Call for applications
The call for applications is launched on Monday, March 20, 2023. The deadline for applications is 21 April 2023 at midnight (French time). All young African women who contribute to building a dynamic, innovative and inclusive Africa are invited to apply.
The call for applications is now closed.
This year, 10 leaders will benefit from a tailor-made training program that will focus on women’s leadership and the skills of tomorrow. They will be supported by renowned mentors and will have the opportunity to live an immersive experience through a business trip in a world economic capital city. This trip will allow them to access a high-level professional network, be trained, meet experts from their sectors and benefit from high visibility at international events.
Selection criteria
The main selection criteria:
- Women between 25 and 40 years old (flexibility possible depending on experience level)
- Born in an African country or having parents born in an African country
- Involvement in the development of the continent and social commitment
- Leadership skills (humility, empathy and resilience)
- Special consideration will be given to candidates with “self-made” backgrounds
- Vision of what Africa should be in the future.
- Willingness to reconcile business conduct, social impact and public/private dialogue.
- Ability to take on responsibilities at the highest level.
- Strong convincing skills combined with a taste for teamwork.
- Francophone, Anglophone, ideally bilingual.
The selection process will be conducted in two phases:
- Selection based on file: 12 pre-finalists
- Interview with the jury: 10 selected leaders
Program
The WIA Young Leaders program will be an opportunity to:
- Connect with high-level personalities and mentors such as CEOs, ministers, journalists, business or public figures, and serial entrepreneurs
- Be trained on boards, media training, career coaching and other customized training
- Benefit from international media visibility
This initiative is part of the fight for equal opportunities and allows the training of 10 young African women leaders by accompanying them in a qualitative way in their professional careers and in their social ascension, so that they can fully exploit their potential.
WIA Young Leaders 2023 laureates
Identified from among 6,000 applications and selected after one-on-one interviews with a jury of 12 international personalities, the 10 winners of the third promotion of WIA Young Leaders are:
Tania BISHOLA TSHITENGE
Professor, Research scientist and Lecturer – Bayer AG and University of Kinshasa
Congo
Anita DYWABA
Innovation Analyst – United Nations Foundation Next Generation Fellow on Gender Equality
South Africa
Herinina FANEVAMAMPIANDRA
President – Fianaralab association, renewable energies engineer
Madagascar
WIA Young Leaders alumnae
Cynthia Aissy
Meganne Boho
Néné Maïga
Marvel Gusona Nyama
Dr. Nassifatou Koko Tittikpina
Adélaïde Bih
Oluwakemi Adetu
Lydia Hlongwane
Vanessa Metou
Lydia Merrouche
Tamarah Moutotekema Boussamba
Grace Mzumara
Folake Oni
Tamarah MOUTOTEKEMA-BOUSSAMBA
”The program allowed me to develop partnerships, thanks to the WIA Young Leaders I was able for example to develop a partnership with the Embassy of France in Gabon and organize the One Forest Youth Forum, with a speech during the High Level Segment in the presence of French and African Heads of State.”Folake ONI
“The networking, the community and network of other amazing women doing fantastic work on the continent, the publicity through the various WIA platforms, the KPMG academy and the intended mentorship programme have all been very beneficial for my professional growth.”Lydia HLONGWANE
“The young leaders programme was very educational for me and had led me into taking big decisions. I am working on a partnership with the France embassy in South Africa on the anti-teenage pregnancy project and again the KPMG course has really assisted a lot. Some of the Awards I am now nominated for emanate from the WIA programme and got a little attention from media on LinkedIn.”
In partnership with
