Two new policy briefs from UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning in Africa examine women’s leadership in primary schools in Benin and Madagascar, showing how opportunities for women and the support they receive connect with student success. Published in 2026 and authored by Nathalie Guilbert, Jihane Lamouri and Fabricia Devignes, the briefs underline the need to address gender barriers and give school leaders the preparation, working conditions and professional backing their responsibilities demand.
Benin’s leadership gap carries a cost for schools
Women held just 17 per cent of primary school leadership positions in Benin in 2022, with their presence concentrated more heavily in urban centres. The Benin policy brief identifies several barriers that restrict their progression, including social expectations about women’s roles, constraints associated with postings, security concerns and unequal access to the qualifications needed to advance. These obstacles can narrow a woman’s career choices before she reaches the point of applying for a leadership position, making recruitment only one part of a much wider problem.
