The AWDF 2020 Annual Report is a recollection of a year that, like water, held everything that came before it—the consequences of all it experienced, all the elements it contained. As told by African women, the report is a narrative of water remembering, water finding its way. A recollection of AWDF’s exceptional contribution to women’s rights in Africa, a celebration of the determination of the grantees, staff, the Board and our funders in an incredibly challenging year.

We awarded 136 grants and a total of USD $8,902,980 to organisations in 32 countries which is a 88.9% increase in total grantmaking from 2019. In response to the emergency elements of the year, including COVID-19 and anti-violence campaigns led by women’s rights organisations across the continent, AWDF gave a total of $122,000 in grants.

Against the tide, our grantee partners created visibility and voiced women’s rights issues, pushed and succeeded in putting laws in place that protect women, created understanding around harmful norms and policies, built women’s political, financial, and advocacy skills, increased women’s representation in political offices, improved women’s access to and ownership of property, contributed to increased budget allocations to public services, and responded to the needs of their community in a time of COVID-19 and other crises.

To learn more about our work, the innovations and impact made by AWDF grantees and our aspirations as we continue on this journey please read the full report.

Please click here for the summary of the report

To read the full report, please click here