Sefora Kodjo Kouassi, a prominent women’s rights campaigner in Côte d’Ivoire. She is passionate about improving the social and economic prospects of African women, women’s participation in the workforce and the reduction of gender-based violence are among the causes close to her heart.
She founded the Sephis Foundation in 2009, which supports education and training for young people, focusing particularly on women who are perceived as being in minority positions. The organization is based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, but also promotes leadership among young women in Ghana, Senegal, Burkina Faso, the DRC, Liberia, and Togo. According to the AU, it is among the 50 best educational initiatives on the continent for 2018. There is a shortage of finance, information, and material resources for female entrepreneurs, which forces them to work in the informal sector.
As part of her commitment to equipping African women of the future with the tools to succeed, Kodjo founded the African Women of the Future Fellowship. 24 African women aged 18-35 receive six weeks of leadership training as part of the Fellowship.
Also in December 2021, Sephis will hold the third edition of the International Women’s Leadership Forum in Abidjan, expected to draw 1,000 participants.
