Author: African Women's Development Fund

[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]Responsibility: Coordinate the African Grantmakers’ Network

Reports to: AGN Steering Committee

Liaises with: Member-organizations of AGN

Location: The coordinator will preferably be based within one of the AGN member organizations, but other locations may be considered.

Specific Responsibilities

Working under the supervision of the Chairperson and Co-Chairperson of the steering committee of the AGN, the consultant will provide dynamic coordination of the network. Specifically, he/she will:

• Efficiently manage and coordinate the core activities of the AGN, which include research and publications on philanthropy in Africa, advocacy for an enabling policy environment, peer learning and exchanges, workshops and convenings, and other membership services.

• Take initiative in developing and implementing innovative ideas and plans to enlarge and sustain the network.

• Develop and implement plans for raising the visibility of the AGN as well as building broad support for it.

• Prepare reports and serve as rapporteur at steering committee meetings.

• Work with the steering committee to build and strengthen collaborations between the AGN on one hand and philanthropy networks, forums and organizations elsewhere in the world on the other.

Qualifications and Skills

• Degree and at least 5 years of experience in philanthropy, outreach, and network building.

• Proven experience of managing membership organizations and networks.

• Good understanding of international development work

• Proven ability to function independently, take initiative and manage multiple tasks simultaneously, with prompt follow-through, careful attention to detail and an ability to meet deadlines.

• Excellent computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and other fundraising tools.
• Strong public-speaking skills, fluency in English and French (oral and written), and excellent knowledge of communication and advocacy strategies.

• Sound judgment and commitment to AGN’s core values of collaboration, accountability and efficiency.

Background on the African Grantmakers’ Network

 

The Africa Grantmakers’ Network (AGN) was established in July 2009 in Accra, Ghana, as a collective of African grantmaking institutions. The main goals of the AGN are to:Serve as a platform for peer learning and good practice to enhance good standards and practices.

1. Amplify local voices in development discourse and African perspectives in global platforms.
2. Reinforce the tradition of African philanthropy.
3. Advocate for long-term and sustainable support, including investments and endowments for African philanthropic institutions.Serve as a reference point for Africans in the Diaspora and affirmation of the identity of African philanthropic institutions.
4. Cultivate productive relations with other civil society formations in Africa and increase networking for effective advocacy around the aid agenda and the legal environment, including the tax regime.
5. Conduct pertinent research and capacity building to advance the field of African philanthropy.

 

How to Apply

To apply, please email resume, cover letter, and a writing sample to info@trustafrica.org. No phone calls or recruiters please. Deadline for applications: July 30, 2010.

The African Grantmakers’ Network is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and individuals from Africa are encouraged to apply.

View this announcement online at http://bit.ly/agncoordinator.[/tp]

[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]Responsabilité: Coordonner le réseau de l’subventionneurs africaine

Rapports au: Comité directeur AGN

Assurer la liaison avec: les organisations membres de l’AGN

Lieu: Le coordinateur sera de préférence basé au sein de l’une des organisations membres de l’AGN, mais d’autres endroits peut être envisagée.

Responsabilités particulières

Travaillant sous la supervision du Président et Co-président du comité de direction de l’AGN, le consultant assurera la coordination dynamique du réseau. Plus précisément, il / elle devra:

• Gérer efficacement et de coordonner les activités de base de l’AGN, qui incluent la recherche et des publications sur la philanthropie en
• Afrique, le plaidoyer pour un environnement politique favorable, l’apprentissage par les pairs et d’échanges, d’ateliers et de convocations, et d’autres services aux membres.
• Prendre l’initiative dans l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre des idées et des plans pour agrandir et de soutenir le réseau innovantes.
• Élaborer et mettre en œuvre des plans pour accroître la visibilité de l’AGN ainsi que la construction d’un large soutien pour elle.
• Préparer des rapports et de servir en tant que rapporteur lors des réunions du comité de pilotage.
• Travailler avec le comité de direction pour construire et renforcer les collaborations entre l’AGN sur les réseaux, forums et organisations d’une part et de la philanthropie ailleurs dans le monde de l’autre.

Qualifications et Compétences

• Diplôme et au moins 5 ans d’expérience dans la philanthropie, la sensibilisation et le renforcement du réseau.
• Une expérience avérée de la gestion des organisations associatives et les réseaux.
• Bonne compréhension des activités de développement international
• Aptitude avérée à fonctionner indépendamment, prendre des initiatives et de gérer plusieurs tâches simultanément, avec un suivi rapide grâce, attention aux détails et une capacité à respecter les délais.
• Excellentes compétences informatiques et la connaissance des applications Microsoft Office, y compris Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, et d’autres outils de collecte de fonds.
• Solides compétences de parole en public, la maîtrise de l’anglais et du français (oral et écrit), et une excellente connaissance des stratégies de communication et de plaidoyer.
• Jugement et engagement envers les valeurs fondamentales de l’AGN de ​​collaboration, la responsabilisation et l’efficacité.
• Renseignements généraux sur le Réseau des subventionneurs africains

 

Le Réseau «subventionneurs Afrique (AGN) a été créé en Juillet 2009 à Accra, au Ghana, en tant que collectif des institutions subventionnaires africains. Les principaux objectifs de l’AGN sont les suivants:

1. Servir comme une plate-forme pour l’apprentissage par les pairs et de bonnes pratiques pour améliorer les bonnes normes et pratiques.
2. Amplifier les voix locales dans le discours du développement et les perspectives africaines dans les plates-formes mondiales.
3. Renforcer la tradition de philanthropie africaine.
4. Avocat à long terme et un soutien durable, y compris les investissements et les dotations pour institutions.Serve philanthropique africaine comme un point de référence pour les Africains de la diaspora et de l’affirmation de l’identité des institutions philanthropiques africains.
5. Cultiver des relations productives avec les autres formations de la société civile en Afrique et d’accroître le réseautage pour un plaidoyer efficace autour de l’agenda de l’aide et de l’environnement juridique, y compris le régime fiscal.
6. Mener des recherches pertinentes et le renforcement des capacités pour faire avancer le domaine de la philanthropie africaine.
Comment appliquer

Pour postuler, s’il vous plaît envoyer CV, lettre de motivation, et un échantillon d’écriture pour info@trustafrica.org. Pas d’appels téléphoniques ou les recruteurs vous plaît. Date limite pour les applications 30 Juillet 2010.

Le Réseau des subventionneurs africains est un employeur d’égalité des chances. Les femmes, les minorités et les personnes originaires d’Afrique sont encouragées à postuler.

Voir cette annonce en ligne à http://bit.ly/agncoordinator.[/tp]

 

[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) in collaboration with Lufodo Productions is convening an African Women in Film Forum, 16^th-17^th June 2010 in Lagos, Nigeria.

This forum is being held to facilitate a dialogue on women’s rights with movie producers and writers, and establish a Gender Dialogue with the `Nollywood’ sector in Nigeria. In order to further promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, there is a need for women’s rights organisations to adopt strategies that can target a mass base of the population if perceptions, behaviours and attitudes are to be influenced. This activity is a crucial component of AWDF’s Popular Culture Project, which is supported by the MDG3 Fund.

According to AWDF’s Executive Director, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi ‘The African Women in Film Forum will bring together a number of prominent African filmmakers, writers and creatives including Professor Abena Busia, Tsitsi Dangaremba and Akin Omotoso to start a gender dialogue on how we can reclaim popular culture to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment’.

ENDS

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 Sekyiamah – Programme Officer (Fundraising & Communications)

Tel: + 233 (0) 302 521257

Email: nana@africlub.net/awdf

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

[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]Le Fonds Africain de Développement de la Femme (AWDF) en collaboration avec Lufodo Productions est la convocation d’une des femmes africaines dans le forum du film, le 16-Juin 17th 2010 à Lagos, au Nigeria.

 

Ce forum est organisé pour faciliter un dialogue sur les droits des femmes avec les producteurs et les auteurs de cinéma, et d’établir un dialogue entre les sexes avec le secteur `Nollywood” au Nigeria. Afin de promouvoir davantage l’égalité des sexes et l’autonomisation des femmes, il ya un besoin pour les organisations des droits des femmes à adopter des stratégies qui peuvent cibler une base de masse de la population si les perceptions, les comportements et les attitudes doivent être influencé. Cette activité est une composante essentielle du projet Culture Populaire de AWDF, qui est soutenu par le Fonds OMD3.

 

Selon le directeur exécutif de l’AWDF, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi «Les femmes africaines dans Film Forum rassemblera un certain nombre d’éminents africains cinéastes, écrivains et créateurs, dont le Professeur Abena Busia, Tsitsi Dangaremba et Akin Omotoso d’entamer un dialogue entre les sexes sur la façon dont nous pouvons récupérer la culture populaire pour promouvoir l’égalité des sexes et l’autonomisation des femmes ».

 

 

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 programme vise à construire une culture de l’apprentissage et des partenariats au sein du mouvement des femmes africaines.

 

La vision de AWDF est pour les femmes africaines de vivre dans un monde dans lequel il ya 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 Sekyiamah – Administrateur de programme (Levée de fonds et des communications)

Tel: + 233 (0) 302 521 257

Email: nana@africlub.net/awdf

Sites Web: www.africlub.net/awdf[/tp]

“Know Thyself”, a popular saying, is so real in my life. I have come to realise that lyrics of songs is my greatest source of inspiration. I have therefore programmed myself to listen to only good music every day.

I tuned into a radio station this morning and I heard an unfamiliar song but the lyric was so touching and real that I goggled the lyrics to get the words. The title of the song is “No charge”. It talks about a guy who sent a bill to his mum for all that he’s done and being doing that the mum never paid for. The mum turned the sheet and wrote on the paper all the things she’s done for the boy: from the nine months in her womb to the cost of his college fees that she never charged him anything, after reading, he was filled with so much tears and he told her of how much he loves and appreciate her effort.

Sunday 9^th May 2010 is Mothers day and as usual Children are having lots of plans for their mum. My question this year is “Do we appreciate our mother’s everyday or we wait till Mother’s day to show our love”? For some, it’s just about getting her a voucher for a shopping spree and it ends there, for others, it’s all about the fact that they have the money and so can even buy the world for their mums.

Every mother’s greatest pride is to see her child do something to make her proud so for most mothers, little things like their kids receiving prizes at school and getting promotions at work or their chosen field of endeavours make them proud and it has always been the case.

Even as we mark this year’s mother’s day, I wish we would go the extra mile of telling our mothers how much we appreciate their effort, not through a text message but if possible seeing them face to face to tell them how much they mean to us, that I believe will make them proud of us

They carried, nurtured and did everything we needed at no cost, so let’s give them our all not on mother’s day but as long as God gives us breath, for they deserve it.

Kudos to all mothers, No amount of money can be used to repay your efforts and for that reason you never and can never be able to charge us.

Love to you all

Mavis Gardiner

Finance Assistant

Guinea Solidarity Mission-Executive Summary

Agenda – Solidarity Mission to Guinea

Since the draft constitution for Kenya was passed by Parliament paving the way for its publication and referendum, those seeking to stop the march towards a new dawn for Kenya have embarked on a mission of misinformation and misinterpretation of the draft constitution for selfish personal and fundamentalist interests.

A section of Christian leaders and the political class have latched on the legalization of abortion as one of the reasons why we should delay or forget about having a new constitution. Abortion is defined as partial or complete expulsion of products of conception before viability normally taken as 23 weeks from the last normal menstrual period. There are two types of abortion: spontaneous abortion referred to by lay people as miscarriage and elective or voluntary abortion.

In case they have not read the draft constitution carefully, Article 26 on the right to life states that: (1) every person has the right to life. (2) The life of a person begins at conception. (3) A person shall not be deprived of life intentionally, except to the extent authorised by this Constitution or other written law. (4) Abortion is not permitted unless, in the opinion of a trained health professional, there is need for emergency treatment, or the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law.

The clause above seeks to protect the life of all Kenyans regardless of their gender, religion or moral persuasion. Article 26 balances the interest of the church on one hand and women’s rights to life and respect for medical ethics and professionalism on the other. Taking care of the interests of different groups in society is the cornerstone of any constitution making process worth its salt. The minority should not suffer under the tyranny of the majority.

It is immoral to try and misinform Kenyans on this issue from the pulpits or public fora. A few men who have never and will never conceive should not purport to speak for and on behalf of the women of Kenya on an issue that they are inexperienced to discuss. Which Kenyans or women have they consulted? Women are citizens of this country and are entitled to all human rights including the right to life. Women constitute more than half of the Kenyan population and the church. Are the leaders telling us the lives of the majority of Kenyans who voted them into power and who finance and sustain the church are inconsequential?

Why are sections of the church and the political class hell bent on distorting facts in their personal quest to stop the country from getting a new constitution? Why are they trying to reduce our struggle for a new constitution to two non-contentious issues; kadhis courts and abortion? Why must their misinformed opinion prevail?

In their submissions to the CoE, women’s groups, lawyers and medical practitioners made it clear that a Constitution has no business delving into issues of abortion and should provide the general principle and leave abortion to be legislated through an act of parliament. They disagreed with the church’s assertion that is now in Article 26 (2) that ‘the life of a person begins at conception’. They questioned what is conception or when it occurs and expressed fear that this vague reference point may be used to criminalize certain effective and safe contraceptive methods. The church’s proposal prevailed.

Politicians and church leaders must be tolerant and understand that they cannot win all the time and that it does not hurt to accommodate other people’s views. They must emulate the humility of other interest groups; exercise tolerance, honesty and truthfully educate Kenyans on the provisions of the draft Constitution so that we can realise a new Constitution for this country.

The crafters of Article 26, listened to all interest groups on the right to life and came up with a provision that appreciates that there are instances when abortion does occur naturally or spontaneously which is referred to as miscarriage in layman’s language. In fact, 30 per cent of all clinically diagnosed pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion. It also seeks to acknowledge that medical conditions such as ectopic pregnancy, high blood pressure and others do not allow a woman to carry a pregnancy to term without resulting in maternal and foetal death and therefore doctors make a choice to preserve the life of the mother.

For those clamouring for the amendment of the Article 26 before or after the referendum, it may be useful to consider some sobering facts on abortion, women’s rights and the status of women in this country.

They need to appreciate that abortion is a universal practice: it occurs in all parts of the world—east and west, developed and developing, rich and poor—and among women of all types, single and married, sexually promiscuous and ‘celibate’, believers and non-believers, adolescent and older. Abortion is not a service procured by women only; men also force their wives, daughters and girlfriends to procure it.

They should note that no one in his or her right mind would say that it is fortunate to need a kidney or heart transplant. The same applies to abortion. Should need arise, it is very fortunate to be able to have a safe and legal one. That is why abortion is a medical procedure that doctors are taught and examined to make sure they are proficient in performing it before leaving medical school just like a tooth extraction, amputation of the leg or any other medical procedure. Therefore, it is a critical health service that should be made available to all Kenyan women and girls regardless of their economic status, religious or moral persuasion like any other medical or surgical procedures.

They should recognise the fact that voluntary abortion happens irrespective of whether laws making it legal or illegal exist. The only difference is that where laws restricting voluntary abortion exist, many women—especially those who are poor and cannot pay for safe procedures—end unwanted pregnancies themselves, or at the hands of unskilled personnel using unsafe methods. By doing so, they risk their health and even their lives. Legal status only affects the safety of abortion. In other words it makes safe abortion illegal and ‘unsafe abortion legal’ and sentences poor women and girls to unnecessary and preventable suffering and death.

Making voluntary abortion illegal does not save ‘babies’ it just kills and maims women and girls. Even though the current Kenya laws restrict voluntary abortion, 300, 000 abortions are performed annually. Furthermore, after procuring unsafe abortion many women and girls die which is a huge cost and loss to our economy. For the 21, 000 women who manage to get to health facilities with abortion complications each year, most post abortion care is provided in government health facilities, exacting a heavy toll on our under-resourced public health system.

Another consideration that is overlooked is that voluntary abortion reflects the unmet contraception and security needs of women and girls in the Kenyan society. Poor and young women in our country do not have easy access either to birth control, proper sex education or protection from sexual violence such as rape. Who is to judge that voluntary abortion for these Kenyan citizens is improper? Have we seen the church and political leaders marshal their troops in support of the Kenyan women’s call for an end to violence against women particularly rape and incest? The truth is, they have been silent.

Have some church and political leaders been at the forefront of campaigns opposing the use of contraceptives and introduction of sex education in schools? Have certain sections of the church been accused of sexually violating women and girls? For those who end up being pregnant, are they entitled to voluntary abortion? Is it moral to punish women for the failings of society or even the failings of their own judgment as human beings?

Have some sections of the church refused to baptise or admit in their schools children born out of wedlock because they have ‘no fathers’, their ‘parents are single’ or simply because they are ‘children of sin’? Have they excommunicated women who get pregnant before marriage? Do they pause to consider under what circumstances the children were conceived before discriminating against them and their mothers?

It is critical to appreciate that a woman with an unwanted pregnancy has three choices: to continue with the pregnancy with its risks and responsibilities, continue with the pregnancy and arrange for adoption or procure abortion with its risks and consequences. The key word here is CHOICE.

They also need to consider the known ways to reduce the health and human burden of unsafe abortion: to integrate sex education in the upper primary school curriculum, to increase the prevalence of contraceptive use to reduce overall levels of unintended pregnancy; to broaden the legal criteria under which abortion is permitted and establish services for the provision of safe, legal abortions within the law; and to provide women who experience complications from unsafe abortion with the medical treatment they need. They could borrow a leaf from Ethiopia, South Africa, Benin, Chad, Niger, Togo, Guinea and Mali who have amended their laws to provide for safe abortion resulting in considerable reduction in unsafe abortion and maternal mortality rates.

Abortion is morally right because a woman should not be forced to use her body to bear a child against her will. The universal moral justification would be that no one should be forced to use his or her body for the benefit of someone else. The real moral outrage should be that a section of our society with selfish personal and fundamentalist religious and political interests is preventing a majority of Kenyans from enjoying a very critical service-abortion. Lets us vote YES and later amend Article 26, not to make abortion illegal, but to make it explicitly legal and available on demand. That is the only way to ensure that all Kenyan women and girls enjoy their fundamental rights to life and health.

Mary Wandia

mwandia@yahoo.com

The author works on gender justice and governance.

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) was represented at the 54^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) between 27^th February and 7^th March by:

Dr Hilda Tadria – Board Chair

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi – Executive Director

Sarah Mukasa – Director of Programmes

Roselynn Musa – Programme Officer (Information & Documentation)

Nana Sekyiamah – Programme Officer (Fundraising & Communications)

AWDF also supported a number of African women’s rights organisations to participate in the CSW. These included:

• ABANTU for Development (Ghana)
• FIDA Ghana
• Young Women’s Christian Association (Zimbabwe)
• Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices (IAC)
• Nigeria Gender Budget Network (NGBN)
• Women’s Consortium of Nigeria
• Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT)

Supporting African women’s rights organisations to attend international conferences and convenings is part of AWDF’s remit to promote learning and the sharing of experiences on a local, national and international level.

Highlights of AWDF’s Activities

The New York Launch of Voice, Power and Soul: Portraits of African Feminists

On the 1^st of March 2010, Hon Gertrude Moneglla , the first President of the Pan-African Parliament and Jessica Horn, co-editor of Voice, Power and Soul: Portraits of African Feminists with Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Executive Director of AWDF launched Voice, Power and Soul: Portraits of African Feminists at the African Women’s Caucus which took place at the UN Church Centre, New York. Hon Mongella expressed her congratulations on the production of a document that presents an alternative and affirming image of African women. ‘I am happy to launch a book that does not portray African women as starving, helpless, hopeless and suffering. Instead we see strong, happy and resourceful women. And we also see more young women doing positive things. I am very happy about this. It sends a very important message.’

AWDF’s Participation in the African Women’s Caucus

Also launched at the African Women’s Caucus on 1^st March, was the African Women’s Regional Shadow Report on Beijing +15, a consultative document produced by The African Women’s Development and Communications Network (FEMNET) with financial support from AWDF. The report highlighted the key achievements and challenges in implementing the Beijing Platform of Action. In her remarks on the report, AWDF’s Executive Director, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi that progress in achieving the benchmarks could be summarized under four key areas, those of Celebration Hope, Urgency, and Despair. Bisi pointed out that although there were areas in which African women could celebrate, such as women’s advancement in political spaces in countries such as Liberia and Rwanda there were also other areas such as the continuous conflicts in many parts of the continent that leads one to despair. Bisi however expressed hope in the vibrancy of the African women’s movement to continue to deal with the pressing issues facing the continent.

The African Protocol on the Rights of Women

Roselynn Musa, AWDF’s Programme Officer for Information & Documentation provided an evaluation of the Implementation of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SEDGA) on behalf of the ‘Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition’ (SOAWR). In her assessment Roselynn named 4 gaps in the process of implementation of the SDGEA including a lack of commitment by nations to submit annual reports on progress made in taking account of gender particularities, a lack of political will, a lack of understanding and knowledge about the content of SDGEA and a lack of cooperation between institutions in order to expose threats/abuses and document cases prosecuted.

Centre for Women’s Global Leadership’s 20^th Anniversary Symposium

AWDF’s Executive Director, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi was one of the keynote speakers who shared her thoughts on movement building and the importance of sustainability for movement building work. In her address Bisi identified three key challenges facing the women’s movement today, which are a lack of alignment between vision, values and practice, a lack of appropriate leadership with some institutions and a sustainability challenge – some women’s organizations exist on shoestring budgets. In her recommendations, Bisi stressed the importance of re-dedication to global movements, and to feminist values and goals. She highlighted the need to make movements more inclusive and incorporate women who may not be part of formal organizations. This could be done by organizing regional spaces where feminists can convene regardless of organisational affiliation, as has been done in the case of the African Feminist Forum (AFF).

NEPAD/Spanish Fund Panel

Sarah Mukasa, AWDF’s Director of Programmes shared details of what AWDF has been able to achieve with support from the NEPAD/Spanish Fund. Support from the NEPAD/Spanish Fund enabled AWDF to scale up grant-making to support African women in the area of Economic Empowerment. Grants were disbursed to 52 women’s organisations in 9 countries, this funding was provided to scale up income generating activities, to increase vocational skills training and to invest in capital resources. As a result of this additional support the income generation activities of groups funded was strengthened and the provision of vocation skills training enabled women to make choices around which income generation activities they would participate in to support themselves and their families. An important outcome was that AWDF also strengthened its own capacities to respond to the needs of its constituents. The impact of this funding has been at a personal and community level – women been able to raise the visibility of their contributions, and have been able to raise their voices within their communities around what their specific needs are. This funding has resulted in a sustainable resource base for women and their families. Sarah however stressed that this should be seen as a beginning rather than an end.

The first ever African Women’s Economic Summit was held at the Windsor Hotel, in Nairobi, Kenya from March 18-20, 2010. The Summit was jointly organized by the New Faces & Voices Network (NFVN) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). This initiative brought together African and global leaders, majority of who were women who could influence and effect changes within their respective institutions. And who collectively could influence change through different strategies to bring women in Africa to centre stage, assuming key positions and contributing to the decisions that shape the African continent and a new global financial system.

Participants were drawn from financial services providers, regulatory bodies, development finance institutions, think tanks and advocacy groups, women’s right activist organisations, business and professional organizations, prominent business men and women and government leaders.

The Summit had the following objectives:

• Identify the opportunities and challenges to expand women’s access to financial products and services, and to advance women within the management and leadership structures of financial sector institutions
• Expand innovations to massively expand the amount of finance and scale of outreach of financial services and capital to women, as retail consumers of finance and as owners of businesses.
• Identify measures that will ensure women take their rightful place as decision makers within the governance and management structures of national, regional, continental and global financial institutions.
• Collectively identify the leadership needed to introduce new ways of thinking, and the actions required to build an African financial system that is more inclusive of women

Prominent speakers at the Summit include Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Republic of Kenya, Ms Speciosa Kazibwe Wandira, former vice-president of Uganda, Dr. Luisa Diogo, former Prime Minister of Mozambique, Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, Ms Linah Mohohlo, Governor of the Central bank of Botswana, Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, a former managing Director of the World Bank, Prof. Wangari Maathai, Nobel Laureate and Founder of the Greenbelt Movement, Mr. Arnold Ekpe, Grouyp CEO, Ecobank, Togo and Charles Abugre, Deputy Director for Africa, UN Millennium Campaign.

The two-day Summit was organised in a practical and participatory manner, encouraged honest discussions between the diverse interest groups present. This highlighted practical experiences and challenges of women in assessing various forms of finances at different levels. It also allowed for responses from policy and decision makers on strategies and commitments that could ensure acceptable access to financial services by women of all categories.

The Summit was very insightful and educative for me, it did not just touch on increasing or making financial services accessible to women, but it also went deep to explore women’s access to finance and decision making positions and its implication on the social structures at the community and household levels. It discussed the cultural and family implications for women in higher decision making positions. This included the ability to detach ourselves from cultural barriers, having fewer prejudices and courage to refuse to pander to stereotypes for example. By the end of the second day these conclusions among others were clearly defined:

• That women should form the centre stage of the financial sector because women bring talent, energy and creativity to the table, women are both policy makers and consumers of financial products and services.
• The need for accessibility to higher education among women; an appropriate level of ethics; and the use of advocacy and activism to improve the visibility of women’s cause.
• The need to have more reliable and prudential regulations in place that are gender sensitive and responsive to women’s needs.
• That while land ownership is crucial for women in many part of the continent, it should not become a limiting factor for women to access financial services. Instead it is important for women to diversify their asset base-one that is dynamic and consists of knowledge, excellence and networks.

So many profound statements were made, very inspirational and action oriented but one that has stayed with me for some time now was made by Donald Kaberuka, president of African Development Bank Group; where he acknowledged the benefits of improving women’s economic opportunities by saying ‘it’s a way to enhance women’s contributions to the growth of our economies and the well-being of our communities”. And that he strongly believes that “investing in women differently is essential to revitalise our economies”. I was not surprised when he put forward a wish list including access to finance, infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and a stable continent without episodic instabilities as the requirements for women to prosper in business.

Moving forward, l hope the energies, rich action plan and commitments will be followed through and the ideals of the economic summit sustained for future generations. I look forward to collectively supporting the agenda of the summit in its future activities.

The New Faces & Voices Network (NFVN) is an association of African leaders in business and finance across the continent that was established under the patronage of the African Women’s Foresight Network and was founded by Madam Graca Machel. The Network is committed to dynamically engaging the relevant institutions to create opportunities for women to contribute to the decisions that shape the African continent.

By: Nafi Chinery

Capacity Building Officer (AWDF)

25-year-old Nana Abena Akrasi is the founder of Young Women Empowerment Initiative (YWEI) in Ghana. In her own words, ‘Young Women Empowerment Initiative runs projects that will enhance young women’s lives and address challenges young women face.’

One of these projects, ‘Young Single Mothers/The Soya Project’ was recently awarded ‘Best Project’, by the National Union of Ghanaian Students (NUGS). The project involved training 64 young single mothers between the ages of 15 and 29 in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana on the use of soya beans for commercial and domestic use. Participants also attended a workshop on establishing new businesses, managing and expanding existing businesses and identifying market opportunities.

Nana Abena decided to start working with single mothers when she visited the Brong Ahafo region in December 2006. She was struck by the high number of teenagers who are single mothers and are struggling to raise children without the support of the men with whom they had the children. As a result, Nana Abena initiated a ‘Young Single Mothers Club’ in Baabianiha, near Berekum in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana.

In order to provide members of the club with a source of income, YWEI decided to take advantage of a ‘Medium Term Agriculture Development Project’ initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture in conjunction with Women in Agriculture and started a Soya Project. Soya is normally produced only in the Northern part of Ghana so this project involved introducing a new crop to the community. YWEI partnered with a number of bodies to ensure the success of the project. This included the Municipal Assembly, the local Business Advisory Centre, and the local unit of the Department of Women. YWEI also successfully garnered corporate sponsorship from a national telecom company.

Key achievements of the project included:

• Training 64 single mothers in the cultivation and processing of soya beans within the Berekum, Jaman North and Dorma Districts of the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana
• Forming 3 strong single mothers groups which provides support and solidarity to its members
• Successfully introducing a new crop to the Brong Ahafo Region. As a result of the training a number of participants have started soya farms.

Apart from the ‘Young Single Mothers/The Soya Project’, YWEI has also commenced a ‘Ladies Empowerment Club’ at Zenith University in Ghana. Members of the club meet to discuss a range of issues, which are a challenge to women on the campus. It is the hope of YWEI that they will be able to establish Ladies Empowerment Clubs’ in a number of tertiary universities across the country.

AWDF is proud of the achievements of YWEI and the initiative, leadership and tenacity demonstrated by its Executive Director by Nana Abena Akrasi. Congratulations!

The New York Launch of ‘Voice, Power and Soul: Portraits of African Feminists’ took place at the UN Church Centre as part of activities marking the 54th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The book was officially launched by Gertrude Mongella, the first President of the African Parliament with co-editor Jessica Horn