A Decade-Long Milestone for Femmes Spéciales Brazza
From November 5 to 8, 2025, the marble forecourt of the Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza Memorial will resonate with voices celebrating a decade of “Femmes Spéciales Brazza,” an initiative that has consistently placed the achievements of Congolese women at the center of the national debate.
Launched in 2015 by young professionals from Brazzaville, the forum has grown from a modest networking evening to a four-day program of panels, workshops, and exhibitions.
2025 Theme: Women’s Innovation at the Forefront
The 2025 edition carries the theme “Celebrating Women’s Efforts and Innovation,” highlighting how women-led projects are increasingly influencing entrepreneurship, digital services, and community health across the Republic of Congo.
Organizers state the goal is twofold: to provide public recognition for female pioneers and to create fertile ground for knowledge transfer between generations, thereby turning inspiration into measurable economic and social impact.
High-Level Support and Expanded Program
The Minister for the Promotion of Women and the Integration of Women in Development, Inès Nefer Ingani, is expected to deliver the opening address, a signal of institutional support that has accompanied the forum since its early years.
Over four carefully organized days, local and international experts will analyze leadership, project management, social innovation, and the digital transition, while practical clinics will help participants refine their business plans, presentations, and basic coding skills useful for nascent startups.
Artistic booths will showcase fashion, sculpture, and photography from Pointe-Noire to Ouesso, turning the memorial’s esplanade into a temporary marketplace where creativity translates into income for women-led small businesses.
Digital Reach and Symbolic Ambassador
To broaden access, sessions will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube, a first for this gathering, and interactive scenography will project real-time social media feedback behind the speakers.
All eyes will also be on Noe Mavoungou, appointed ambassador for the 10th anniversary. Her advocacy for girls’ education and green entrepreneurship is expected to lend symbolic weight to discussions on inclusive growth.
Awards Ceremony and Tangible Benefits
The forum’s highlight remains the awards ceremony, where a jury from academia, finance, and the creative industries selects the “Remarkable Women of the Year.” Past winners include agri-food processor Clarisse Oba and digital health pioneer Dr. Anne Oubou.
Beyond the applause, winners receive mentoring sessions and facilitated introductions to microfinance institutions—benefits that turn recognition into expanded, job-creating projects.
Legacy of the 2024 Edition and Ongoing Impact
Last year’s edition, held under the banner of “post-Covid resilience,” yielded concrete results. Over 300 participants formed thematic groups that later registered as cooperatives focusing on food processing, textile recycling, and digital literacy.
These cooperatives now operate in the Talangaï district of Brazzaville and in Nkayi, providing income opportunities for approximately 120 women.
For sociologist Mireille Mouyabi, this continuity demonstrates how networking events