Aya Chebbi

Aya Chebbi
Founder, Nala Feminist Collective
Tunisia

Aya Chebbi, born in 1988, is a distinguished Tunisian diplomat, pan-African activist, and fervent feminist. Her outstanding contributions have earned her a well-deserved spot in the 5th list of 100 Most Influential African Women in 2023 by Avance Media. Aya gained international recognition as the first African Union Envoy on Youth, making history as the youngest senior official in the African Union and the youngest diplomat in the chairperson’s cabinet.

Hailing from Dahmani, Aya Chebbi pursued her academic journey at Tunis El Manar University, earning a BA in International Relations. She furthered her studies, obtaining a Master’s in African Studies with Distinction from SOAS University of London. Aya’s research focused on state-youth relations in connection with their subscription to Jihadism, encapsulated in her dissertation titled “Youth Radicalisation, a Comparative Study of Tunisia-Kenya.”

Aya Chebbi rose to prominence during the 2010 Tunisian Revolution, capturing international attention as a blogger. Renowned as a Pan-African Feminist, she contributed to OpenDemocracy and Al-Jazeera, showcasing her commitment to advocacy and social change. Beyond her virtual presence, Aya traversed the African continent, training social movement leaders and activists on mobilization, blogging, leadership, and non-violence.

In 2013, Aya co-founded the Voice of Women initiative (VOW-I) with feminist friends from Cameroon and Kenya. This feminist collective empowers women through advocacy and digital space access. The platform has published about 200 stories, trained 35 correspondents, and implemented successful field projects on health, peace, and women’s safety.

Aya’s influence extended to the global stage when she was invited as the Youth Speaker for UN Women’s celebratory event marking the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.

In November 2018, Aya Chebbi made history by becoming the first African Union Special Envoy on Youth. Appointed by Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, she embarked on a two-year mandate to represent and advocate for the voices and interests of African youths. Aya works collaboratively with various AU organs, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), governments, civil societies, and academia to empower and strengthen the position of young people within and outside the African Union.

Aya initiated the game-changing 2019/2020 Action Plan, outlining four Models of Action: Innovation, Advocacy, Intergenerational & Policy, and Communication.

In June 2019, Aya Chebbi was featured in the Visual Collaborative Polaris catalogue under the Voyager series for humanities, sharing insights alongside global figures such as Seun Kuti, Berla Mundi, and Dawn Okoro.

Since 2020, Aya Chebbi has been a member of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPR), contributing to the examination of how the World Health Organization (WHO) and countries handled the COVID-19 pandemic, co-chaired by Helen Clark and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Aya Chebbi’s inclusion in Avance Media’s 2023 100 Most Influential African Women list is a testament to her transformative leadership, advocacy, and commitment to the empowerment of African youth. Her historic role as the first African Union Envoy on Youth, coupled with her extensive work in feminism, digital activism, and pandemic response, showcases Aya as a beacon of change and inspiration. As an influencer, diplomat, and advocate, Aya Chebbi continues to shape the narrative and elevate the voices of African youth on the global stage, leaving an indelible mark on the continent’s future.

She was named among the Inaugural, 3rd, 4th & 5th List of 100 Most Influential African Women in 2019, 2021 & 2022 by Avance Media.

Photo Credit: Aya Chebbi