Briefing Paper

Women in Corporate Boards in Africa: Beyond Tokenism

Women are under-represented on corporate boards and other leadership structures in Africa.
This problem is a reflection of the historical disadvantages and gender inequalities women face.
The status quo is, however, ironic given the relatively large female population in Africa and women’s
influence on more than three-quarters of consumer decisions on the continent. This policy briefing
sheds light on women on corporate boards in Africa. While recognising contextual differences among
countries, policy directions are suggested that could result in gains for several stakeholders.