| ISSN: 2583-3812 | ISSN: 2583-3812JOURNAL ARTICLE
Keywords: Women Chiefs, Marie-Louise Zoa, Gender Equality, Regional Governance, Women Empowerment, Cameroon
Abstract: The inclusion of women in regional governance processes has of recent gained tremendous attention in most African societies as a means to foster more inclusive and sustainable development. In Africa, men for the most part, have been the ones at the helm of affairs and decision-making while women are relegated to the background most of the times. This paper therefore explores the role of African women chiefs with particular reference to Her Majesty Marie-Louise Zoa, of Okoa community in the Centre region of Cameroon as a key partner in regional governance in Cameroon. Her unique contributions to decision-making, conflict resolution, community development, as well as her role as the custodian of cultural heritage of her community cannot be overemphasized. Through qualitative interviews, the paper examines the barriers and constraints women chiefs face, such as patriarchal norms, limited access to resources/education, and gender-based discrimination. The paper however contends that there is need for collaboration between African women chiefs and other stakeholders such as government institutions, civil society organizations, and international development agencies in order to foster inclusive partnership and regional governance. It further advocates for the recognition and empowerment of African women chiefs as vital partners in regional governance in Cameroon. By so doing, this will foster gender equality, promote women’s leadership, and provide avenues for meaningful participation of women chiefs in decision-making processes.
Article Info: Received on: 30 Jan 2025 Revised on: 27 Feb 2025 Accepted on: 05 Mar 2025
DOI: 10.22161/ijeel.4.2.2
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