About FAWOVC

About FAWOVC

About FAWOVC

The Forum for Women Vice Chancellors in Africa (FAWoVC) is a premier strategic ecosystem of influence, uniting substantive and former female University Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Presidents across the continent. Founded on August 24, 2016, in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme “Higher Education for Economic Empowerment,” FAWoVC was established by eleven pioneering leaders led by Professor Mabel Imbuga. Today, we have grown into a formidable network of over 75+ members spanning 34 African nations.

Our reach is truly continental, with a vibrant membership across all major regions

  • Eastern Africa: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.
  • Western Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Togo, Sierra Leone, and Cape Verde.
  • Southern Africa: Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Eswatini, and Mozambique.
  • Central Africa: Cameroon, DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, and the Central African Republic.
  • Northern Africa: Egypt and Tunisia.

    By bridging borders and uniting diverse institutional leaders, FAWoVC fosters a collective vision for an integrated, prosperous Africa. We are committed to a future driven by the transformative power of women in higher education leadership



 

The Challenge: Closing the Leadership Gap

Despite women often outnumbering men in university enrollment, a stark "glass ceiling" remains at the highest levels of academia:
   •  Global Disparity: Women hold less than 30% of top academic leadership positions worldwide.
   •  Regional Urgency: In Sub-Saharan Africa, women represent 43% of tertiary students but fill only 2.5% to 2.9% of Vice Chancellor roles.
   •  STEM Underrepresentation: Leadership skews heavily male in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields critical to the continent’s future

Our Mission and Impact

FAWoVC serves as a dedicated platform to deliberate on leadership roles and catalyze institutional transformation. We align our efforts with the African Union Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), recognizing that gender equality is not just a right, but a requirement for Africa’s development.

Our Vision for the Future

We are changing the dynamics of African academia. By spearheading gender-responsive initiatives, FAWoVC is ensuring that more women not only enter the workforce but ascend to the highest echelons of research, academia, and institutional leadership. Together, we are building a legacy of leadership that reflects the true potential of the African continent.