Pan-African Parliament’s Women’s Caucus Forced to Postpone Annual Conference Amid Budget Shortfalls
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Women’s Caucus has announced the postponement of its Annual Women’s Conference, originally scheduled for today, November 10. The deferral comes as a result of inadequate budgetary provisions, a reality that has also impacted the caucus’s participation in key global forums, such as the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) in New York, where financial constraints barred attendance in 2024.
During an emergency meeting held on Friday to address the delay, Ms. Lindiwe Khumalo, Clerk of the Pan-African Parliament, gave an in-depth response on the current budget challenges facing PAP and its gender initiatives. She acknowledged the substantial reduction in funding for the Parliament, explaining that this year’s budgetary support was largely supplemented only at the close of the financial cycle. Looking ahead, she added, “For 2025, the budget allocation to the Pan-African Parliament remains suboptimal, primarily due to economic disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and other adverse economic factors affecting African nations.”
Ms. Khumalo emphasized that, while PAP continues to rely on primary funding from the African Union in Addis Ababa, it is increasingly evident that such resources alone are insufficient. “African partners, including the African Development Bank, have a strong focus on women’s empowerment and equality, and represent critical potential sources for bolstering our initiatives,” she said, underscoring the need to mobilize funds beyond traditional channels.
The Clerk outlined several potential funding streams to support the Women’s Caucus. She emphasized the importance of engaging African partnerships, such as the African Development Bank and other regional bodies, to secure project-based funding for gender initiatives. Additionally, she highlighted the value of collaborating with African Union bodies, including the AU’s Special Envoy on Women, Peace, and Security, to align the Women’s Caucus’s work with broader AU priorities and leverage resources for gender equality in conflict regions. Ms. Khumalo also pointed to non-African and philanthropic funding sources, such as GIZ (Germany), the United Nations, and the European Union, which have earmarked funds for women’s rights initiatives. She further suggested seeking support from high-net-worth African philanthropists, mentioning Ayanda Njombe as a notable example of an ally who could help strengthen the Women’s Caucus.
As a roadmap for securing sustained support, Ms. Khumalo encouraged caucus members to leverage their personal and professional networks to advocate for funding. She also highlighted an upcoming PAP planning session, scheduled for November 16-17, which will focus on defining the Women’s Caucus priorities for 2025. “Once we have an established list of activities, the Office of the Parliament will initiate resource mobilization efforts,” she stated. “But I would also recommend that all caucus members, in their various capacities, work towards rallying support for our shared priorities.”
