Reflections from the Pan-African Faith & Gender Justice Conference 2025
Alvin Andanje
JLI Africa Regional Coordinator
“Nothing for us without us.”
On a cool September morning in Limuru, Kenya, the campus of St. Paul’s University buzzed with an energy of hope and determination. Nearly 200 delegates from Africa and beyond including faith leaders, gender justice practitioners, grassroots activists, scholars, and development partners gathered for the 2025 Pan-African Faith & Gender Justice Conference. On behalf of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI), I joined this diverse assembly united by a common aspiration: that people of faith, working in partnership, can transform the darkest realities of gender-based violence (GBV) into stories of justice and healing.
Photo: 2025 Pan-African Faith & Gender Justice Conference
This is something that JLI has over the years committed itself to through shifting asymmetries of power in research to ensure voices of local faith communities are influential in GBV programming. The conference theme, “Mutuality in God: A Faith Response for Peace & Gender Reconciliation,” set the tone, evoking a vision of women and men in full partnership as intended by the Divine.
From the opening devotions to the final communion, the theme of “Mutuality in God” came alive. Participants confronted uncomfortable truths that religious spaces have sometimes reinforced patriarchy and even tolerated gender-based violence triggering pledges to change this narrative. Sessions ranged from theological reflections by Prof. Esther Mombo and Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, who re-read scripture through a justice lens, to Prof. Lazare Rukundwa’s moving interpretation of Tamar’s story as a mirror of widows’ struggles today. These talks reminded us that theology, when reclaimed, can be a source of healing rather than harm.
The most powerful moments came from human stories: survivors who shared their pain and resilience with grassroots leaders describing how they confront femicide, child marriage, and domestic abuse. Their voices anchored the conference in lived realities of GBV best described by one activist who said: “Nothing for us without us.”
Speakers also highlighted the need for safeguarding our faith institutions against patriarchal tendencies. Mandy Marshall of the Anglican Communion Safe Church Commission challenged faith leaders to make churches true havens of safety, not places of silence. This urgency was echoed in workshops where participants explored practical steps for survivor support and community accountability.
Photo: 2025 Pan-African Faith & Gender Justice Conference
Even more exciting was the spirit of courage and solidarity beamed through the conference. Whether it was a bishop advocating for women’s leadership, an imam pledging to host interfaith dialogues, or a youth activist planning a campaign against GBV, the conference showed that people of faith are ready to lead change. By the end, delegates made personal commitments to return home as change agents, carrying forward the conviction that gender justice is not optional but integral to faith.
As I left Limuru, I felt both humbled and energized. This was more than a conference a continuation of a movement, a reminder that across Africa, faith communities are reclaiming their voice for justice. The stories, songs, and commitments we shared are seeds of transformation. And as JLI, we are committed to walking alongside this journey, ensuring that the silent cries for justice are never ignored again.
Watch out for upcoming reflections on some thematic components presented by various speakers in this blog series.
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