07 03 2026
Blog
Kinshasa, DRC
On Saturday, March 7, 2026, on the eve of International Women’s Day, Speak Up Africa officially launched the Mentorship Program of the Voix EssentiELLES | Women’s Leadership Against Malaria initiative in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The event brought together health and government officials, technical and financial partners, civil society organizations, mentors, and mentees from the program in the DRC, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo accounts for nearly 12.6% of the global burden of malaria. In 2022, the country recorded more than 27 million cases and nearly 25,000 deaths, making malaria the leading cause of death. Women, who are particularly vulnerable, are too often excluded from decision-making spaces: only 37% of married women actively participate in decisions regarding their health.
Developed as part of the Voix EssentiELLES | Women’s Leadership Against Malaria project with support from the Global Fund, this mentoring program aims to strengthen the leadership skills of 16 women from civil society organizations in the DRC, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire, with the goal of increasing their participation in health and community governance bodies.
The launch ceremony featured high-level speeches, including one by the Honorable National Deputy Dieudonné Mposhi, Chair of the Malaria Committee of the DRC National Assembly, who noted that malaria is the leading cause of death in the DRC and emphasized the importance of supporting women’s participation and inclusion in health governance.
“This mentoring program is a concrete solution. When women are involved, communities are more engaged and the results are more sustainable.” The Honorable Dieudonné Mposhi
The day continued with an inspiring panel discussion on the theme “The Impact of Women’s Leadership in Various Sectors, ” featuring renowned women leaders: Clarisse Mbo Modiri, Head of Department at the PNLP; Euphrasie Kayembe, journalist and communications expert; Caroline Norah Pindi, President of the Association of Women Architects of Congo; and the Honorable Christelle Vuanga, Member of the National Assembly.
Drawing on the diversity of their professional backgrounds, they have made concrete contributions that demonstrate the real impact of women’s leadership at various levels.
“When a woman takes her place in health governance, it’s not just her who moves forward—it’s an entire community she protects. In my 26 years working to combat malaria, I’ve learned that women’s leadership isn’t something you claim; it’s something you prove, one community at a time.” Clarisse MBO MODIRI
An initial mentoring session led by mentor Euphrasie Kayembe was also held in the afternoon for the mentees. They received guidance on the topic “Communicating with Impact: Public Speaking.”
Voix EssentiELLES | Women’s Leadership Against Malaria is an initiative implemented by Speak Up Africa with support from the Global Fund in three countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire. It aims to strengthen the leadership of women and girls at the heart of the fight against malaria in Francophone Africa by facilitating access to resources for community-based organizations and supporting their ability to influence national health policies and programs.