Women across Africa are being offered a new pathway into tourism leadership through a six-month mentorship programme launched by UN Tourism with the support of the Women in Tourism Leadership Africa Committee (WITLAC).
The initiative is designed to foster leadership, promote entrepreneurship, and support the personal and professional development of women working in, or aspiring to join, Africa’s tourism industry. The programme is open to women of all ages and professional backgrounds, with applications particularly encouraged from young professionals, emerging leaders, mid-career practitioners, entrepreneurs, and women living in rural communities.
The mentorship programme focuses on five key areas including leadership development – equipping women to take on senior leadership roles within the tourism sector. Entrepreneurship support – helping women establish or expand tourism-related businesses while strengthening their management skills.
Technology and innovation – encouraging the adoption and effective use of digital tools and emerging technologies. Personal and professional growth; promoting education, skills development – career progression, and lifelong learning.
Advocacy and representation – strengthening women’s participation in tourism policy, governance, and industry decision-making.
Eligible applicants must be currently working in, studying, or aspiring to build a career in Africa’s tourism sector, including travel, hospitality, heritage, eco-tourism, cultural tourism, academia, and event management. Applicants should also demonstrate a commitment to advancing tourism as a driver of sustainable development across Africa and be willing to engage in a professional mentor-mentee relationship built on openness, learning, and constructive feedback.
In addition, applicants must be citizens of one of the 51 UN Tourism African Member States. The programme promotes diversity and inclusivity by encouraging participation from all regions of the continent.
The mentorship programme was developed in response to recommendations made by African women ministers and other tourism stakeholders during the Women in Tourism Regional Congress, held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in October 2024.
Led and implemented by UN Tourism with the support of WITLAC, the initiative seeks to build a collaborative network that empowers women through mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and leadership development. It also contributes to the implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5, which focuses on achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls.
The programme reflects the belief that tourism creates its greatest impact when it moves beyond dialogue and delivers structured action that connects people, policy, and opportunity.
Speaking at the 69th UN Tourism Commission for Africa in Seychelles, the Chairperson of WITLAC welcomed the official launch of the mentorship programme by UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais, describing it as the culmination of a process that began in Freetown in 2024.
She noted that more than 500 participants at the regional congress had called for a shift from advocacy to measurable action in advancing women’s participation and leadership in tourism across Africa.
According to her, the programme provides a structured pathway that integrates leadership development, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and policy engagement, ensuring that women play a central role in shaping the future of Africa’s tourism industry.
She emphasized that the competitiveness and sustainability of Africa’s tourism sector will increasingly depend on strategic investments in human capital, gender inclusion, and leadership development.
The WITLAC Chairperson expressed appreciation to Minister Barbara Rwodzi, Heather Sibungo, Prof. Nellie Swart, Anne Kaoma-Sibanda, Mulemwa Moongwa, Mai Bright Urey, Kadiatu D. Konteh-Brohiri, Fatima Binta, Cecile Sombo Dibele, Elcia Grandcourt, Lydia Bebe Kum, and Rachel Monnier for their dedication and invaluable contributions to the initiative.
She concluded by stressing that the priority now is effective implementation, calling for discipline, coordination, and shared accountability among all UN Tourism African Member States to ensure the programme delivers meaningful and lasting impact for women across the continent.