On International Women’s Day, the world honors women who break barriers, lead with vision, and uplift communities. In The Gambia and across the continent, Muna Jallow—widely known as MJ—stands out as a beacon of empowerment, entrepreneurship, and Pan-African advocacy. As CEO of the Africa Agenda Network (AAN) and National Chair of the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Gambia Chapter, she continues to inspire transformative change for women and youth.
Hailing from the rural village of Kerr Cherno Baba in Gambia’s North Bank Region, Muna Jallow’s story is one of remarkable ascent. With more than 20 years in the UK’s luxury sector, she excelled as a brand ambassador for The Estée Lauder Companies at Harrods, representing global icons like Chanel, Dior, Lancôme, Guerlain, and Clinique in a high-profile £10 million environment. She advanced to roles as an Account Manager for Prada and a Business Manager for Tom Ford in London, mastering luxury brand management, high-level events, and interactions with elites, including royals, heads of state, celebrities, and innovators.
Despite her global success, a profound sense of duty to her homeland endured. In 2018, after two decades abroad, she returned to The Gambia to co-found Africa Agenda Network, a thriving Pan-African platform dedicated to highlighting Africa’s positive image, visionary leaders, groundbreaking developments, and investment opportunities through elite global events, documentaries, and publications.
As CEO, Ms. Jallow has positioned AAN as a key player in advocacy and collaboration. The organization partners with The Gambia’s highest offices—including the President, Vice President, ministries, diplomatic missions, and UN agencies—to promote the nation and continent. She hosted the Qatar Fund for Development on behalf of the late Vice President Badara Alieu Joof and joined President Adama Barrow’s delegation to the LDC5 Conference in Doha in 2023. During the OIC Banjul Summit, AAN secured free global coverage from outlets like Al Jazeera and produced impactful publications and documentaries.
AAN’s reach includes a documentary on the Islamic Development Bank’s $1.2 billion investments over 40 years, facilitating former African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina’s visits to The Gambia, and presenting an exclusive feature on his decade of leadership at his 2025 farewell in Abidjan. Ms. Jallow has organized high-level side events at the UN General Assembly in New York and COMCEC sessions in Istanbul, while supporting Nigeria’s West Africa Economic Summit in June 2025 with regional media coordination across ECOWAS nations. She serves on the organizing committee for the upcoming ECOWAS @50 Trade, Investment, and Exhibition Summit.
Her leadership shone in the inaugural UK-Gambia Trade and Investment Mission, where AAN handled resource mobilization, logistics, and branding. These efforts bridge diplomacy, trade, tourism, and investment to drive socio-economic progress.
Central to her mission is women’s empowerment, especially resonant on International Women’s Day. Through AAN, she champions charitable initiatives and networking events, partnering with the Office of the First Lady and the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare. Projects include installing boreholes for women farmers in rural communities, enhancing access to water and livelihoods.
Her humanitarian spirit extends to supporting cancer patients: volunteering with UK charities to provide beauty services for dignity and making donations to The Gambia Cancer Association League.
A landmark achievement is her role as National Chair of the AWLN Gambia Chapter. Constituted by the African Union and United Nations in 2017, AWLN is the continent’s largest movement of women leaders advancing transformation aligned with Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Under Ms. Jallow’s guidance, The Gambia became the 33rd nation to launch its chapter in May 2023 at Coco Ocean Resort. She has led delegations, including courtesy calls on President Barrow alongside the AU Special Envoy, Bineta Diop, thanking him for his support and welcoming him as a champion of the network.
Ms. Jallow’s work fosters capacity building, mentorship, safe spaces for sharing best practices, and greater women’s participation in decision-making—from grassroots to global levels.
As Winston Churchill observed, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Muna Jallow lives this truth. From rural Gambia to international forums, she bridges worlds, reshapes narratives, and empowers women to lead.
On this International Women’s Day, the world celebrates Muna Jallow for her extraordinary dedication, patriotism, and impact. She reminds us that true leadership uplifts others, fostering a brighter, more inclusive Africa.
