28 August 2026
African Women in Media (AWiM), a pan-African organisation advancing women’s leadership and representation in media, marks its 10th anniversary. We celebrate a decade of building networks, strengthening media capacity, and creating platforms that have amplified women’s voices across Africa and beyond.
What began in 2016 as a closed Facebook group created to connect women working in media has evolved into a continental movement of more than 20,000 members, bringing together journalists, editors, media leaders, researchers, academics, policymakers, and advocates committed to building a more inclusive media landscape. Over the past decade, AWiM has worked to address longstanding challenges affecting women in media, including unequal access to leadership opportunities, limited visibility of women as experts and sources, gaps in professional development, and the need for stronger gender-responsive approaches to journalism.
Through its programmes, research, advocacy and partnerships, AWiM has supported media professionals across Africa while contributing to wider conversations on representation, leadership, media sustainability and the future of journalism. Over the past decade, AWiM’s work has translated into measurable impact across training, research, advocacy and industry collaboration. Since its establishment, AWiM has:
1. Built a network of more than 20,000 members across Africa.
2. Partnered with 48 organisations to advance its mission.
3. Trained more than 1,000 journalists and media professionals through capacity building initiatives and its training platform, AWiMLearning.
4. Convened 9 annual conferences across seven African countries, creating spaces for journalists, media leaders and stakeholders to exchange ideas and shape conversations around the future of media.
5. Published 12 research reports examining issues affecting women, media and journalism.
6. Developed SourceHer, a platform featuring 225 women experts, helping journalists access diverse voices and challenge the underrepresentation of women in media coverage.
7. Launched the Kigali Declaration, a commitment to eliminating violence against women and girls in and through the media by 2034, which has secured 130 signatories committed to advancing gender equality within media ecosystems.
8. Produced 63 episodes of Her Media Diary, a podcast platform exploring the experiences, challenges and achievements of women shaping the media and other sectors across Africa.
9. Delivered 12 initiatives supporting leadership, storytelling, innovation and professional development.
10. Supported the publication of hundreds of gender-focused stories through collaborations with funding partners, resulting in 7 award-winning stories and award nominations.
Over the past decade, AWiM’s programmes have supported thousands of women journalists and media professionals across Africa.
“Through the AWiM TRAKD programme, my approach to storytelling has changed. I now intentionally seek out women sources and women’s voices, and I encourage colleagues and interns I work with to do the same. The training has also strengthened my understanding of sensitive and appropriate language when reporting on gender-based violence. I now use these principles in my work and advocate for better GBV reporting practices among my peers.” – AWiM TRAKD Participant, Botswana.
“AWiM’s programmes have contributed significantly to advancing women’s participation and leadership within Crown Television. Today, our management structure is fully genderbalanced, with women holding key leadership positions across the organisation. As Managing Director, I lead alongside women serving as Human Resources Manager and Programming Manager, while we continue to invest in the next generation of women leaders by mentoring emerging journalists into editorial leadership roles.” – Managing Director, Crown Television, Zambia.
These stories reflect the lasting impact of AWiM’s work over the past decade.
Building a stronger future for African media
AWiM’s growth reflects the changing role of women within Africa’s media ecosystem. Over the past decade, women journalists and media professionals have increasingly taken on leadership roles, launched innovative media platforms and contributed to critical conversations on democracy, governance, development and social change.
Reflecting on AWiM’s 10-year journey, Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola, Co-Founder and CEO of African Women in Media (AWiM), said “Ten years ago, Dele and I took the bold step to set up a Facebook group to create a space for women like us to share our lived experiences in navigating the media and gender world. Our entry point was simple, women like us needed a space to connect, to share and to grow. What an incredible journey the last 10 years have been. Thousands have been impacted through our programmes, and we have been incredibly fortunate to have partners whose support and commitment have been consistent”
Olubamidele Ogunleye, Co-founder and COO of AWiM, added, “The impact of AWiM over the past ten years has only been possible because of the dedication of our community, the trust of our partners and the resilience of the women we serve. As we enter our next decade, we look forward to deepening this impact and expanding opportunities for even more women across Africa’s media landscape.”
Despite this progress, significant challenges remain. The media industry continues to experience rapid transformation driven by artificial intelligence, digital disruption, changing business models and evolving audience behaviours. At the same time, questions around representation, journalist safety, media freedom and equitable access to opportunities remain central to the future of journalism.
AWiM continues to work at the intersection of these challenges, supporting media professionals with knowledge, networks and platforms that enable them to lead and influence change.
Celebrating 10 years and looking ahead
The anniversary will be marked alongside AWiM26, the organisation’s flagship conference taking place on 3-4 December 2026 in Windhoek, Namibia, under the theme: “Powering Women’s Leadership: Media, Economics and Governance.”
The conference will bring together journalists, editors, media executives, policymakers, researchers, development partners and advocates from across Africa and beyond to examine how leadership, innovation and collaboration can strengthen the continent’s media future.
As AWiM enters its second decade, it remains committed to strengthening media ecosystems across Africa and the Global South by investing in women’s leadership, advancing ethical and inclusive journalism, supporting innovation, and creating opportunities for the next generation of media professionals who will shape Africa’s stories.
About African Women in Media (AWiM)
African Women in Media (AWiM) is a pan-African organisation advancing women’s leadership and representation in media through research, training, advocacy and community building. Since its establishment, AWiM has supported women journalists and media professionals across Africa and beyond by strengthening media capacity, fostering networks and creating platforms that amplify women’s voices and promote gender equality in and through the media.
