BRICS Expert Council-Russia Takes Part in Young Women of Africa Leadership Masterclass
The Young Women of Africa (YWOA) hosted an international online masterclass bringing together more than 150 participants from across the African continent and beyond. The event forms part of the organisation’s flagship initiative, “From Opportunity to Impact: Masterclass Editions for Young Women in Africa,” a year-long series designed to empower young African women through mentorship, leadership development, and practical capacity-building.
The masterclass series aims to support young women in strengthening their leadership potential, expanding entrepreneurial opportunities, and building networks that contribute to Africa’s socio-economic transformation. The initiative aligns with continental priorities such as Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and focuses on translating knowledge into practical outcomes for emerging female leaders.
The session was opened by Mdm Precious Banda, President of Young Women of Africa, who emphasised the importance of creating platforms that enable young women to access mentorship, expand their professional networks, and actively participate in shaping Africa’s development agenda. The masterclass featured a lineup of distinguished international speakers, including Prof. Elen Bueno (Brazil), Dr Isatou Touray (Gambia), Dr Adv. Kagiso Maphalle (South Africa), Ms Louise Baya (Kenya), Ms Khadija Ali (Western Sahara), and Mdm Sibongile Sibanda, Vice President of Young Women of Africa.
A special contribution was delivered by Valeriia Gorbacheva, Deputy Head of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia and Director of the International Cooperation Office at HSE University. In her address titled “Women, Trade and Geopolitics: Unlocking Economic Power in the Global South,” she highlighted the importance of integrating women into global economic processes and strengthening gender-responsive economic policies. Valeriia Gorbacheva stressed that improving access to education, finance, digital technologies, and leadership opportunities is essential for increasing women’s participation in trade and entrepreneurship.
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Barriers such as a higher amount of unpaid work, a lack of quality childcare and elderly care facilities, unmet financing needs for women‑owned businesses, insufficient access to finance, a shortage of digital skills and knowledge, lower access to technology, and persistent prejudice about the role of women in society result in inadequate labour force participation, disproportionate levels of entrepreneurial activity, insufficient engagement in international trade, and a persistent gender pay gap.
Valeriia Gorbacheva
Deputy Head of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia and Director of the International Cooperation Office at HSE University
Highlighting international cooperation initiatives, she referred to the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, established in 2020 to support women entrepreneurs and facilitate their integration into the global economy. Valeriia Gorbacheva also encouraged young African leaders to engage in international educational initiatives such as the BRICS International School: New Generation and other youth cooperation programmes.
The online session was also attended by Emma Kantema-Gaomas, who currently serves as the Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare of the Republic of Namibia, reflecting the strong engagement of policymakers in initiatives supporting women’s empowerment.
Participants included students, young professionals, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders from various countries. Through dialogue with global experts and policymakers, attendees explored practical pathways to strengthen their leadership capacity, expand economic opportunities, and contribute to sustainable development within their communities.
The organisers noted that the masterclass marks an important step toward building a continent-wide network of empowered young women leaders, capable of transforming opportunities into meaningful social and economic impact across Africa.
Young Women of Africa (YWOA) is a dynamic and empowering movement that was established in 2021 by a passionate group of young women who were youth and former youth leaders. Over the past five years, YWOA has rapidly grown into a continental network, uniting young women aged 16 to 40 across 39 countries. The movement is dedicated to empowering young African women through leadership development, mentorship, and capacity‑building initiatives that foster inclusive growth and sustainable development across the continent.