Commonwealth Women’s Network-CWN:  Delegates Mobilize for Economic Empowerment at Sierra Leone Conference

Thousands of delegates from 56 Commonwealth countries and non-member countries have intensified preparations ahead of the Commonwealth Women’s Network, CWN 2024 conference in Sierra Leone.

The conference is organized by CWN Africa Region, in partnership with Commonwealth Business Women Network-CBWN and the government of Sierra Leone.

The summit that has been scheduled from May 20 to 24, 2024 under the theme, “Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology for Economic Empowerment,” shall be hosted by Women Social Entrepreneurs and Educational Development, WSEED,

Speaking to The Ultimate, HRM Prince Tamwo Kuate Edgard Rostand, Director General of Commonwealth Women’s Network, CWN Africa, said the overall goal of the conference is to advance sustainable women and youth’s economic empowerment in line with the SDGs and the Agenda 2063.

He added that the event will bring together women and gender focused civil society organizations from Commonwealth countries and seeks to answer questions on women’s current and future inclusion, innovation, and leadership towards a sustainable economy and accessing digitalizing jobs in Commonwealth states.

According to the Director General, they are expecting  over 1000 participants drawn from governments, financiers, policy practitioners, academia, civil society, private sector, continental and global networks.

Tamwo who is also African Board of Governors President added that the event will be held alongside the extraordinary and Ordinary General Assembly of Commonwealth Women’s Network, Africa and preparations of the Commonwealth Head of Governors Meeting, CHOGM, SAMOA 2024.

Meanwhile SIA J. Morsay Mansour, Continental Secretary General, CWN Africa said, the summit format will include plenary, hubs, break-away sessions, artist display, youth displays, comedy, GBV Football tournament, fashion showcase and tour.

She said several keynote speakers will be invited to set the tone for the deliberations throughout the summit.

In addition, she stated that at the end of the conference, they will produce a policy paper, which will also highlight key facts and figures on women entrepreneurs with info graphics on the sectors they are engaged in Sierra Leone and the Commonwealth States.

Plenary Sessions

According to the conference programme, the summit shall have ten plenary sessions with renowned speakers, which include; Panel One: Women and Impact on Innovation and Sustainability.

Panel Two: Women and Leadership in the African Green Economy (VIILAGE), GBV and Humanitarian solutions.

Panel Three: Strengthening Institutional and Policy Frameworks, Funding, and Networks to Advance Women Entrepreneurs.

Panel Four: Accredited Organizations (AOs) related key roles, in Gender transition into the Digital Economy and Growth for Women/Girl and Men across Commonwealth Member States and beyond.

Panel Five: Pan African and Global Partnerships innovating Implementable and Sustainable Solutions.

Panel Six: Women Entrepreneurs Building Business to Tackle Africa’s Commodity Trap.

Panel Seven: Leveraging the Digital Economy to Open Pathways to Economic Growth for Africa Women and Youth Entrepreneurs.

Panel Eight: Agriculture, Africa cultural diversity role in promoting business on the continent.

Panel Nine: The role of AfCFTA in Women in Business across Africa.

Panel Ten: Climate Change, Health, and Cost of living prevention to invigorate Africa.

Guest Speakers

Some of the key speakers for the conference shall include;  HRM Dr. B. J, Langa, Zwide Kingdom, South Africa, Patience Ozokwor, Actress, Nigeria, Arif Zaman, Executive Director, Commonwealth Business Women Network, CBWN, United Kingdom, HRH Prince Tamwo, Giileh Kebbie Scholz, Brand/Goodwill Ambassador, Artist, Actor and Humanitarian, USA/Sierra Leone, amongst others.

By Olive Ejang