Although Africa is richly diversified and has recorded improvements in various sectors, the representation of women and youth in political leadership remains a concern. In 2024, women's representation in African parliaments increased marginally from 25% in 2021 to 26% in 2024. If this trend continues, gender parity will be realised as far ahead as 2100.
The 2024 national and provincial elections in South Africa resulted in a coalition government of national unity when the African National Congress won just 40% of the vote. Since this new political shift, more women and youth must be involved.
Another pressing question is the involvement of youth in politics. While Africa's median age is around 19, over 60% of its population is below 25. However, this is not the case with their involvement in political decision-making.
This is the heart of Futurelect's mission: to address these disparities. Founded in 2018 by the former opposition leader in South Africa, Lindiwe Mazibuko, Futurelect is a non-profit organisation which runs non-partisan public leadership programmes to mobilise young, ethical leaders—targeted primarily for African women aged 18-45 ready to take up political leadership positions in Africa.
Through these programmes, Futurelect aspires to bridge the gap in gender and youth representation so that Africa's leadership reflects the diversity and dynamism of its people.
For media inquiries, please contact Shaunei Gerber, Head of Marketing and Communications at Futurelect, at shaunei@futurelect.org.
For more information about Futurelect’s leadership programmes and to stay updated on upcoming events, visit www.futurelect.org.
About Futurelect
Futurelect, founded in 2018 in Johannesburg, is a non-profit organisation focused on transforming African political and government leadership. We empower young, ethical leaders with the skills to serve communities responsibly and with integrity. Our non-partisan programmes develop diverse, skilled political leaders, primarily targeting African women aged 18-45 pursuing or aspiring to leadership roles in politics and public office. We also offer a free online Civic Education Programme in South Africa, providing nonpartisan courses on democracy and governance for South Africans aged 16-34.