Chikunga Urges Bold Action on Gender Gaps to Build a Resilient Economy

Chikunga urged that women be repositioned at the center of intra-African trade, noting that the traditional, male-dominated models of commerce have failed to uplift the majority of Africans.

At the official launch event held at the Sandton Convention Centre, Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga delivered a powerful call to action, urging South Africa—and the broader African continent—to confront and dismantle the structural barriers that exclude women from full economic participation.

Her address, given on Friday, centered on the idea that true economic resilience cannot be achieved while gender-based inequalities in wealth, income, and access to opportunity continue to persist.

Gender Inequality Undermines Economic Stability

“A resilient economy is one that should be able to withstand, adapt to, and recover from various shocks and disruptions while maintaining its ability to grow. And certainly, no economy can be truly resilient for all when half of its population is economically marginalised,” Chikunga stated emphatically.

She emphasised that women’s financial inclusion must go beyond mere access to basic banking services. Instead, it should constitute a fundamental shift in economic power, challenging patriarchal norms, discriminatory credit practices, and legal systems that restrict women’s economic autonomy.

“This struggle includes challenging discriminatory lending practices, advocating for property rights reforms that allow women to use assets as collateral, and confronting cultural norms that position men as the primary financial decision-makers,” she added.

Harnessing Africa’s Population Growth and Untapped Market

Turning to Africa’s macroeconomic outlook, Chikunga described the continent as a future global market hub. She highlighted Africa’s explosive population growth—rising from 283 million in 1960 to over 1.5 billion in 2024, with a projected increase to 2.5 billion by 2050.

“This population represents a largely untapped market that must be connected through technology, a market that must be fed from our arable land, a market that must travel, a market that must be entertained and a market that must be well dressed. In short, the market is at our doorstep. Let us innovate around it,” she said.

She argued that Africa’s demographic and economic potential could not be realised if women remain on the sidelines, especially in key areas such as trade, finance, and digital transformation.

Women at the Core of Africa’s Trade and Growth

Chikunga urged that women be repositioned at the center of intra-African trade, noting that the traditional, male-dominated models of commerce have failed to uplift the majority of Africans.

“Research evidence has consistently shown that economies with higher levels of women’s participation in trade enjoy greater resilience, innovation and sustainable growth patterns,” she explained. “We also know that women-led businesses tend to prioritise societal well-being over pure profit maximisation.”

Despite their contributions, women entrepreneurs face a litany of challenges: limited access to digital tools, discriminatory customs and border processes, complex administrative regulations, and lack of capital.

Comprehensive Financial Architecture Reform Needed

To break down these barriers, Chikunga called for the implementation of a Comprehensive Financial Architecture Reform that creates gender-responsive financial systems. These systems must recognise and accommodate the unique economic circumstances of women—many of whom operate in the informal sector.

Key recommendations from the Minister included:

• Women-focused investment funds that offer patient capital with flexible repayment terms;

• Collateral-free lending programmes, acknowledging that many women lack property ownership;

• Alternative credit scoring mechanisms that assess informal economic activity;

• Blended finance models that combine public and private capital to reduce risk and encourage investment in women-led businesses.

“Financial systems must evolve to meet women where they are—not exclude them because they don’t fit outdated models,” she said.

Empowerment Requires Women’s Collective Action

Deputy Minister Mmapaseka Steve Letsike reinforced the message of empowerment, urging women not to see themselves as passive recipients of aid but as active agents of economic transformation.

“Women are not bystanders in the economy. We are contributors. It is time for women to lead a march for economic emancipation, from our townships to our rural areas,” she declared.

Letsike challenged women to claim their space in every sector, especially in financial technology, green energy, digital entrepreneurship, and manufacturing.

“Do not limit yourselves to one sector. It is your time, take the economy in your hands. When women work together and support each other, we will win,” she said, encouraging solidarity and collaboration among women entrepreneurs and professionals.

A Call for Structural Change, Not Symbolism

The message from the Sandton Convention Centre was clear: building an inclusive, shock-resistant, and high-performing economy demands intentional, system-wide change that elevates women from the margins to the centre of economic life.

The moment calls for bold leadership from policymakers, financial institutions, and private sector players. But just as importantly, it requires a grassroots movement of women themselves, stepping forward to seize the reins of economic power and rewrite the narrative of growth and opportunity in Africa.