Author: African Women's Development Fund

[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) congratulates all women parliamentarians elected in Ghana’s 2012 elections. The 30 women who were successfully elected into Ghana’s next parliament represent the highest number of women parliamentarians in Ghana’s Fourth Republic, and an increase of 11 women parliamentarians compared with the previous parliament.

In total, 133 women contested this year’s general election, for various roles, including Vice Presidential candidates and aspiring women parliamentarians. AWDF takes this opportunity to congratulate all these women for exercising their rights to political participation and demonstrating to all Ghanaians the importance of women to Ghana’s democratic process. Theo Sowa, CEO of AWDF states, “ We should all be happy with the record number of women who contested the 2012 general elections as aspiring parliamentarians and Vice-Presidents and the increase in the number of elected women parliamentarians. It is important that our young people see women aiming for the highest decision making positions in the land. We should acknowledge the many women’s rights activists and organisations that have advocated long and hard for women to have equal access to the highest public offices. The increased numbers are a tribute to their hard work, yet the low overall percentage of women in Ghana’s parliament shows how much further we need to go. ”

It is our hope that in the next Government women will be more equitably represented in various decision-making positions including in the cabinet, ministerial positions and on various boards. Ghana has been widely referred to as one of Africa’s strongest examples of democracy. Yet the percentage of women in Ghana’s parliament continues to lag far behind percentages in many other African countries with far newer democracies, including Rwanda (56%), Mozambique (39%) and 42.3% in South Africa. AWDF looks forward to the newly elected women parliamentarians, and their male counterparts, working together to achieve true equity for the women of Ghana[/tp]

[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]Le Fonds Africain de Développement de la Femmes (AWDF) félicite toutes les femmes parlementaires élues lors les élections de 2012 au Ghana. Les 30 femmes qui ont été élues avec succès lors des dernières élections parlementaires du Ghana représentent le plus grand nombre de femmes parlementaires de la quatrième République du Ghana, et une augmentation de 11 femmes parlementaires par rapport à la législature précédente.

Au total, 133 femmes ont concouru pour les élections générales de cette année, pour les différents rôles, y compris les candidats présidentiels et vice aspirants femmes parlementaires. AWDF saisit cette occasion pour les féliciter toutes d’exercer leurs droits à la participation politique et de démontrer à tous les Ghanéens l’importance des femmes au processus démocratique du Ghana. Theo Sowa, directrice générale d’AWDF déclare, “Nous devrions tous être heureux avec le nombre record de femmes qui ont concouru pour les élections générales de 2012 en tant que parlementaires en herbe et vice-présidentes et l’augmentation du nombre de femmes parlementaires élues. Il est important que nos jeunes voient des femmes visant les plus hauts postes de prise de décision dans le pays. Nous devons reconnaître les militants et les organisations qui ont prévu une route longue et difficile pour les femmes pouravoir un accès égal aux fonctions publiques les plus élevées au même titre que les hommes. L’augmentation du nombre est un hommage à leur travail acharné, mais le faible pourcentage global de femmes dans le parlement du Ghana montre que nous devons aller beaucoup plus loin . ”

Il est notre espoir que dans le prochain gouvernement les femmes seront plus équitablement représentées dans les différents postes de décision, y compris dans l’armoire, des postes ministériels et à divers conseils. Le Ghana a été largement considéré comme l’un des plus forts exemples d’Afrique pour la démocratie. Pourtant, le pourcentage de femmes dans le parlement du Ghana reste à la traîne loin derrière les pourcentages de nombreux autres pays africains avec des démocraties bien plus récentes, dont le Rwanda (56%), le Mozambique (39%) et 42,3% en Afrique du Sud. AWDF attend avec impatience les femmes parlementaires nouvellement élus, et de leurs homologues masculins, qui travaillent ensemble pour atteindre une véritable égalité pour les femmes du Ghana. [/tp]

Do you wish to give a gift to AWDF? You can give to AWDF via our sister organisation AWDF-USA by supporting the ‘Mother Africa’ campaign.

For our donors in the USA:

Did you know that if you give to AWDF USA in 2012, you could get a 100% federal tax write-off for your gift?

And did you know that the government might cap charitable donation tax deductions starting in 2013?

There are only a few weeks left in the 2012 Giving Season.

So, don’t delay.

Give today to maximize both the tax benefit and social impact of your AWDF USA donation.

A special “thank you” to those who have already given.

Your donations have had the following impact this year:

• Kept open almost 300 outstanding African women’s nonprofits providing vital services throughout the continent

• Raised awareness of millions throughout the US and Africa about the risks of infant and maternal mortality and how to prevent it

• Convened over 3000 Americans in forums and virtual townhalls throughout the country to learn about and mobilize support for African women innovators, philanthropists and leaders

The time is now! Please give to AWDF USA and our movement to advance African women’s causes and leaders.

Thank you for being our partner for a New Africa.

The Executive Board of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is pleased to announce that in January 2013 Professor Sesae Mpuchane will take over as Chair of the Executive Board of AWDF. This follows the completion of two terms in office as Board Chair by Dr. Hilda Tadria, co founder of AWDF. The Board and staff of AWDF offer their sincere thanks to Dr Tadria for her six years of exemplary leadership in that role, and look forward to benefitting from her expertise as an ongoing member of our Executive Board.

Professor Sesae Mpuchane has been a member of AWDF’s Executive Board for 3 years, bringing her considerable experience in academia, science and fundraising to the work that AWDF does. She sees her work with AWDF as “an opportunity to be part of a network or movement that is committed to the full empowerment of women through the creation of an enabling environment for positive change” and cites AWDF as “one of the few organisations that scouts or explores for value in women, at all levels, brings that value to the fore and helps to make it grow and flourish. A caring organisation such as the AWDF can bring about much needed change to society”

Theo Sowa says, “ It has been my priviledge to work with a committed Executive Board under the leadership of Dr Hilda Tadria. I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Dr Tadria and all of AWDF’s Executive Board for their service to the organisation. I am pleased that Professor Sesae Mpuchane has accepted the nomination of her peers to take office as Board Chair. The whole AWDF team look forward to working with her in the service and achievement of African women’s rights”.

Click to read Professor Sesae’s bio

AWDF has supported 15 grantee partners across the continent to carry out a range of activities to mark World Aids Day. The following are examples of some of the work that grantee partners will carry out.

The ‘Centre for Legal Rights Education, Advocacy and Development (CLREAD)’ in Kenya will undertake an HIV prevention education among Kodiaga female prisoners in Kisumu Kenya. Penal institutions are one of the sites most affected by HIV but rarely receive the needed attention. Critical HIV prevention information and skills is needed to manage the spread of HIV. The project will provide the needed information to set the pace for HIV prevention in the Kodiaga female prisoners in Kisumu Kenya.

In Zimbabwe, ‘Student’s And Youth Working on Reproductive Health Action Team’ (SAYWHAT) have been supported to educate women students of Harare Institute of Technology on the effective use of female condoms. The project will use diverse strategies including social media; a Candlelight Memorial; A Paper Doll Campaign and the use of a Young Women’s Female Condom Dress. Although the project will take place at the Harare Institute of Technology, students from 6 other local colleges in the same province will also be beneficiaries of this initiative.

In Ethiopia, ‘Kulich Youth Reproductive Health and Development Organization’ (KYRHDO),will promote Voluntary Counselling and Testing as well as Prevention of Mother to Child Services amongst women workers on 2 flower farms in Lume district of Oromia region of Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s flower industry is a booming business, and there are growing concerns that little is being done to address the AIDS pandemic in an industry notorious for attracting a transient, uneducated workforce vulnerable to the virus. This project therefore is initiating the awareness and attention needed to address the pandemic among workers on flower farms. The project will be implemented in two flower farms

Other groups supported include:

Center for Community Empowerment (CECOE) – Kenya

Human Care and Maintenance Foundation (HUCAM)- Ghana

Socioserve-Ghana (SSG)

Ndola Nutrition Group – Zambia

Youth Impact Organization- Malawi

Women’s Rights & Democracy Centre (WORD Centre) – Liberia

Community Volunteer Initiative for Development (COVOID)- Uganda

Slum Women’s Initiative for Development (SWID)- Uganda

Loving Hand – Zimbabwe

Centre for Health Development and Capacity Building (CHDCB) – Nigeria

Girls To Mothers’ Initiative (G2Mi) – Nigeria

Southern African Media and Gender Institute (SAMGI)

AWDF has supported 20 African women’s rights organisations to carry out activities marking 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence. These are:

• Action Group for Community Development (AGCD) – Burundi
• Africa Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) – Kenya
• Associacao Khalidwe of Lago – Mozambique
• Centre for Human Dignity and Development – Uganda
• Cercle des Jeunes pour le Developpement Durable – Ayessi (ONG CJ2D – AYESSI) – Benin
• Child Aid Organization Kenya – Kenya
• Citizen Participation Trust (CPTrust) – Zimbabwe
• Ibiono Ibom Destiny Ladies Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society – Nigeria
• Integrated Women and Children’s Development Activities (IWCDA) – Uganda
• ONG SIN-DO – Benin
• Organisation Nationale pour l’Enfant, la Femme et la Famille (ONEF) – Cote d’Ivoire
• PAMBERI Trust – Zimbabwe
• Solidarity Community Care Organization – Namibia
• Stepping Stones International – Botswana
• Uganda MEMPROW Girls Network (UMGN) – Uganda
• University Women Students Association (UWSA) – National University of Rwanda (NUR)
• Women and Youth Forum for Sustainable Development (WYFSD) – Ghana
• Women Inspiration Development Center – Nigeria
• Youth Alliance – The Gambia
• Youth Coordinating Agency in Development (YOCADE) – Malawi

Activities being carried out by grantee partners include Uganda MEMPROW Girls Network (UMGN) project to raise awareness among young people on how to prevent violence against women during the MEMPROW girl’s camp; as well as share experiences of sexual and gender based violence faced by girls and young women in and out of school. ONG SIN-DO in Benin will be working to educate and sensitize 100 police trainees on the law on violence against women in Benin whilst PAMBERI Trust in Zimbabwe is organising a day’s workshop for 25 women artists to address issues of the impact of violence on women through the performing arts, film screenings and discussions.

The Co-Founders of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), Her Excellency Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, First Lady of Ekiti State, Nigeria; Ms Joana Foster, Head of Mission, medica mondiale, Liberia; and Dr Hilda Tadria, Executive Director of ‘Mentoring and Empowerment Programme for Young Women’ will be honoured on Tuesday 27^th November 2012 with the IPPFAR Philanthropy Award at the 60th Anniversary Gala of the International Planned Parenthood Foundation. This celebration takes place at the Birchwood Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa.

IPPFAR states, “Philanthropy Awards recognises the work of individuals and institutions that are actively impacting communities and women’s development on the continent through philanthropy and community engagement”.

Theo Sowa, Chief Executive Officer of AWDF said, “We are delighted that the pioneering work of the 3 Co-Founders of AWDF is being recognised by IPPF-AR. It is important to celebrate the individuals and institutions that are working so hard to move this continent forward, and Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Joana Foster and Hilda Tadria are powerful symbols of the change that African women are leading throughout their communities and on the continent today.”

AWDF is pleased to support the International Workshop on Resource Mobilisation (IWRM) Africa for the third consecutive year. The IWRM Africa takes place 27th-30th November 2012 in Kampala, Uganda. AWDF has awarded IWRM Africa a grant of $30,000 and in addition are sponsoring the participation of 27 women leaders from grantee organisations in 10 African countries (Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe,Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique, Botswana, Ghana and South Africa).
The IWRM Africa is Africa’s leading symposium on fundraising. Now in its third year, the IWRM Africa on average annually attracts more than 200
participants from over 25 countries across Africa and beyond. Many international and local NGOs on the continent now include the IWRM Africa
as an integral part of the annual training programme for their staff, leaders and board members.

Nafi Chinery, AWDF’s Capacity Building Officer will be speaking at the IWRM Africa on ‘Rendezvous: 90 minutes with your favourite donor‘. This 90 minute session is back due to popular demand, tailored to respond effectively to recommendations from last year’s event, making it the best rendezvous yet! If you will be attending this year’s IWRM Africa be sure to attend this session.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are an existing grantee of AWDF you may apply to receive a bursary to attend the IWRN Africa. Please see documents below

Logistic form IWRM Africa

IWRM ANNOUNCEMENT 2012-2

From the 19 – 21st November 2012, AWDF will hold a 3 day skills building workshop on ‘Rights and Results Based Programming’ (RBP) in Johannesburg, South Africa, for 30 grantee partners from the Southern Africa region (Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland). This training will seek to adapt the framework of the RBP to the needs of women’s rights organisations. Participants will be trained on how to use the RBP framework within the context of women’s rights activities and to understand the core questions around the implementation of RBP.

Key objectives for the skills building workshop are:
• To identify some of the common challenges within women’s organizations in their ability to track and report change in their programme to different stakeholders.
• To provide skills that will enable grantees to systematically align their work to anticipated results, track changes and report them in more coherent and compelling ways to the different stakeholders.

This training will be co-facilitated by Hope Chigudu, a women’s rights consultant; Zeytuna Abdellah Azasso, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer, AWDF and Nafi Chinery, Capacity Building Officer, AWDF.

When I was told about Hope Rising and asked to say a few words, I accepted immediately. No hesitation, no checking of schedules – just immediate acceptance. There were two reasons for this.

The first is all about Stephen Lewis. He has been a key influence in my life – though I am only one of so many young women (well, not so young now!) whose careers he has nurtured. I will always love him for his passion, his caring, his fierce commitment to challenging the inequities of our world… and also for his ingrained respect for others, especially women. It’s that determination to root out inequality, to challenge the use and abuse of power, and to nurture strength and potential that has been reflected not just in his life and work, but also in the establishment and the work of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

And that is the second reason I came: Because I knew that Hope Rising wouldn’t be the typical fundraising event. I’ve witnessed far too many that have made me furious about their portrayals of African women as helpless, hapless victims, about their pictures of children with distended bellies and their implications that Africans cannot or do not care for their children or communities, and need to be ‘saved’ by people thousands of miles away. I knew that SLF would make sure Hope Rising was about solidarity and not a degrading type of pity.

It has been a great privilege to have spent years working alongside many truly extraordinary African women…I cannot and never would dream of speaking for them, but I do want to bring them into this space this evening – as I know them – experts, innovators and true leaders.

So let me tell you the story of just one of the thousands of women we want to celebrate. Patience is a retired nurse living in Tanzania, raising 5 grandchildren. After losing three of her five adult children to AIDS, she made the 5 hour walk to the nearest clinic with her grandchildren, and they all got tested. Only 1 child tested positive, but so did Patience.

Depression, and the sting of stigma kept Patience at home for months. Her

grandchildren stayed home from school, worried sick about the only adult left in their lives. Maybe it was seeing her grandchildren so frightened; maybe it was her love

for them, or the knowledge that her three dead children had entrusted her with the wellbeing of their children; or maybe it was what used to be drummed into me as a child – that African women just don’t give up! Whatever the motivation, Patience found the strength to pull herself out of that depression and tackle the multiple calamities that AIDS had laid at her door.

Today, Patience is a home-based care worker with a project called Umatu. Every day she is up at 5 a.m., gets the children ready for school, cooks a modest breakfast, and heads out on a bicycle to care for 20 other families struck down by AIDS. They are in different stages of suffering and loss, and for many, it is the nutrition, healing, counseling and support that Patience and Umatu bring that has helped them begin to live positively with HIV, rather than dying from AIDS.

Yet, even as we celebrate Patience, we must ask why her expertise is so marginalised in decision making circles; why her voice is not heard in the corridors of power where HIV/AIDS policy is designed.

This short sightedness has accelerated the ravages of AIDS in Africa — along the faultlines of gender inequality. Women’s bodies have become the ground zero of the pandemic: The violence they absorb, the love and nurture they give, the children they nurse, the children they bury, the grandchildren they raise. With pain and with strength, women repair the fabric of their lives and of those around them.

It is this expertise that the SLF listens to and treats with respect. In 9 years the SLF has invested over 60 million dollars, working with more than 300 organisations in 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We can see the profound difference in the quality of life in those communities, but so much more still needs to be done.

At an African grandmothers’ gathering in Swaziland in 2010 hosted by the SLF and a local organization, SWAPOL, we heard the powerful voices of African women. Let me end with their words:

“In 2006 we were battered by grief, devastated by the deaths of our beloved sons and daughters, and deeply concerned for the futures of our grandchildren. We stand here today battered, but not broken.

We are the backbones of our communities. We form the core of community-based care. With our love and commitment we protect and nurture our orphan grandchildren. Africa cannot survive without us.

We are strong, we are visionary, we have faith and we are not alone. Together we will turn the tide of AIDS.”

Tonight I ask you to show that those grandmothers really are not alone. I ask you to stand in solidarity with the women of Africa, with the SLF, and with women and men of commitment the world over – to stand in solidarity to turn the tide of AIDS… and to keep hope rising. Thank you.

The International Network of Women’s Fund (INWF) is a network of independent women funds committed to expanding the resources available to women’s human rights in the global south and countries in transition. It is a membership association linking Women’s Funds to promote philanthropy with a feminist perspective. INWF currently has 45 members in 32 countries.

The mission of INWF is to strengthen the political and financial capacity of Women’s Funds to empower women and girls and redistribute resources to transform their lives and communities. INWF promotes an alternative vision for the act of “giving” based on the principles of trust and empowerment. The organizations approach to sustainability is both political and financial, and places women’s funds from various countries of the globe as a key lever for change.

The INWF has been working to ensure that the political and financial capacity of Women’s Funds is strengthened and currently has total membership of 45 Women’s Funds from 32 countries working together to empower women and contribute to the redistribution of resources to transform women’s lives and communities.

The Biennial Conference:

The Biennial Conference organized every two years conveys all members and it has become a key space for advancing the work of the network.

This years’ Biennial meeting is being hosted by the African Funds in Johannesburg, South Africa from November 15 – 17, 2012 and will host about 70 members of the network. The key objectives of the biennial conference are:

• Analyze and evaluate the work of the Network.
• Advance the Monitoring and Evaluation Research-Action Program.
• Promote the work of the regions and the members.
• Strengthen members’ alliances.

AWDF is co-sponsoring the 2012 Biennial meeting.

The biennial meeting will be preceded by the following events:

2-day Meeting of Africa funds (Nov 9 -10, 2012)

2-day Meeting Asia Funds (Nov 8 -10, 2012)

3 -day M&E meeting for all network members ( Nov. 12 -15)

Biennial meeting (Nov 15 – 17)

Contact Info INWF Mirlo No. 53

Col. El Rosedal

Coyoacan CP 04330

Mexico City, Mexico

Tel + 5255492051

Website: www.inwf.org