Gender and Ministerial Appointments in Africa.

This dissertation examines the gendered dynamics of ministerial appointments in Africa, focusing on the vetting process, patterns of portfolio allocations, and cabinet shuffles. The process of appointing cabinet ministers is shaped by both formal and informal rules (Annesley, Beckwith, and Franceschet 2019). While formal rules grant presidents the authority to select ministers, informal norms often constrain their choices (Franceschet 2016). In some contexts, formal rules include confirmation hearings, which enable legislative oversight and public scrutiny (Heitshusen 2015). Despite extensive research on confirmation hearings in Western democracies (Canes-Wrone and De Marchi 2002; Krutz, Fleisher, and Bond 1998), little attention has been paid to how these processes operate in African contexts or whether they are gendered. To address this gap, Chapter One analyzes ministerial confirmation hearings in Ghana and Kenya. The findings reveal that women nominees face greater scrutiny concerning personal appearance and ethical standards than their male counterparts. Building on vetting process, Chapter Two shifts focus to patterns of portfolio allocation across 25 African countries. Recent data shows women hold 23.8% of cabinet positions in Africa, slightly above the global average of 22.8% (Inter-Parliamentary Union 2024; UN Women 2024). However, the criteria for being considered ministrable often include educational and professional backgrounds and political experience (Annesley, Beckwith, and Franceschet 2019). I find that, contrary to expectations, among the women ministers appointed, a higher proportion are assigned to high-prestige portfolios compared to men. Having established the vetting process of minister and portfolio allocations, Chapter Three focuses on cabinet shuffles to address what happens once they are in office. These intra-term changes, made to manage coalitions, consolidate power, or respond to political and economic shocks (Grotz, Kroeber, and Kukec 2022; Helms and Vercesi 2022), often produce gendered outcomes. The findings show that women in Africa serve shorter terms and are more likely to be replaced by men during shuffles. In sum, this dissertation uses a mixed methods approach to study the gender dynamics of ministerial appointments across Africa. By examining confirmation hearings, portfolio allocation, and cabinet shuffles, it advances our understanding of how gender influences political appointments in Africa.