leadership Humanitaire (DESLH),Action Contre la Faim
- Anne-Judith Ndombasi K. Ndamuso, Coordinatrice inter-agences pour la protection contre l’exploitation et les abus sexuels au Soudan, NRC (PSEACap) – UN OCHA Soudan
Context:
The Diplôme d’Études Supérieures en Leadership Humanitaire (DESLH) is an intensive and stimulating course in humanitarian leadership development. Delivered in French and aimed at humanitarian actors working in West and Central Africa, the course is taught by the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership (CHL) at Deakin University in partnership with Action Contre la Faim.
Research carried out by the CHL, which initiated this conference, highlights the significant impact of the DESLH in promoting humanitarian leadership in West and Central Africa. However, the research revealed a persistent gender imbalance among participants, with a notable under-representation of women. This imbalance reflects a global problem where women are often absent from humanitarian leadership roles, despite their unique ability to champion marginalised populations, such as women and children.
The study explores the barriers to women’s participation, including gender norms, lack of educational opportunities and a perceived ‘lack of confidence’. To address these challenges, solutions such as quotas, positive discrimination, transformative policies and confidence-building training for women are proposed in the study’s recommendations.
DESLH strives to create an inclusive learning environment that enables women to develop their leadership skills. This conference calls for greater collaboration between stakeholders to ensure equitable access to humanitarian leadership for all genders.
The conference brings together a panel of crisis leadership experts to examine in depth the findings of the DESLH study on gender and leadership. These experts will analyse the recommendations emerging from this research, focusing on concrete actions that donors and practitioners can take to promote more inclusive leadership in the humanitarian sector.
The panel will also discuss the implications of these recommendations for the future development of research and teaching, ensuring that efforts to overcome barriers to female leadership are integrated into long-term educational practice and policy. This discussion aims to transform the study’s findings into tangible initiatives, thereby strengthening the collective commitment to gender equality in humanitarian leadership.
