About AWDF

 

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is a grant-making foundation, which supports local, national and regional organizations in Africa working towards women’s empowerment. AWDF through institutional capacity building and program development seeks to build a culture of learning and partnerships within the African women’s movement.

 

The vision of AWDF is for African women to live in a world in which there is social justice, equality and respect for women’s human rights. To this end, our mission is to mobilize financial resources to support local, national and regional initiatives led by women, which will lead to the achievement of this vision.

 

Press Enquiries

 

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah

Programme Officer for Communications, AWDF

Tel: +233 302 521 257

Email: nana@africlub.net/awdf

Website: www.africlub.net/awdf[/tp]

[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE

Pour diffusion immédiate

AWDF ANNONCE LES FINALISTES DES PRIX DES CONCOURS D’ESSAIS ET DES BOURSES HAWA YAKUBU LEGACY FUND

 

Le Fonds Africain de Développement de la Femme (AWDF) est heureux d’annoncer les finalistes de la compétition du Fonds d’héritage de la dissertation et l’octroi de bourses Hawa Yakubu. Le 5 Juillet 2011, AWDF tiendra une cérémonie à la Maison AWDF à East Legon pour reconnaître ces finalistes.

 

Le fonds de dotation a été lancé le 12 Novembre 2010, dans le cadre des célébrations du 10e anniversaire d’AWDF, en mémoire de Hawa Yakubu, une activiste sociale, membre du Parlement lors de la Quatrième République du Ghana et un ancienne ministre du Tourisme.

 

A cette occasion, Son Excellence Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Présidente du Libéria et invitée spéciale d’AWDF pour les célébrations du 10e anniversaire, a parlé de son profond respect pour le travail de Hawa Yakubu et a exprimé sa joie que son héritage a été commémoré. Le fonds a été lancé officiellement par l’hon Frema Osei-Opare, Membre du Parlement, Ayawaso Ouest. M. Bernard Moro a prononcé un bref discours au nom de la famille d’Hawa Yakubu, exprimant la gratitude de la famille à AWDF pour honorer la mémoire de cette dernière.

 

Les finalistes qui font partie de la cérémonie le 5 Juillet sont Shiraz Saadijda de l’Université du Ghana, Phyllis Addo de l’Université du Ghana et Linda Atbilla de l’Université des Etudes de Développement qui ont été choisies après un processus concurrentiel rigoureux. Cela revenait à soumettre une dissertation sur le thème «L’autonomisation des femmes ghanéennes Pour une participation politique effective – une réalité ou rhétorique politique” Les 3 finalistes retenues se verront remettre une bourse pour soutenir leurs études universitaires et une subvention pour faciliter un projet qui profite à d’autres jeunes femmes.

 

 

A propos d’AWDF

 

Le Fonds Africain de Développement de la Femme (AWDF) est une fondation d’octroi de subventions, qui soutient des organisations locales, nationales et régionales en Afrique travaillent à l’autonomisation des femmes. AWDF à travers le renforcement des capacités institutionnelles et le développement de programmes vise à construire une culture de l’apprentissage et des partenariats au sein du mouvement des femmes africaines.

La vision d’AWDF est pour les femmes africaines de vivre dans un monde dans lequel il y a la justice sociale, l’égalité et le respect des droits humains des femmes. À cette fin, notre mission est de mobiliser des ressources financières pour soutenir les initiatives locales, nationales et régionales dirigées par des femmes, ce qui mènera à la réalisation de cette vision.

 

Questions presse

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah

Programme Officer for Communications, AWDF

Tel: +233 302 521 257

Email: nana@africlub.net/awdf

Website: www.africlub.net/awdf[/tp]

Journey to Ekiti State, Nigeria

 

8^th June 2011. I am en route to Ekiti State for the very first time. As I board the Air Nigeria plane that will take me from Accra to Lagos for the first leg of my journey I am handed a copy of the National Mirror by one of the flight attendants. I scan the paper and my attention is caught by 2 headlines, “Conduct bureau urges public officers to publish assets”[i] and “EU to partner Ekiti on growth, development”[ii]. The first headline refers to the fact that the Governor and Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Mrs Funmi Olayinka are the first political holders in office to declare and publish their assets. The second headline gives details of a visit to Ekiti state by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria “in view of the governor’s focus on reforms in governance”.

 

Reading a newspaper article on ‘the governor’s focus on reforms in governance’ is appropriate as it’s these very reforms that have led to my trip to Ekiti, Nigeria.

I am visiting Ekiti as part of AWDF’s work with the African Women Leaders Network for Reproductive Heath and Family Planning (AWLN). AWDF and the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) are co-coordinators of the AWLN – a collective of 35 African women leaders who are critical change agents working on issues of women’s rights, reproductive health, social justice and development. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, President of AWDF and First Lady of Ekiti State, Nigeria is also a member of the AWLN.

 

AWLN as part of its strategy to mobilize greater commitment to addressing maternal health and a range of reproductive health concerns, seeks to partner with leaders who have prioritized these issues at political levels. The AWLN trip to Ekiti is to engage with the government of Ekiti who have shown commitment to prioritizing issues of maternal and reproductive health. Whilst running for office, Dr Fayemi campaigned on an 8-point agenda including ‘women’s development’, and ‘health’ as priority issues.

 

Meeting Ekiti’s Key Public Officials

9^th June 2011. An AWLN team comprising staff from International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) and AWDF as well as Nigerian based Network Members, H.E. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, President of AWDF/First Lady of Ekiti State; Hon Saudatu Sani, Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on MDGs; participated in a reproductive health dialogue alongside key stakeholders in Ekiti including the Deputy Governor, H.E. Funmi Olayinka; Dr Wole Olugboji, Commissioner for Health; Ms Peju Babafemi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment; Dr D.K. Aina, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Rev. Olu Fatile, Director, Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria – South West Region. The occasion was also used as an opportunity to launch a ‘Maternal Health Record Book’ and a ‘Multiple Birth Trust Fund’.

 

Dr D.K. Aina set the tone for the dialogue with his presentation on “Policy Dimensions: Achievements and Challenges of Maternal Health Services in Ekiti State”. According to his presentation, some of the current structural, policy and legal provisions for the improvement of maternal health in Ekiti state include:

 

• The Deferral and Exemption Scheme, which ensures that the poor and vulnerable have access to maternal health services.
• The enactment of laws to protect women’s rights and reproductive health including the prohibition of harmful widowhood rites, female genital mutilation and gender violence.
• The existence of a Life Saving Skills centre to train nurses and midwives for maternal health purposes.

 

New policy initiatives outlined by Dr Aina included:

 

• The pending launch of free health care services for pregnant women
• A community based approach to the reporting of maternal mortality through the distribution of maternal mortality registers at palaces, churches, mosques and diverse focal areas in communities.

 

His presentation highlighted maternal health data in Ekiti state with women bearing an average of 5 children, 20% of women delivering in public health facilities, 15% in private facilities and 62% at home. Major challenges indentified in accessing health care include a lack of resources to pay for care, unavailability of drugs and concerns about healthcare providers.

 

Reproductive Health Dialogue

Hon Saudatu Sani shared that in her experience as a Member of Parliament from 2003-2011, and Chair of the MDG Committee, a lack of skilled workers in hospital was recognized as the key reason for poor reproductive health services. She challenged states like Ekiti to train more midwives by 2015 and stated, “Nigeria is at the driving seat where the MDGs are concerned.” Hon Saudatu Sani shared that a network of African parliamentarians have been mobilizing African governments to commit to the achievement of the MDGs and encouraged H.E. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi to speak to the wives of other Governors on the subject of reproductive health. She further commended Her Excellency on inspiring the creation of a Maternal Health Record Book for the women of Ekiti state which she cited as a practical example of an action to support women’s reproductive health.

 

Sarah Mukasa, Director of Programmes at AWDF invited the Deputy Governor to share how they had succeeded in obtaining the commitment of Ekiti state for women’s reproductive health.

 

In her response, the Deputy Governor, H.E. Funmi Olayinka stated,

“The first success story is a First Lady who has ‘know how’. The second success story is a Governor who respects women and is passionate about women’s rights as well as the committed staff at the Ministry of Health”.

 

H.E. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, President of AWDF/First Lady of Ekiti State and AWLN Member shared key lessons from the process of politicizing women’s reproductive health as follows,

“Partnerships are of critical importance. If officials at the Ministry of Health were not supportive, we wouldn’t have been able to create the maternal health record book, which was inspired by the work of the Nana Yaa Memorial Trust in Ghana, an AWDF grantee. This is another example of collaboration.”

 

Dr Wole Olugboji, Commissioner for Health attributed the success of prioritizing reproductive health to political will. He further stated, “those who continue the act of FGM will face the full penalty of the law”. Dr Olugboji encouraged the people of Ekiti to take family planning seriously. In his words, “Ekiti is an agricultural state and farmers know that if you plant crops too closely to one another your output will be poor. The same applies to giving birth to children. A space of 2 years is recommended between child delivery.” He also spoke about the benefits of vasectomy as a family planning method and expressed his willingness to lead the men in Ekiti State by example in this regard.

 

H.E. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi commended the Commissioner for Health on his efforts and urged him to consider the example set by Edo state (a neighbour to Ekiti state), which has passed a ‘Reproductive Health Bill for Women’. She described the bill as a good model for Ekiti state.

 

Community Responses to Reproductive Health Dialogue

The reproductive health dialogue was extremely well attended with participants ranging from government officials, civil society organizations, health workers and members of the community who took the opportunity to dialogue with Ekiti’s senior politicians and public officials on the way forward for women’s reproductive health in the state.

 

Comments, feedback and questions from the floor included:

 

“The use of the maternal health record books should be entrenched in the curriculum of the training for health centres and nursing schools”.

 

“CBOs want to do advocacy on the maternal health books – we will target local communities, market women, etc”

 

“More training should be given to traditional birth attendants”

 

Dr Ladley, a consultant gynecologist affirmed her support for the further training of traditional birth attendant. She said, “…most people don’t come to hospitals. University students should be trained in the proper use of the pills. Girls are using abortions as preventative family planning.”

 

Dr Olomojobi, a health researcher made the following input, “There is no single maternal audit record in the state. Statistics are not available on which mothers have been assisted, who had complications, etc. There is a need for harmonization across the health sector in Ekiti. We need the support of the AWLN at the training and dissemination levels of the maternal health record book”.

 

Key ‘asks’ from the AWLN

Funmi Balogun of IPPFAR on behalf of the AWLN made key ‘asks’ of Ekiti’s public officials and promised that the AWLN would make a return trip to Ekiti to follow up on the following:

 

• Can you commit to dedicating 15% of your budget to health as per the Abuja declaration?

 

• How do we ensure standards for faith-based organizations where many people go to give birth?

 

• Sexual health education should start from schools.

 

Closing address by H.E. Funmi Olayinka, Deputy Governor, Ekiti State

In her closing address, H.E. Funmi Olayinka informed the audience that Ekiti State had on the 8^th of June 2011 become the first state in Nigeria to pass a “Gender Policy” in line with Nigeria’s national policy and international conventions with the support of H.E. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi’s expertise.

 

She also confirmed that the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi will be reviewing the state’s budget for maternal health and stated, “ I reinstate the unreserved commitment of this administration to preserving and ensuring qualitative health care delivery to our citizens, particularly the women and children of Ekiti state.”

By: Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah

Programme Officer

African Women’s Development Fund

[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) would like to announce the start of admissions to the West Africa Peacebuilding Institute (WAPI).

This year’s Institute will be held from 05th to 23rd September, 2011 at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra, Ghana.

WAPI is a three-week intensive training program that aims to strengthen the capacity of civil society-based peacebuilding practitioners and institutions in order to promote the development of indigenous responses to conflict.

Six courses will be offered during the three-week period, each week having two 5-day intensive courses running concurrently. The courses are highly interactive and participatory, blending theory and practice in the field of peacebuilding.

Admission to WAPI is open to practitioners, students, policy makers and civil society members and individuals interested in peacebuilding, processes of dialogue and mediation, conflict and development, cross-border crimes, electoral disputes management, youth and peace education, conflict prevention and gender.

Please find details in both French and English on the courses and fees and application forms (English and French) attached. Send the completed application form to:
wapi@wanep.org and facquah@wanep.org

Deadline for submission of application document is 30th June, 2011.

Please circulate this information to colleagues and institutions that may be interested.

You could also visit our website for further details or regular update on the training: www.wanep.org[/tp]

[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]Le Réseau Ouest Africain pour l’Edification de la paix (WANEP) voudrait annoncer le début des admissions à l’Institut de consolidation de la paix en Afrique de l’Ouest (WAPI).

L’Institut de cette année aura lieu du 05 au 23 Septembre 2011 au Centre international de formation au maintien de la paix Kofi Annan (KAIPTC) à Accra, au Ghana.

WAPI est un programme de formation intensif de trois semaines qui vise à renforcer la capacité des praticiens pour la consolidation de la paix sur la base de la société-civile et les institutions afin de promouvoir le développement de réponses autochtones au conflit.

Six cours seront offerts au cours de la période de trois semaines, chaque semaine ayant deux cours intensifs de 5 jours fonctionnant simultanément. Les cours sont très interactif et participatif, mêlant théorie et pratique dans le domaine de la consolidation de la paix.

L’admission à WAPI est ouvert aux praticiens, aux étudiants, aux décideurs et aux membres de la société civile et les individus intéressés à la paix, aux processus de dialogue et de médiation, les conflits et le développement, les crimes transfrontaliers, la gestion des contentieux électoraux, de la jeunesse et de l’éducation de la paix, la prévention des conflits et le sexe .

S’il vous plaît trouverez les détails en français et en anglais sur les cours et les frais et les formulaires de demande (anglais et français) attachés. Envoyer le formulaire de demande dûment rempli à:
wapi@wanep.org et facquah@wanep.org

Date limite de soumission du document de demande est le 30 Juin 2011.

S’il vous plaît diffuser cette information à des collègues et des institutions qui pourraient être intéressés.

Vous pouvez également visiter notre site Web pour plus de détails ou mise à jour régulière sur la formation: www.wanep.org[/tp]

 

AWDF has been working in diverse ways to ensure that women play an active role in transforming their lives, families, communities, nations and the world to ensure social justice and equal opportunity for all.

A number of factors contribute to the continuous perpetuation of the subjugation of women. Lack of education, employment, skills, opportunities and income are some of the factors that prevent women from extricating themselves from the patriarchal systems and culture that so often plague many communities and cultures. Increases in the acquisition of skills has been linked to creating conditions for ensuring income earning opportunities for women that helps them to break through many of the patriarchal systems that have been built in society. Skills’ training is one way of empowering girls and young women to prepare them to take advantage of income earning opportunities. However most of these young women after acquiring the skills are unable to access the funds that will help them to set up income earning ventures.

The AWDF has over the years supported not only the skills training of women but have also supported the provision of start-up capital either in the form of equipment or funds to ensure that women who receive skills and entrepreneurial training are able to set up viable ventures that will improve their income and consequently their status in the family and community.

A signpost for “Alima Couture Mixte Coupe sur Measure” welcomes the visitor to the modest but very busy dressmaking shop set up by Alima Lemane, a 27 year old graduate of a vocational training centre run by the Association Catholique pour le Developpment Social (ACDS) based in Burkina Faso, a grantee partner of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF). AWDF over the years has been supporting ACDS to provide different kinds of skills training to young women. In 2009, AWDF supported ACDS to provide start up equipments for its graduating class. Alima was one of the beneficiaries of this support and received a sewing machine on graduation, which proved to be the catalyst for her business today.

With the machine received Alima set out to practice her trade. Through dint of hard work she was able to save and succeeded in renting a shop where she currently carries out her trade. Alima’s expertise led to an invitation by the ACDS to support their training programmes. Alima therefore presently supports the training of students at her alma mater. She is at the vocational centre from 7.20 am every working day till 11.00am when she goes to start her daily tasks at her dressmaking shop. Alima is passionate about passing her dressmaking skills to other young women and continues to work at the vocational centre despite her own growing sewing centre. In order to keep her dressmaking shop active and to ensure that she does not disappoint her numerous customers, Alima has gone into partnership with a young tailor. They now have a partnership with Alima being the senior partner. The partnership allows Alima’s venture to produce clothing for women and men and also ensures that Alima’s shop stays open with customers orders fulfilled whilst Alima continues to give back to society.

The 2009 grant that AWDF awarded to the Association Catholique pour le Developpment Social covered start-up capital for trainees and the purchase of sewing and catering equipment for the training centre. The funding also supported the integration of other life skills training such as education in reproductive health issues that covered HIV/AIDS, relationships and women’s right issues. This prepared the young women to claim ownership of their rights; especially their reproductive rights as they testified about their ability to presently take informed decisions about their reproductive health and being able to negotiate reproductive rights.

Alima’s status has improved within the family and community. Today she is more assertive and confident. Alima and her colleagues who have obtained new skills are going to be more visible in their communities and they would be better able to negotiate for the public sphere and play a stronger role in decision making.

 

 

By Beatrice Boakye-Yiadom

Grants Manager

AWDF

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Values are priorities that define our goals. According to David M. Taylor “Values drive behaviour. Your values are like a compass. This compass does not point north, south, east or west. It points to what is right. Every decision you make is guided by this compass”.

Gender Equality is a continental shared value of the African Union, others being peace, governance, development, human rights, participation and culture. Our leaders deserve a pat in the back for elaborating comprehensive frameworks on gender equality and women’s empowerment. These frameworks include the Constitutive Act of the African Union (2000), the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA) (2004), the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (2003), the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (2004), the AU Gender Policy (2008) and the declaration of 2010-2020 on the Decade for African Women, and other instruments.

 

Although the promotion of women’s rights constitutes a shared value, the general status of African women highlights the challenges of development in Africa. It is disappointing to note the wide gap between normative instruments and practice. African women still experience high rates of maternal mortality, insufficient protection for women in conflict areas, persistent violence against women, low representation of women in decision-making structures and discriminatory laws and policies that all point to the failure to fully adopt and reinforce the set standards.

 

The 16^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, under the theme-“Towards Greater Unity and Integration through Shared Values, was intended to provide the opportunity for deliberation on the instruments that articulate the basic standards of human rights that constitute shared values in the African Union with a view to furthering the integration process and stregthening the platform for collective action in addressing various challenges faced by the continent.

 

The Summit was an opportunity for women’s organisatios to engage AU member states and insist that they recognize and fully implement these shared values. It provided time to reflect and come up with strong recommendations and action in order to turn commitment to action. It was an opportunity to commend the 29 countries that have ratified the Protocol and to encourage the remaining 24 to do the same, while urging countries that have entered reservations to remove them. It was also an opportunity to review the performance of the Member States in implementing the SDGEA.

 

As the debate on Regional Integration intensifies African Union member states have an obligation to set aside adequate resources to implement their commitments on gender equality, document progress to enhance their accountability to the women of Africa and to ensure that issues on gender equality remain permanently on the agenda. While this is being done, it behoves on African women themselves to be proactive and get involved in the debate, ensuring that this integration involves harmonisation and implementation of laws to embrace the continental shared values on gender equality and women’s rights, without which the dreams and gains of integration will remain a mirage.

 

By: Roselynn Musa

 

References

David M. Taylor, ‘Why Values are Important’ University of Alberta, 1989

African Union, The January 2011 Summit On the Theme “Shared Values”, 2010

African Union, Towards Gender Unity and Integration through Shared Values, 2011

African Union, Draft Discussion Paper on Shared Values, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The amazing Sylvia Tamale has edited a new reader on ‘African Sexuality’ which I just cannot wait to get my hands on. This reader is published by Pambazuka Press. Click African Sexualities a reader for details of this reader.

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah

Communications Officer (AWDF)

[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]NEWS RELEASE

 

Contact: Talaya Grimes

Communications and Programs Manager

Tel: 240-755-4323

tgrimes@agag.org

www.africagrantmakers.org

 

Africa Grantmakers’ Affinity Group Releases New Report

“Making the Right Fit: Supporting NGOs in Africa Using Direct and Indirect Funding”

 

Washington, DC – The Africa Grantmakers’ Affinity Group (AGAG) has released the summary report of their recent study that asked a critical question often left unexamined in making grants to NGOs in Africa:

 

“Does how funders provide money to the organizations they support matter as much as what is funded?”

 

REPORT FINDS HOW NGOs IN AFRICA RECEIVE FUNDING DOES MATTER!

 

An important recommendation from the report is the need for more frank and direct discussion between foundations, intermediary organizations and African NGOs about the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches in reaching common funding goals. Communication is key when working at a distance for both foundations and African NGOs so each can gain a better understanding of constraints that may affect the funding partnership.

 

The report is based on interviews with staff members from a sample of 30 foundations, 11 intermediary organizations and five African NGOs that asked:

 

How all three types of organizations view and define organizational capacity.
How and why foundations use direct or indirect funding.
How African NGOs view the benefits of each approach.

 

Indirect funding describes support given through an international or local intermediary organization. In turn, these organizations subcontract work or re-grant funding to local NGOs to carry out specific projects. Direct funding describes when organizations receive funding directly from foundations rather than through an intermediary organization.

 

Of the foundations interviewed:

 

86 percent of foundations used one method (either direct or indirect funding) for 90 percent of their grants and 14 percent used a mixture of methods.
43 percent of foundations made part or all of their funding indirectly through intermediaries
57 percent of foundations used direct funding for part or all of their funding to NGOs in Africa.

 

The report found that African NGOs noted each method had different benefits in building organizational capacity:

 

Direct funding enables them to build a direct and valuable relationship with foundations.
Direct funding provided an opportunity to negotiate support for core and indirect costs.
Indirect funding through intermediary organizations often brings more relevant issue-area technical assistance and peer learning opportunities.
Indirect funding through intermediary organizations often has an integrated hands-on approach with more subject expertise about the local context.

 

Why foundations choose one method or the other:

 

Foundations stated that funding philosophy, legal requirements and budget constraints are some of the main reasons for choosing one approach over another.
Foundations that chose direct funding said that it provided a level of local engagement that cannot be achieved by funding an intermediary.
For foundations unable to fund directly, funding through intermediary organizations gave them an opportunity to support African NGOs.

 

The report’s findings and recommendations can serve as starting points for a dialogue between all stakeholders about the choice of funding method and the implications of that choice for all. These discussions can help foundations to ensure their grantmaking strategies are “Making the Right Fit” when seeking to support NGOs in Africa.

 

Download a copy of the report via www.africagrantmakers.org

 

The full report, Making the Right Fit: Supporting NGOs in Africa Using Direct and Indirect Funding report will be released later in 2011. The full report will give more details and analysis of the findings and recommendations.

 

###

ABOUT THE AFRICA GRANTMAKERS AFFINITY GROUP (AGAG)

Our mission is to promote increased and more effective funding in Africa though building and sharing knowledge about grantmaking in Africa. AGAG has a diverse membership of grantmakers and is the only philanthropy organization focusing on Africa. As part of its learning agenda AGAG conducts research and organizes learning calls and meetings to capture and disseminate information about funding practices and strategies. To view our publications and learn about our activities, visit www.africagrantmakers.org[/tp]

[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]

COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE

Contact: Talaya Grimes

Communications et Programs Manager

Tel: 240-755-4323

tgrimes@agag.org

www.africagrantmakers.org

 

Africa Grantmakers’ Affinity Group publie un nouveau rapport

“Faire le bon choix: Soutenir les ONG en Afrique Utilisation financement direct et indirect”

Washington, DC – Africa Grantmakers’ Affinity Group (AGAG) a publié le rapport de synthèse de leur étude récente qui a posé une question critique souvent laissée non examinée dans l’octroi de subventions à des ONG en Afrique:

 

«Est-ce que la façon dont les bailleurs de fonds fournissent de l’argent aux organismes qu’ils soutiennent a autant d’importance que ce qui est financé?”

 

UN RAPPORT CONCLUT qu’en Afrique la manière dont les ONG reçoivent un financement n’a pas d’importance!

 

Une recommandation importante du rapport est la nécessité d’une discussion plus franche et directe entre les fondations, les organisations intermédiaires et les ONG africaines sur les avantages et inconvénients des différentes approches pour atteindre les objectifs communs de financement. La communication est essentielle lorsque l’on travaille à une distance de deux fondations et les ONG africaines afin que chacun puisse acquérir une meilleure compréhension des contraintes qui peuvent affecter le partenariat de financement.

 

Le rapport est basé sur des entretiens avec les membres du personnel à partir d’un échantillon de 30 fondations, 11 organisations intermédiaires et cinq ONG africaines qui ont demandé:

 

Comment les trois types d’organisations perçoivent et définissent la capacité organisationnelle.
Comment et pourquoi les fondations utilisent un financement direct ou indirect.
Comment les ONG africaines considèrent les avantages de chaque approche.

 

Le financement indirect décrit les appui donné par une organisation internationale ou locale intermédiaire. À leur tour, ces organisations de travail de sous-traitance ou de financement re-subventionnent aux ONG locales pour mener à bien des projets spécifiques. Le financement direct signifie que les organisations reçoivent des fonds directement à partir des fondations plutôt que par une organisation intermédiaire.

 

Des fondations interrogées:

 

86 pour cent des fondations ont utilisé une méthode (soit un financement direct ou indirect) pour 90 pour cent de leurs subventions et 14 pour cent ont utilisé un mélange de méthodes.
43 pour cent des fondations fait partie ou la totalité de leur financement indirectement à travers des intermédiaires
57 pour cent des fondations utilisé un financement direct pour une partie ou la totalité de leur financement à des ONG en Afrique.

 

Le rapport a constaté que les ONG africaines ont noté que chaque méthode a des avantages différents dans la construction de la capacité organisationnelle:

 

Le financement direct leur permet de construire une relation directe et précieuse avec des fondations.
Le financement direct fourni l’occasion de négocier un soutien pour le noyau et les coûts indirects.
Le financement indirect par le biais des organisations intermédiaires apporte souvent des possibilités d’assistance et d’apprentissage par les pairs de la région de techniques question plus pertinente.
Le financement indirect par le biais des organisations intermédiaires a souvent une approche intégrée pratique avec plus sujettes expertise sur le contexte local.

 

Pourquoi les fondations choisissent une méthode ou l’autre:

Les fondations ont déclaré que la philosophie de financement, les exigences légales et les contraintes budgétaires sont quelques-unes des principales raisons pour choisir une approche plutôt qu’une autre.
Les fondations qui ont choisi le financement direct disent qu’il a fourni un niveau d’engagement local qui ne peut être atteint par le financement d’un intermédiaire.
Pour les fondations incapables de financer directement, le financement par des organisations intermédiaires leur a donné une occasion de soutenir les ONG africaines.

Les conclusions et les recommandations du rapport peuvent servir de points de départ pour un dialogue entre toutes les parties prenantes sur le choix du mode de financement et les implications de ce choix pour tous. Ces discussions peuvent aider les fondations pour assurer leurs stratégies d’octroi de subventions sont “Faire le bon choix” quand on cherche à soutenir les ONG en Afrique.

Télécharger une copie du rapport par l’intermédiaire www.africagrantmakers.org

Le rapport complet, Faire le bon choix: Soutenir les ONG en Afrique l’Utilisation du rapport sur le financement direct et indirect sera publié au plus tard en 2011. Le rapport complet sera donner plus de détails et l’analyse des conclusions et recommandations.

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A PROPOS DU GROUPE SUBVENTIONNEURS AFFINITY Afrique (AGAG)

Notre mission est de promouvoir un plus grand et plus efficace financement en Afrique que la construction et le partage des connaissances à propos de Programme en Afrique. AGAG a un effectif diversifié de bailleurs de fonds et est la seule organisation philanthropique se concentrant sur l’Afrique. Dans le cadre de son programme d’apprentissage AGAG mène des recherches et organise des appels et réunions apprendre à capturer et diffuser des informations sur les pratiques et stratégies de financement. Pour voir nos publications et en apprendre davantage sur nos activités, visitez www.africagrantmakers.org[/tp]

Please click the link below to download the PDF

11 05 09 Text of Final CSCHRCL Press statement on AHB

Over the last few weeks, we have witnessed a series of disturbing events in which we have seen the State and its law enforcement agencies respond in a brutal and often excessive manner to citizens’ demands for government action to address increased prices, cost of living, growing poverty, inequality in distribution of resources and corruption.

During this period, the Police and other security agencies have sought to quell demonstrations under the ‘Walk to Work’ Campaign using live ammunition and copious amounts of tear gas resulting in the loss of life, injuries to persons, and destruction of property. We have seen our sisters, brothers, and children affected in various ways with many still nursing injuries in hospital and others arrested and imprisoned, some without charge. In some incidences, sections of the public have exploited the volatile situation to break the law further spawning a downward spiral of violence both in Kampala and in other towns upcountry.

The shooting to death of two year old Juliana Nalwanga in Masaka, seven-month pregnant Ms. Nalwendo in the stomach and the brutal arrest and treatment of demonstrators and some bystanders are but some of the horrific incidents that have shocked us and invoked unease and a range of reactions from various sections of Uganda’s population and international actors including the Inter Religious Council, the Uganda Law Society and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

While the State has a duty to ensure law and order, the State is also obliged to respect, promote, protect, and fulfill the rights of its citizens as enshrined in the 1995 Constitution and other regional and international treaties to which Uganda is a signatory.[1] In attempting to fulfill its obligations in the last few weeks, the State has instead used excessive force resulting in the infringement of some of the fundamental rights enshrined in Chapter 4 of the Constitution including the right to life, the freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of movement, right to access prompt, fair and timely justice and freedom from inhuman and degrading treatment.

We are also deeply concerned about the suffering that has been occasioned by the escalating food and fuel prices. Many women, men and children are subsequently unable to meet their basic needs and enjoy their basic right to food, education, health and shelter. While we recognize the myriad of causes behind the current crisis, we also wish to express our profound disappointment with government’s indifference, exhibited by the lack of urgent action to curb the situation and apparent disregard of pressing priorities in allocation of government expenditure.

We as Women in Civil Society are hereby convening to register our deep concern and condemnation on the use of excessive force by the Police and other security agencies and subsequent escalating violence and to call upon the State to take critical measures to address the key issues/ concerns raised by the public so as to avert a national crisis. In particular, we wish to register our deep concern of:

1. The use of excessive force and especially the use of live ammunition to quell demonstrations, indiscriminate physical assaults on civilians, spraying of vast amounts of tear gas in closed spaces including cars, schools, dispensaries and homes occasioning loss of life and property, severe injuries and pain among innocent children, by standers, those at work and urban dwellers. We are greatly concerned that rather than enjoy state protection, citizens are preoccupied with defending themselves against its wrath;

2. The brutality of officers of the Uganda Police Force and other security operatives in handling the “Walk to Work” campaign which amounted to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment for those that were arrested;

3. The intimidation of human rights defenders who have spoken out on various issues of concern including the declining space for engagement;

4. Censorship of the media and a curtailing of press freedom and freedom of expression, including intimidation and security threats to journalists and media houses carrying out their duty as a watchdog of the state and provider of information to the public;

5. The erosion of the independence of the three arms of government. The actions and decisions of some judicial officers which cast doubt in the minds of the public on whether justice is being done. We are equally concerned that contrary to the public appeal for the perpetrators of violence to be brought to justice, the Minister for Internal Affairs has instead defended the use of brutal force. Such responses from government risk promoting impunity.

6. The increased militarization of the State and use of armed forces to enforce law and order and quell peaceful protests which heightens risks of violent conflict and will affect the entire population of Uganda including men, women and children.

We as women’s civil society organisations are calling upon the Government to respect, promote, protect, and fulfill the rights of its citizens as enshrined in the 1995 Constitution and exercise restraint in fulfilling its obligations. Government must recognize that the language of force and violence alienates more then 50% of Uganda’s population – the women and diminishes our initiative to exercise our civic duties within the public sphere;

We are calling upon Government to take proactive measures to address broader social justice issues, and ensure that key concerns voiced by various sections of the public are addressed. We demand for strong policy measures to address issues food security, unemployment, health and education. We also demand for government’s resolve to ensure greater transparency in the allocation and management of public resources, reduction of excessive government expenditure and equitable distribution of benefits of economic growth to all the citizens of Uganda.

We are formally submitting an appeal to the Government and to the International Community through the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights defenders (UNSR) requesting for thorough, prompt and impartial investigations into the human rights violations committed by the security forces.

Finally,we are calling upon the public to remain peaceful in the pursuit of various rights and to desist from violent actions. We are also calling for national dialogue between key parties and urge all stakeholders including the regional and international community to intervene in ensuring peace and justice prevails in Uganda.

UGANDA WOMEN’S CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS

AWDF will be launching its new 5-year strategic plan 2011 – 2015 shortly. As part of the strategic plan, AWDF is reworking its grant making thematic areas. The six new thematic areas are:

• Women’s Human Rights

• Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods

• Governance, Peace and Security

• Reproductive Health and Rights

• HIV/AIDS

• Arts, Culture and Sports

Guidelines are being developed for each of the thematic areas and will be uploaded on AWDF’s website and various communication outlets on completion. A new schedule for grant applications will be published at the same time. Therefore, we are asking potential grant applicants to wait until after the thematic guidelines and the grant processing schedule are published before submitting any further applications. AWDF will not be processing new grants applications until that point. .

Meanwhile we will continue to process applications that we have already received and duly acknowledged, which have increased enormously over the past year.

Please watch out for the publication of the guidelines and the grant processing schedule. We look forward to working with both new and old partners on these new exciting thematic areas.

 

Theo Sowa

Interim Chief Executive Officer

AWDF