On 16 July 2025, the inaugural session of the Women in Rail in Africa Taskforce took place.
Organised as part of the UIC Africa programme, the taskforce is chaired by Nompumelelo Sibongile Ekeke, Board Chair of the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) in South Africa. It seeks to identify recommendations, conclusions, and initiatives that will enable women to make a greater contribution to rail sector development in Africa, both within the workforce and as passengers.
In line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the relevant policy set out by the African Union in its Agenda 2063, the taskforce’s main focus is on advocacy and awareness, networking and mentorship, and skills development and capacity building.
In her opening remarks, Ekeke pointed to the urgent need to address gender imbalance in the rail sector, where women currently make up just 16% of the workforce. She emphasised the taskforce’s strategic priorities, which include creating support networks, promoting mentorship, and advocating inclusive policies.
Joo Hyun Ha, Coordinator of the UIC Gender Working Group, introduced UIC’s Train2BEqual initiative – a project designed to establish the rail industry as a responsible and inclusive employer. It aims to address skills shortages by expanding the talent pool, and places emphasis on personal safety, gender-responsive design, and inclusive hiring practices.
Ekeke then presented the results of a pre-meeting survey highlighting key gender-related challenges in the rail sector, including:
- Safety concerns for women in rail environments
- Women being underrepresented in technical roles
- Cultural and affordability barriers hindering gender equality
Building on this, participants shared key insights and experiences.
Atiq Ahmad from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) discussed gender mainstreaming policies and inclusive transport projects in countries such as Senegal, Türkiye, Morocco, and Pakistan. He called attention to:
- Low female participation in the transport sector
- Workplace challenges, including the gender pay gap and inadequate maternity support
- Strategic initiatives, such as gender and youth action plans and safer infrastructure
Meanwhile, Agatha Atuhairwe of Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) underscored URC’s commitment to gender inclusivity as a catalyst for sustainable development. She also shared recent progress relating to women being appointed to operational roles and integrating gender indicators into performance evaluations.
Finally, Roselyne Tchikaya-Lombo from Congo-Ocean Railway (CFCO) highlighted the need to modernise traditional management approaches in order to promote more inclusive hiring practices and broaden women’s access to a variety of roles across the organisation.
Looking ahead, the taskforce has identified empowerment and capacity development as its top priorities.
The next meeting is scheduled for November 2025.
