Several African countries have demonstrated significant recent progress in expanding women’s participation in higher education, although the scale and nature of this progress differ across countries and academic fields.
Where Progress Is Real in Africa
Ghana has approached gender parity in tertiary enrolment, recording a Gender Parity Index (GPI) of 1.02 in 2024, while Senegal reported a GPI of 1.11. Botswana and Seychelles have achieved particularly high levels of female participation, with GPIs of 1.39 and 1.51, respectively.
South Africa recorded a tertiary GPI of 1.42 in 2023 and has also been recognized for making substantial progress in narrowing gender disparities in education.
Rwanda has strengthened gender-responsive policies in higher education by requiring institutions to address gender inequalities and providing extensive government financial assistance to students. Similarly, Tanzania’s Education Plan for 2025/26–2029/30 explicitly emphasizes reducing barriers to higher education for women and other disadvantaged groups.
Kenya has also made progress in reducing gender disparities in university participation while expanding gender desks and institutional support mechanisms within higher education institutions. Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have likewise demonstrated rapid progress in narrowing gender gaps in education, thereby strengthening the pathway for women to enter and participate in tertiary education. Collectively, these countries, particularly Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, offer valuable examples for examining policies and practices that can promote women’s participation in higher education across Africa.
The Gaps That Enrolment Numbers Hide
Nevertheless, higher female enrolment alone does not necessarily signify full gender equality, as significant disparities may continue to exist in student retention and completion, participation in STEM disciplines, academic leadership, campus safety, and exposure to gender-based violence.
In 2025, advancing gender equality in Africa requires stronger implementation of laws and policies, increased investment in girls’ and women’s education, economic empowerment, and greater participation in leadership and decision-making.
Key priorities include ending gender-based violence and harmful practices, closing the digital gender divide, introducing gender-responsive budgeting, improving women’s access to land, property, finance, healthcare, and reproductive services, and strengthening gender-disaggregated data and accountability.
Greater support for childcare and the reduction of unpaid care work, together with targeted investment in adolescent girls’ education, health, skills, and economic opportunities, can further promote women’s empowerment and long-term gender equality across the continent.
Gender equality in higher education institutions across Africa remains a key concern, particularly regarding student enrolment, retention, graduation rates, staff representation, and the integration of gender-sensitive perspectives into curricula.
Although considerable progress has been made toward achieving gender parity at the primary and secondary education levels, substantial disparities persist in tertiary education, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
Women continue to experience barriers to equal access, participation, academic achievement, and personal safety, with gender-based violence (GBV) remaining a particularly serious challenge within higher education institutions (UN Women, 2025).
Policies and Practices That Are Moving the Needle
Across Africa, governments, the African Union, development partners, universities, and civil-society organizations are implementing a broad range of policies and practices to expand girls’ and women’s access to education, improve retention and completion, and facilitate their transition to higher education, employment, and entrepreneurship.
These initiatives include making education more accessible and affordable through the abolition or reduction of school fees, scholarships, stipends, and conditional cash transfers, particularly for girls from economically disadvantaged households.
Significant attention is also being given to gender-responsive educational infrastructure, including safe classrooms, adequate sanitation facilities, access to clean water, electricity, lighting, and other essential services that promote supportive learning environments.
Measures to prevent child marriage, early pregnancy, gender-based violence, and other harmful practices are increasingly incorporated into education programs to minimize barriers to girls’ participation and continuation in schooling.
The recruitment, retention, and professional advancement of female teachers, school leaders, mentors, and role models are further helping to create inclusive and supportive educational environments. In addition, gender-responsive curriculum reforms seek to promote gender equality, women’s rights, leadership, life skills, and socioeconomic empowerment while challenging gender stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes.
STEM, Digital Skills, and Second-Chance Pathways
Across East and Southern Africa, the digital transformation is creating new opportunities for women and girls, while efforts to reduce the gender digital divide continue to expand.
Twenty countries have reported progress through national digitalization strategies and targeted programs to improve women’s and girls’ access to digital technologies.
Governments, civil society organizations, and private-sector partners are working together to strengthen digital literacy, advance digital rights, and promote safer and more inclusive online environments, particularly for women and young people. (UN Women, 2025).
There is also increasing emphasis on girls’ participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), information and communication technology (ICT), digital education, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to strengthen their future employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Digital learning platforms, online educational resources, digital literacy initiatives, and improved ICT infrastructure can help overcome geographical and infrastructural barriers, while second-chance education, adult learning, and skills-development programs provide opportunities for girls and women who have interrupted their education to return to learning and acquire new qualifications.
School feeding and nutrition programs also help reduce economic barriers and improve attendance, particularly among vulnerable learners.
Safe Schools, Community Support, and Learning in Crisis
Furthermore, safe-school initiatives, measures to prevent sexual harassment and gender-based violence, confidential reporting mechanisms, and stronger safeguarding systems are being promoted to ensure that girls can study in secure and supportive environments.
Community and parental engagement involving families, teachers, traditional and religious leaders, and civil-society organizations plays an important role in challenging harmful gender norms and encouraging sustained support for girls’ education.
At the policy level, continental and national frameworks, including the Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2026–2035 (CESA 26–35), are strengthening gender-responsive education strategies, monitoring mechanisms, and initiatives to advance gender equity and parity.
In conflict- and crisis-affected settings, governments, humanitarian agencies, and development organizations are also employing temporary learning spaces, school reconstruction initiatives, targeted financial assistance, and specialized educational programs to help displaced and vulnerable girls continue their education despite challenging circumstances.
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