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The First Lady of Ghana, Lordina Mahama, joined other African First Ladies for a high-level side event at the ongoing 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80) in New York yesterday.
The high-level event organised by the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) at the Ford Foundation Centre for Social Justice on the sidelines of the UNGA 80 reinforces OAFLAD’s strategic framework and its commitment to ensuring that women and girls remain at the heart of Africa’s climate resilience and peacebuilding agenda.
The critical gathering on the theme: “Building Resilience for Women and Girls in the Face of Climate Change and Conflict,” culminated in a unified campaign commitment from all participating First Ladies to address these pressing global challenges.
The discussions underscored the disproportionate impact of environmental degradation and armed conflicts on vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls, who often bear the brunt of displacement, resource scarcity, and increased violence.
A central outcome of the event was the collective commitment made by all First Ladies to a campaign pledge, which signifies a concerted effort to advocate for policies, mobilise resources, and implement programmes to target the unique challenges faced by women and girls in climate and conflict-affected regions.
The First Lady’s commitment statement at the official launch of OAFLAD’s new continent-wide campaign, #BuildingResilience, centred on the theme of "Strength", and she pledged to support this campaign that centres on African solutions and strength, which is rooted in its women and girls.
"In the face of climate and conflict challenges, their courage sustains families and communities. By investing in their strength, we build resilience for generations to come.", Mrs Mahama noted.
The Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), which Ghana’s First Lady had chaired twice, is now under the leadership of its current President, Dr Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone.
Following the success of the #WeAreEqual campaign, this new initiative responds to the escalating dual crises of climate change and conflict, which disproportionately affect women and girls across Africa.
The campaign aims to protect and empower women and girls in climate- and conflict-affected regions by promoting access to essential services, including health and education, preventing gender-based violence, and advancing peace and climate resilience.
“Resilience is not a choice; it is a lifeline.
Women and girls are not just surviving the crises of climate and conflict; they are leading the charge for change.
It is time to stand with them, invest in their protection, elevate their leadership, and secure their future,” said Dr Bio.
The side event also attracted Heads of State, senior United Nations and African Union officials, Civil Society, Donors and Policy Makers.
Founded in 2002, as the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA), the institution evolved into the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) and is able to offer continent-wide leadership in advocacy in the areas of HIV and a broad range of maternal and child health interventions.
As an advocacy organisation, the First Ladies of Africa seeks to leverage their unique position to advocate for policies that make health services accessible and promote laws that boost women and youth empowerment.
Reinforce favourable policies and programmes through advocacy, resource mobilisation, and development of partnerships at all levels and engage in community-level activities to sensitise the community and raise awareness of health risks and policies.
Discuss the climate–conflict–gender nexus and its impact on women and girls. Advocate for the implementation of gender-responsive policies in conflict- and climate-affected regions.
