With just two days before Rwanda hosts the 46th Ministerial Meeting of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), preparations in Kigali are in full gear. The high-level gathering, scheduled for November 19–20, 2025, will place particular emphasis on women’s empowerment and youth development; two pillars at the center of the Francophonie’s current priorities.
This year’s meeting comes three decades after the 1995 Beijing Conference, a historic global forum that transformed the world’s commitment to women’s rights and gender equality. The Kigali theme, “30 Years After Beijing: The Role of Women in the Francophonie,” echoes this legacy and examines progress made across OIF member states.
According to Oria Kije Vande Weghe, OIF’s Director of Communications and spokesperson for the Secretary General, the organization consistently prioritizes women and youth in all its programs.“We focus heavily on women and youth; they are the ones we invest in the most,” she said. “Many of our member countries have large youth populations, so our initiatives respond to the issues young people raise, especially employment. We support digital skills training, women’s empowerment programs, and efforts that help families, children, and promote education.”
Vande Weghe also highlighted “La Francophonie avec elle,” an initiative launched during the Covid-19 pandemic to support women-led projects across the Francophonie. The program has already assisted many women in Rwanda and continues to nurture entrepreneurship and financial independence.”This initiative helps women sustain their projects and reach a point where they can stand on their own. It is one of the key programs that will be discussed during this week’s meeting,” she added.
Rwandan officials report that delegates have already begun arriving ahead of the two-day gathering. Grace Nyinawumuntu, Director General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responsible for the Americas, Europe, and International Organizations, confirmed that the country is fully prepared.
The upcoming Kigali meeting follows the previous session held in Paris, where Rwanda was selected as the next host nation.
Rwanda remains an active and longstanding member of the Francophonie, having joined the organization at its founding in 1970, marking 55 years of participation.
The discussions and commitments made over the two days are expected to shape the next chapter of the Francophonie’s collective vision—one in which women and youth remain at the forefront of social and economic transformation.
