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Creation and Evolution

The Network of Local Women Elected in Africa (REFELA) was created in March 2011 in Tangier, under the impulse of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) with the support of the Kingdom of Morocco.

REFELA brings together at the continental African level, women mayors and local elected representatives and constitutes their voice for the promotion of gender responsive local governance.

REFELA is attached to UCLG Africa and has been its Standing Committee on Gender Equality since 2016.

REFELA is represented at the level of the Standing Committee on Gender Equality of UCLG World, which is recognized as the voice of the world’s cities and local governments by the United Nations.

Gender Promotion

« Building a parity, inclusive and gender-sensitive local Africa ».

We seek to build an equitable, inclusive and gender-sensitive Africa, where gender equity prevails and communities mobilize to protect vulnerable children and to ensure territorial inclusiveness in Africa. We support initiatives to empower women and girls.

VisionMissionObjectives

Promoting an Effective Local Africa through the Investment in Human Capital of Local and Regional Governments to anchor Professionalism and Performance. 

To be the engine of change for equity, empowerment of women and girls, protection of vulnerable children and inclusion of all categories in need.

  • Find a home for children without parents and children whose parents need a home.
  • Resettle children within their own home or with extended families.
  • Provide protection for children who are isolated and in need.
  • Assist and guide the children back to ‘normality’.
  • Mobilise African cities and local governments to take concrete actions to reduce the number of children in the streets of Africa, by at least 25% in 2030.

Blog & News

Governance of REFELA

With its own rules of procedure, the governance of REFELA is structured according to the 3 territorial levels, Continental, Regional and National, following the example of UCLG Africa.

The network is organized around:

  • The General Assembly, which is the highest decision-making structure of REFELA and which is held every 3 years, on the sidelines of the UCLG Africa Africities Summit, brings together all women holding an elective office or who have been appointed to similar positions within local authorities.
  • The Network Committee, which is the body directly elected by the General Assembly, comprises forty-five (45) active members, including nine (9) members for each of the five African sub-regions (North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa and Southern Africa)
  • The Bureau, which is elected from among the members of the Commission, is composed of 15 members, three (3) from each of the 5 African sub-regions;
  • The Presidency, which is elected from among the members of the Bureau, is composed of 5 Vice-Presidents, one for each of the 5 sub-regions of Africa, among whom the President of REFELA is elected.

At the country level, REFELA is represented by the National Chapters, which constitute the permanent gender equality commissions of the national associations.

– Current President of REFELA:

– The current President of REFELA is Mrs. Rohey Malick Lowe, Mayor of the Gambian capital, Banjul

Mrs Rohey Malick Lowe

Mrs Rohey Malick Lowe

President
Ms.Fatna EL KHIEL

Ms.Fatna EL KHIEL

Vice President for North Africa
Mme MEYANGA Epse NOAH Marie Angel

Mme MEYANGA Epse NOAH Marie Angel

Vice President of the Central Africa Region
TBC

TBC

Vice-président of the East Africa Region
Ms. Maria Helena Jose Correia LANGA

Ms. Maria Helena Jose Correia LANGA

Vice-président of the Southern Africa Region

Our Campaigns

  • See the brochure of Campaign of African Cities Without Street Children (HERE)
  • See the brochure of Campaign of African Cities for the Economic Empowerment of Women (HERE)
  • See the brochure of African Cities with Zero Tolerance towards Violence Against Women and Girls (HERE)
  • See the brochure of REFELA in Action (HERE)
  • See the Local and Regional Governments’ Charter for Gender Equality in Africa (HERE)
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REFELA Events

We are always busy somewhere.  Find out where you can meet up with us.

Action Plan

Strategic Action Plan REFELA for 2022-2024

Advovacy for REFEELA outreach, implementation of REFEELA country chapters and mobilization of local, national and international partnerships and funding.

Relaunching, accompanying the implementation and monitoring evaluation of the three Campaigns

Promotion, ownership and implementation of the African Charter for Local Authorities on Gender Equality in Africa

REFELA in action o fight climate change and committed to sustainable and forward-looking African cities and communities’ for women and girls

Development of the leadership o elected women and promotion of parity in local politics

Media Gallery

Contact us

For more information, do not hesitate to contact us in Rabat or Ouagadougou on the following addresses or telephone numbers. Alternatively, you can fill in the form below

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Address Rabat

22 Saadiyine Street,

Rabat – MOROCCO

Telephone Rabat

District N
Tel: +212(0)537 260 062

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