"Decolonizing Data — Architecting Feminist Digital Futures in West Africa"
The convening at a glance
28–30
July 2026
Tuesday · Wednesday · Thursday
12–14 June 2026 · Accra → rescheduled
Cotonou
Republic of Benin · venue to be announced
Visa-free entry
All African nationals · e-Visa for others
Français · English
Simultaneous interpretation
Dear friend, ally, and changemaker —
Following the rescheduling notice issued by our Organising Committee, we are pleased to confirm that the West Africa Feminist Data Summit 2026 will now take place from 28 to 30 July 2026 in Cotonou, Republic of Benin — a venue that removes the visa barrier entirely for every African delegate.
Three days. One hundred delegates. One coordinated continental advocacy infrastructure.
The Summit will bring together approximately 100 feminist activists, data journalists, civic technologists, policy researchers, parliamentarians, and women human rights defenders from across the region — to translate fragmented data work into coordinated continental advocacy.
The Summit operationalises three landmark resolutions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Resolution 657 · 2026
Access to environmental information & healthy environment
Calls on African states to uphold access to climate and environmental information — including safeguarding journalists reporting on environmental harm and resource exploitation.
Resolution 620 · 2024
Data access as a tool for human rights
Mandates the Special Rapporteur to develop normative standards on data collection, storage and processing — transparency, data justice, AI accountability.
Resolution 522 · 2022
Protecting women against digital violence
Addresses the rise of gender-based violence including cyber-harassment, calling on states to update legislation to protect women in digital spaces.
Each track connects directly to one or more ACHPR resolutions and produces a chapter of the regional data agenda.
01
Digital censorship & Internet shutdowns
02
Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV)
03
Media freedom & environmental defenders
04
Decolonising data & AI accountability
05
Digital economic justice & unpaid care
06
Bodily autonomy & feminist digital privacy
07
Feminist civic technology & grassroots innovation
08
Intersectional data — rural, queer & disabled realities
Block the dates now and confirm your accommodation with your travel buddy. Updated joining instructions are landing in your inbox by end of June.
When
28 – 30 July 2026
Tuesday · Wednesday · Thursday
Where
Cotonou, Benin
Venue to be announced
Visa
Visa-free
All African nationals · e-Visa for others
Languages
Français · English
Simultaneous interpretation
Hosted by
RFLD
Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement
Hashtag
#FemDataSummit2026
Amplify · share · forward
For any question on the rescheduling, your travel update, or your accommodation booking — Abigail and Samuel are your direct points of contact at RFLD.
Delegate care & coordination
Abigail Olaleye
Programme Officer · Summit Coordination
✉ oluwatoyin.olaleye@rflgd.orgLogistics & travel
Samuel Adebena
Logistics Officer · Cotonou Operations
✉ samuel.adebena@rflgd.orgWe sincerely apologise for any inconvenience the change of dates may cause, and we deeply appreciate your understanding and continued commitment.
RFLD — Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (Women Leaders Network for Development) is a pan-African feminist network combining legislative advocacy, community organising, re-granting, and open-data tools — delivered through six integrated fields of intervention across 35+ African countries.
Six integrated fields of intervention
Headquartered in Cotonou with a dedicated Africa Regional Office in Accra and presences in Dakar and Banjul.
Benin
Hounsa, Rue de l'Université Agricole
Porto-Novo / Cotonou, Benin
+229 01 50 02 46 19
Ghana
Nmai Dzorn, Adjiringano Rd, Eden Court
Accra, Ghana
+233 53 496 8866
Senegal
5ème & 6ème étage, Cité Keur Gorgui
Résidence "AW 06", Dakar, Sénégal
+221 77 541 84 37
The Gambia
Banjul
ACHPR Liaison Office
Your contribution sustains the convening of grassroots feminist defenders at the table where decisions are made — and underwrites the visa-free, translation-equipped, fully-sponsored seats that make this Summit possible.
Donate today →