As we commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024, the United Nations’ theme, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”, harmonises seamlessly with the overarching message of “Inspire Inclusion”. This alignment highlights the symbiotic relationship between investing in women and fostering inclusive societies. By recognising and valuing the contributions of women, we not only accelerate progress but also cultivate environments where diversity thrives and opportunities abound.
“Inspire Inclusion” underscores the importance of integrating women into all facets of society, including governance processes. By investing in women’s education, economic empowerment, and leadership development, we lay the groundwork for sustainable progress and prosperity. Moreover, prioritising gender equality in governance enhances decision-making processes, leading to more equitable outcomes and a more resilient society. As we celebrate International Women’s Day under these dual themes, let us commit to investing in women and harnessing their potential to drive positive change on a global scale.
The 2024 International Women’s Day campaign themes, “Inspire Inclusion,” and “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” resonate deeply with the mission of Good Governance Africa (GGA), particularly in its commitment to fostering inclusive governance processes. At GGA, we firmly believe that inclusive governance is essential for building resilient, equitable, and prosperous societies.
“Inspire Inclusion” encapsulates the core principles of our work, emphasising the importance of ensuring that women are actively involved in decision-making processes at all levels of governance. By inspiring others to understand and appreciate the value of women’s inclusion in governance, we can create more effective and responsive institutions that represent the needs and interests of all citizens.
We recognise that when women are included in governance processes, their perspectives, experiences, and priorities bring unique insights that enrich policy formulation and implementation. Inclusive governance not only leads to better outcomes but also fosters greater legitimacy and trust in government institutions.
Through our research, advocacy, and capacity-building efforts, GGA seeks to promote gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment in governance. We work to strengthen the participation of women in political leadership, increase their representation in decision-making bodies, and ensure that their voices are heard and valued in the policymaking process.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day with the theme of “Inspire Inclusion,” GGA reaffirms its commitment to advancing gender equality and promoting inclusive governance practices. Together, let us inspire inclusion in governance processes and work towards building a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for all.
Chrissy Dube is an executive at Good Governance Africa (GGA) and a member of the Business Ethics Network (BEN) — Africa Networking Council. An advanced project manager with deep implementation, monitoring and evaluation expertise, she also specialises in strengthening stakeholder relations to drive business development. She uses her skills and expertise to provide innovative solutions and recommendations for sustainable development across the public and private sectors.
Chrissy combines rigorous data-led analysis with strategic insight to design practical, evidence-based solutions and policy recommendations that enable informed decision-making. Her core strengths include advocacy, business risk management, stakeholder collaboration and strategic alignment as an implementing partner — consistently enabling organisations to translate strategy into measurable results.
She holds an MA (Commerce) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and has completed professional qualifications in Data Analysis, Advanced Project Management and Advanced Risk Management at the University of Cape Town. She is also certified as an Ethics Officer for the private and public sectors through Stellenbosch University.
