The Africa Alliance of YMCAs (AAYMCA) is a leading pan African youth development network on the continent, representing national movements in 20 countries, 16 of which are very active. The first YMCA in Africa was established in Liberia in 1881, and the AAYMCA was founded in 1977 as the umbrella body for all national movements on the continent. As the oldest NGO network, we have one million members across African and reach approximately seven million beneficiaries. Youth work is our core business and we work with both the most marginalised and the educated youth to provide opportunities for empowerment and leadership development. The AAYMCA operates as a technical house, with a multi-disciplinary team offering technical expertise in all areas of operation. Our national movements benefit from this approach through strategic oversight and capacity building development. The AAYMCA is the umbrella body for all associated YMCAs in Africa. The Executive Committee is nominated and voted by all national YMCA movements and is the highest policy making body in the movement. The current Executive Committee comprises 50% women. On the eight-person body, 2 out of the 3 key office bearers are women (the Vice President and the Treasurer), as well as the Youth Representative. The AAYMCA staff body has a General Secretary who reports to the Executive Committee, and four seniors, two of whom are women.