From September 13^e – 15^e, 2018, AWDF convened 27 militants, universitaires, development workers and knowledge producers to strategise and prioritise African women’s economic futures. This convening culminated from AWDF’s fourth strategic plan Entrevoir l'avenir, and the accompanying Rapport d'analyse des tendances futures which highlighted the socio-economic implications of anticipated trends in Africa for women and girls. Over three (3) consecutive days, we had extensive conversations, workshop and group activities that helped us build sound advocacy strategies for African women’s economic futures. As an institution committed to resourcing African women’s movements, AWDF believes that this convening was the first step in a journey to better support future-oriented strategies to engender African women’s economic justice and security.

Pain et beurre is the post-convening knowledge series which aims to document the dynamic, critical and radical perspectives of African women thinking about their economic futures. The expression “bread and butter” refers both to the ways in which individuals come to sustain themselves usually through paid work et individuals’ practical, besoins et préoccupations de tous les jours.

We understand this series as our reflection of both the subsistence and practical, every day needs and concerns of African women oriented to the future. We believe that African women’s economic issues are both internalised and challenged in every day acts of resistance and solution-building. We also aim to demystify economics as a white, male and Western concept out of reach for African women.
En effet, we believe that all African women understand the consequences and solutions for oppressive neoliberal capitalist economic models and we seek to encourage their voices as economic actors, thinkers and shape shifters. We aim to get to the real “bread and butter” issues that women and girls face on this continent, and envision a future Africa that ensures women’s and girls’ sustainable livelihoods, travail significatif, et pleine autonomie socio-économique. The series will feature a range of opinion pieces, research essays, poèmes, stories and narratives of and by African women, with a future-focused feminist economic lens.

Nous espérons que cette série suscitera de nouvelles conversations sur la manière dont nous aidons les femmes africaines à rechercher la justice et la sécurité économiques. Nous espérons également contribuer à une conversation plus large sur la manière dont les institutions philanthropiques régionales et mondiales peuvent mieux soutenir les intérêts économiques des femmes africaines., tel que décrit par les femmes africaines, eux-mêmes.

Are you passionate about African women’s economic futures? Would you like to contribute to our Pain et beurre series? Are you interested in being a media partner for our series? For details or to pitch a concept, please email our Knowledge Management Specialist, rita@africlub.net/awdf.

Please click on the titles below, to read the knowledge products that were developed as a result of this convening.

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