This report examines women's political representation on the African continent, and shows how quotas have contributed to increasing their access to political power. The documented evidence from Africa is very encouraging: more than 20 countries on the continent either have legislated quotas or have political parties that have adopted them voluntarily. This report details the different quota types that are being implemented in different political contexts in 17 countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Gender budgeting is an initiative to use fiscal policy and administration to address gender inequality and women’s advancement. A large number of sub-Saharan African countries have adopted gender budgeting. Two countries that have achieved notable success in their efforts are Uganda and Rwanda, both of which have integrated gender-oriented goals into budget policies, programs, and processes in fundamental ways. Other countries have made more limited progress in introducing gender budgeting into their budget-making. Leadership by the ministry of finance is critical for enduring effects, although nongovernmental organizations and parliamentary bodies in sub-Saharan Africa play an essential role in advocating for gender budgeting.