Advance Women’s Political Voice

#VoteHerIn is an African Female Voices initiative focused on strengthening young African women’s participation in public governance and leadership. At the heart of the initiative is the VoteHerIn Youth Leadership Toolkit, created to turn information about governance and leadership into practical knowledge that emerging women leaders can use. By bringing together governance education, evidence-based advocacy, public speaking, policy engagement, mentorship and peer networks, #VoteHerIn aims to help young women better understand the systems that shape public life and develop the confidence and skills to participate in them.

An important principle sits at the centre of this work: #VoteHerIn is non-partisan and is not affiliated with any political party, candidate or political organisation. African Female Voices does not tell women who to vote for, which political party to support or what political position to hold. Instead, we focus on political participation and leadership development, creating opportunities for young women to understand governance, ask informed questions, consider evidence, form their own perspectives and speak for themselves.

For many young women, an interest in public leadership does not automatically come with a clear pathway into it. #VoteHerIn seeks to help bridge that distance through a journey of Learn → Understand → Speak → Connect → Lead. Learning begins with developing a clearer understanding of governance, institutions and leadership. Understanding means being able to engage with data and evidence about representation and public issues. Speaking involves building confidence in communication, advocacy and policy engagement, while connecting recognises that mentors, peers and professional networks can play an important role in opening opportunities for learning and participation. Leadership is where these elements come together, enabling women to apply their knowledge, skills and networks within their communities and public life.

The VoteHerIn Youth Leadership Toolkit supports this journey with governance information, data and evidence for advocacy, African case studies and role-model profiles, practical templates, checklists, action plans, mentorship pathways, webinars and learning opportunities. The initiative recognises that there is no single definition of public leadership and no single route towards it. Young women may choose to contribute through political office, public service, policy, government, advocacy, research, civil society or community leadership. The purpose is not to prescribe a destination, but to help make the different pathways more understandable and accessible.

The wider ambition of #VoteHerIn is to help create an environment in which more young African women can imagine themselves participating in the decisions that shape their communities and countries. This work connects directly with SDG 5 on Gender Equality, particularly the ambition to strengthen women's participation and opportunities for leadership in political, economic and public decision-making.

African Female Voices also recognises that these pathways cannot be built by one organisation alone. We welcome collaboration with organisations and individuals that can contribute governance expertise, research and data, mentorship, leadership knowledge, educational resources, networks and opportunities for emerging women leaders. Through these partnerships, #VoteHerIn can connect knowledge with practical experience and help make routes into public and political life more visible.

Ultimately, advancing women's political voice is not about telling women what to think. It is about ensuring that more women have the knowledge, tools, confidence and opportunities to think critically, participate meaningfully and lead on their own terms.

Know the system. Find your voice. Take your place.