On 18 June 2026, with an event marking the International Day of Women in Diplomacy (24 June), Addis Ababa took the first step towards becoming the newest hub of the IGC network, joining Bonn, Geneva, Nairobi, New York, Paris, The Hague and Vienna.
Convened by the Embassy of Switzerland in Ethiopia - which is spearheading the creation of the hub and will be coordinating local membership -the soft launch brought together leaders across governments, the African Union and United Nations, and civil society, to inform, connect and mobilise future Champions. Speakers included H.E. Ambassador Riccarda Chanda of Switzerland; Dr Ergoge Tesfaye, Minister of Women and Social Affairs of Ethiopia; H.E. Ambassador Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission; Ozonia Ojielo, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator to Ethiopia; and Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office to the African Union. Following the formal remarks, participants also signed the IGC Panel Parity Pledge, committing to promote balanced representation in high-level discussions. The event ended with a reception, inviting participants to connect and exchange.
The launch marks an important milestone in expanding the IGC network and strengthening collective action for gender equality in Africa's diplomatic capital.
