Across Africa, women are confronting the devastating impacts of climate change, land dispossession, extractive industries and environmental destruction. Yet, they are also organising, resisting and building alternatives rooted in solidarity, justice and the protection of their communities.
From 5–8 October 2026, more than 75 women from West, Central and Southern Africa gathered in Yaoundé, Cameroon, for the fourth Women’s Climate Assembly, convened by the WoMin African Alliance under the theme “Our Lands, Our Voices: African Women United for Reparations and Climate Justice.”
The Rural Women’s Assembly (RWA) was represented by Teopolina Hango from Namibia and Thandiwe Temba from Zambia, who joined women from across the continent to share experiences, strengthen alliances and advance collective demands for climate justice.
Throughout the gathering, women reflected on the interconnected struggles affecting their communities, including land grabbing, water insecurity, loss of indigenous seeds, gender-based violence and pollution caused by mining activities. These discussions reinforced the importance of women-led solutions, climate reparations, agroecology and stronger grassroots movements.
RWA also contributed to discussions on movement-building alongside Nous Sommes La Solution, sharing experiences of organising rural women, strengthening grassroots leadership and ensuring that women’s voices influence decisions at local, national and regional levels.
An important outcome of the Assembly was the proclamation of 15 April as African Women’s Climate Justice Day, an opportunity to amplify women’s experiences, strengthen solidarity and mobilise collective action against climate injustice.
For us, the gathering reaffirmed that the struggles of African women are interconnected. Defending our land, water, seeds and livelihoods is inseparable from the broader struggle for gender equality, food sovereignty and climate justice.
The Assembly concluded with a renewed commitment to grassroots mobilisation, feminist political education, leadership development and agroecological alternatives.
We invite you to read and download the full report to learn more about the discussions, lessons and collective actions emerging from the 2026 Women’s Climate Assembly.
