Ask Her: African women need to be heard to solve social issues

"We are the backbones of our communities. We are strong. We are visionary. We have faith.  Africa cannot survive without us."- Theo Sowa, Chief Executive Officer of the African Women's Development Fund 

They are at the centre of the response to the HIV/AIDS crisis.

They are at the frontlines of health care, dealing with Ebola.

And everyday they are helping to tackle Africa's epidemic of sexual violence.

They are the women of Africa.

And yet, so often when decision-makers do talk about Africa, women are left out of the conversation. They're rarely consulted as experts. Instead, men take centre stage at international symposia and conferences.

This week, an effort is being made to change that situation. The Stephen Lewis Foundation is hosting what it calls the "Ask Her" talks. It's a chance to hear from African women about the work they are doing on the ground and the role they believe aid and philanthropy should play in tackling some of Africa's problems.
 

• Netty Musanhu is the Executive Director of the Musasa Project, which implements programs to confront gender-based violence in Zimbabwe.
• Theo Sowa is Chief Executive Officer of the African Women's Development Fund based in Accra, Ghana.

Both women were in our Toronto studio. They will be speaking at the Stephen Lewis Foundation's, Ask Her, talks this week in Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa.

This segment was produced by The Current's Lara O'Brien.