The African Union International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education, in collaboration with UN Women, officially opened a Continental Youth Capacity Building Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, from November 25th to 28th, 2025.

The workshop, themed “Empowering Girls in STEAM: Innovating for Inclusive and Gender-Responsive Education in Africa,” gathers young leaders and professionals from 24 AU Member States.

The main objective is to equip young women with crucial digital and financial literacy skills and strengthen advocacy for girls' inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.

Despite efforts, girls remain critically underrepresented in STEAM fields across Africa.

Mrs. Simone Yankey, Coordinator of the AU CIEFFA, noted that women account for only 35 percent of STEM graduates, a figure that has stagnated over the past decade.

She stressed that African girls possess the necessary talent, but are often hindered by a lack of equitable access to technology, inspiring female role models, and a supportive educational environment.

The workshop aims to directly address this by celebrating the achievements of women role models and showcasing grassroots initiatives.