On 20 March 2026, the French diplomatic network in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi officially launched Project Ubuntu – Femmes du réseau MEAE.
Born from the grassroots energy of female colleagues across departments, the initiative aims to champion women’s rights in the workplace and openly address the professional challenges they face.
The project has already made history: it is the first French Embassy to be named a laureate of the Fonds pour l’Égalité Professionnelle (FEP 2026), awarded by France’s Direction générale de l’administration et de la fonction publique.
Over the coming year, participants will benefit from public-speaking coaching, networking sessions, and health and wellness workshops in partnership with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). Organisers hope Project Ubuntu will become a replicable model that inspires similar networks across the entire French diplomatic service and accelerates gender equality in international relations.
In a region where “Ubuntu” – the philosophy of human interconnectedness – resonates deeply, this French-led initiative demonstrates how diplomacy can lead by example. The message is clear: when women in the foreign service dare to act together, real change grows across borders.
