For decades, women around the world have been perceived as the weaker of the two sexes. As a result, they have been subjected to various forms of discrimination. While this situation has improved somewhat over time in most parts of the world, with some women stepping up to assume as much responsibility as their male counterparts in various development sectors, there is still a significant percentage, particularly in developing countries.

In Africa, countries like Liberia and Rwanda have made significant progress in this regard by electing the first female head of state and recording the highest proportion of female parliamentary representation (51 women out of 80 parliamentarians) respectively. Despite these milestones in the history of the African continent, much remains to be done as women continue to be repressed and/or relegated to the background.

As the future leaders of every nation, young people play a major role in a country's development. Research has shown that youth development and leadership programs go a long way in positively influencing youth growth by building on sound youth development principles while emphasizing aspects that support youth leadership. It is high time that young people in Africa are encouraged and given the level of attention they need so that they feel a sense of urgency to be an integral part of it.

Through our specially designed projects and with the support of our national and international partners, the Global Outreach Center for African Development (GOCADEV) aims to highlight the concerns of youth and women in Africa while exploring their potential to contribute significantly to the growth and development of their respective countries.