RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – May 2026 – For five days, the ShiftEd Alliance convened global changemakers in Rio de Janeiro to advance collective work aimed at transforming education systems to truly serve girls. FAWE was proudly represented at the landmark gathering by Executive Director Dr. Martha Muhwezi and Senior Advocacy & Partnerships Officer Catherine Asego, contributing African-led expertise on girls’ education and gender equality to a global platform.
The convening brought together education leaders, advocates, researchers, and practitioners from across the world to co-create shared public goods designed to help education systems respond effectively to the needs of girls. Participants focused on four critical areas: narrative shaping, teacher training evidence, stakeholder mapping, and assessment design. Through intensive collaboration, the alliance worked to build the tools, evidence, and coalitions required to drive systemic transformation from the ground up.
Dr. Martha Muhwezi’s presence at ShiftEd Rio 2026 was more than symbolic. It stood as a powerful reminder that African feminist leadership is essential to reshaping global education systems. Drawing on decades of grassroots and policy experience, Dr. Muhwezi brought uncompromising advocacy for girls’ education and a clear vision of a future where gender norms no longer limit potential. Her engagement throughout the convening ensured that voices from the African continent were not an afterthought but central to the design of teacher training frameworks, assessment tools, and educational narratives that truly serve girls.
FAWE’s participation in the ShiftEd Alliance reflected the organization’s ongoing commitment to positioning African expertise at the forefront of global education policy and practice. By contributing evidence-based insights and lived experiences from FAWE’s extensive work across the continent, the delegation helped shape collective strategies that prioritize gender-transformative approaches, locally grounded solutions, and measurable impact for the most marginalized girls. The convening concluded with renewed commitments among alliance members to deepen collaboration, share learning, and accelerate progress toward education systems that uphold the rights, dignity, and potential of every girl. Through its active and influential role in Rio, FAWE reaffirmed that African leadership is not only present but indispensable to the global movement for gender equality in and through education.