Author: African Women's Development Fund

Hellen is a proficient Chartered Accountant with over 12 years’ experience in corporate reporting, external audit, internal controls, treasury management, taxation and corporate governance.

Prior to joining AWDF she was the Chief accountant of RMG Ghana Ltd. She also worked as an audit senior at Ernst & Young Ghana where she acquired experience in diverse industries amongst others manufacturing, extractive, construction, finance and governmental sector.

Hellen is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA-UK), she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (B’com) from University of Cape Coast and an Executive MBA (Finance) from University of Ghana Business School, Legon.

She is passionate about the total well-being of women and the African woman for that matter. She enjoys reading and listening to music.

Sylvia is an Administrative Assistant at the AWDF. With the field of administration a familiar turf for her, she brings on board over 10 years’ practice. She provides the HR Manager with administrative support and prides herself with leaving all her visitors with ineradicable smiles of contentment.

Preceding her role at AWDF, she was the Administrative Assistant for the Ambassador of the Embassy of the Czech Republic. She completed the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with a degree in English and French, a certificate in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, and a diploma in Human Resource Management from ICM – UK.

Among the values that Sylvia upholds and imbibes into all who come into contact with her are: respect, accountability and integrity. She aspires to be enlisted among the prominent names of women called to the bar.

Ntengwe for Community Development leads the way

Land is considered a major source of wealth, social status and power. In African countries where women are the major work force on agricultural land, the security of their rights over this key resource is often denied them.

This is what drove AWDF grantee partner, Ntengwe for Community Development to undertake this incredible initiative to improve access to land rights for women in four African countries: Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

The results have been phenomenal with life-changing impacts for some of the women in these countries. Click here to read the inspiring report on the Results and impacts of the “Pathways to Economic Justice on Women’s Land Rights”

Caren Akoto-Adade is the Communications & Fundraising Assistant and will be supporting the Communications and Fundraising Specialist in the execution of communications initiatives and programmes aimed at increasing the reach, impact and visibility of AWDF. Caren is a feminist, writer, teacher and an award-winning filmmaker based in Accra, Ghana.

She is an active member of the Young Feminist Collective, an organisation in Accra dedicated to creating a safe space for young feminist women to deepen their politics and activism and holds a BA in Theatre Arts and English from the University of Ghana Legon.

When Caren is not busy falling into a book, a conversation or her phone, she is very likely to be advocating the importance of a good cup of tea, pets and hugs.

Afua is responsible for coordinating and managing AWDF’s donor portfolio, ensuring that AWDF meets its implementation and reporting obligations to all stakeholders.

Afua started her career at World Vision International- Ghana as a Programme Officer for Sponsorship. She worked with ABANTU for Development; a women’s rights organisation based in Ghana for about 6 years advocating for policies to increase women’s participation and representation in decision-making spaces, through policy influencing and action research.

As a consultant for the United Nations Children’s Fund, World University Service of Canada, Centre for Democratic Development, the Women Peace and Security Institute of the Kofi Annan International Peace Training Centre, she assisted in implementing programmes to promote social accountability to reduce inequality in Ghanaian society.

Afua holds a Master of Arts degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research of the University of Ghana. She also has a certificate in Development Management from the Open University in the UK and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Cape Coast.

She is passionate about advocating for women’s rights and contributing to feminist agendas in Africa.

Sarah is an Administrative Assistant (Procurement) responsible for administrative duties relating to organising and coordinating procurement activities to support an efficient procurement framework within AWDF.

Prior to joining AWDF, she had worked at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for her National Service. Sarah is a graduate of Accra Polytechnic with HND in Purchasing and Supply.

She is passionate about seeing tangible results from work completed and giving fair treatment to everyone. Sarah is a strong believer in women’s rights to equal opportunities.

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The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), Fondo Mujeres del Sur (FMS), the International Indigenous Women’s Forum (FIMI), and Women’s Fund Asia (WFA) are excited to share that the Leading from the South (LFS) initiative, which they collectively conceptualised in 2016 to support feminist activism and movement-building in the Global South, has been renewed for another five years.

A unique partnership model, LFS is a feminist resource alliance that supports feminist activism and lobbying efforts by women, girls, and trans led organisations, movements, and networks at the regional, national, and grassroots levels in the Global South. Recognising that women, girls, and trans people are best placed to determine ways in which to address injustice and unequal power relations in their own communities, LFS resources and supports those who lead change and transform societies towards the full achievement of gender equality and human rights in the Global South. In addition to recognising the critical leadership of the South in guiding resources to address the experience of the Global South, it also values the impact of southern feminism in claiming resources on grounds of equality and non-discrimination to ensure women’s access to and enjoyment of human rights.

In its first phase, LFS was financed through a special grant of €42 million from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands over four years. By renewing their financial commitment and increasing it to €80 million over the next five years, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demonstrated its commitment to leadership from the Global South in addressing women’s rights and gender equality. This strengthened relationship between the Dutch Government and the LFS Consortium also makes a vital contribution to the reframing of bilateral relationships with Southern-led feminist funders.

Leveraging the successes, lessons and reflections of the first phase of LFS, Leading from the South 2.0 will resource and support small, medium, and large feminist organisation in urban, rural, and regional contexts, advocating for the rights of women, girls, and trans people in the Global South. LFS 2.0 will operate across multiple regions, including Africa and the Middle East, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean (with each fund determining the appropriate geographical and delivery mechanisms for their region), ensuring a global focus on the leadership of and advocacy by women, girls, and trans people. LFS 2.0 will start in early 2021 with calls for proposals from the member women’s funds.

Our present challenges are located in a context of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has exposed and accelerated the breakdown of our social institutions. It has disproportionately impacted women, girls and trans people, combined with the shrinking of civic space and rise of regressive governmental and societal forces, has further pushed back progress on gender equality. The role of women’s funds has become even more critical in these times. By placing the resources in the hands of feminist leaders from across the Global South, LFS 2.0 contributes to creating an enabling environment that centres ethical leadership, justice, and equality for all.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH OUR ANIMATED VIDEO OF AN OVERVIEW OF LFS

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African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), Fondo Mujeres del Sur (FMS), International Indigenous Women’s Forum (FIMI) et Women’s Fund Asia (WFA) sont heureux de vous annoncer que l’initiative “Le Sud aux Rênes du Leadership” (LFS), qu’elles ont collectivement conçue en 2016 pour soutenir le militantisme féministe et construire de mouvement dans le Sud, a été renouvelée pour cinq ans.

En tant qu’un modèle de partenariat unique, LFS est une initiative qui soutient non seulement le militantisme féministe mais aussi les efforts de lobbying des femmes, des filles, des organisations dirigées par les transgenres, les mouvements et les réseaux aux niveaux régional, national et local dans le Sud. Reconnaissant que les femmes, les filles et les personnes transgenres sont les mieux placées pour déterminer les moyens de lutter contre l’injustice et les relations de pouvoir inégales dans leurs propres communautés, LFS fournit des ressources ; soutient celles qui sont au-devant du changement et transforment les sociétés vers la pleine réalisation de l’égalité des sexes et la jouissance des droits fondamentaux dans le Sud. En plus de jouer un rôle déterminant dans l’orientation des ressources dans le Sud afin de répondre à leurs exigences, elle souligne également l’impact du féminisme dans le Sud tout en revendiquant des ressources pour promouvoir l’égalité, la non-discrimination des femmes et les permettre d’accéder et de jouir pleinement de leurs droits fondamentaux.

Dans sa première phase, LFS a été financée par une subvention spéciale de 42 millions d’Euros du Ministère des Affaires Etrangères des Pays-Bas et s’étendait sur quatre ans. En renouvelant son engagement financier tout en augmentant cette subvention spéciale à 80 millions d’Euros sur les cinq prochaines années, le Ministère des Affaires Etrangères des Pays-Bas a démontré son engagement en faveur du leadership du Sud dans le domaine des droits des femmes et de l’égalité des sexes. Cette relation renforcée entre le gouvernement néerlandais et le consortium de LFS contribue également de manière significative au recadrage des relations bilatérales avec les bailleurs de fonds intéressés par le féminisme dans le Sud.

Se basant sur les succès, les leçons apprises et les réflexions de la première phase, l’initiative “Le Sud aux Rênes du Leadership phase 2 apportera des ressources et un soutien aux petites, moyennes et grandes organisations féministes dans les contextes urbains, ruraux et régionaux, tout en défendant les droits des femmes, des filles et des personnes transgenres dans le Sud. L’initiative LFS phase 2 sera mise en œuvre dans plusieurs régions, notamment en Afrique et au Moyen-Orient, en Asie, dans le Pacifique, en Amérique latine et dans les Caraïbes (chaque fonds déterminera les mécanismes géographiques et de mise en œuvre appropriés pour sa région) tout en veillant à ce que l’accent soit mis sur le leadership et le plaidoyer des femmes, des filles et des personnes transgenres. LFS phase 2 sera mise en œuvre début 2021 avec des appels à propositions de projets venant des quatre fonds de femmes.

Nos défis actuels se situent dans le contexte de la pandémie mondiale de COVID-19, qui a exposé et accéléré l’effondrement de nos institutions sociales. Elle a eu un impact démesuré sur les femmes, les filles et les personnes transgenres, et a contribué au rétrécissement de l’espace civique et à la montée en puissance des forces gouvernementales et sociétales régressives faisant ainsi reculer les progrès en matière d’égalité des sexes. Le rôle des fonds pour les femmes est devenu encore plus crucial en ces temps. En plaçant les ressources entre les mains des leaders féministes dans le Sud, LFS phase 2 contribuera à la création d’un environnement favorable centré sur le leadership éthique, la justice et l’égalité pour tous.

CLIQUEZ ICI POUR LA VIDEO SUR LFS

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Are you passionate about women’s rights in Africa, excited about African feminism, embrace African women’s diversity and are innovative?
Are you adept at assessing grants applications for funding and contributing in-depth knowledge to shape grants strategy in the context of women’s rights?
Do you have experience developing, coordinating, managing and implementing projects?
Are you ready to contribute to outreach and networking as well as fundraising activities as required to promote women’s rights in Africa?

We have an exciting position vacant and looking for a dynamic team player to join us as Programme Officer – Special Initiatives.The Programme Officer (P.O.) plays a critical role in the Grants Department with a primary responsibility for development, coordination, management and implementation of the Leading From the South (LFS) programme in particular, plus contributing to the other work of the Grants team in general. This includes outreach with the team to grow the grants portfolio, knowledge production in selected areas, and contributing to monitoring, learning and evaluation. The P.O. will work in close collaboration with other Grants Programme Officers and Assistants, and with staff in communications, knowledge management, resource mobilisation, finance, administration and overall management.

For more details about this position, please click here.

How to Apply:
Qualified and interested persons should send a cover letter indicating their relevant skills and experience and CV of not more than 3 pages by email to:

The Human Resources Manager at jobs@awdf.org with application for the position being applied for indicated as the subject line. The is a re-advertised post and previous applicants need not apply.

Applications for the vacancies should reach AWDF no later than 6th January, 2021. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for additional information and interviews.
In line with AWDF’s Mission, qualified African women are encouraged to apply

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What a year this has been! From a global pandemic to a series of economic, social, racial and political crises, 2020 has taken thousands of lives and exposed and deepened the inequalities and injustices which African feminists had been fighting tirelessly for decades. For us all as individuals, as organisations, and as movements, 2020 was at once sorrowful and hopeful.

And yet, we thrived together. Despite all the challenges that came their way, our amazing AWDF grantee partners have found innovative ways to maintain the momentum in their advocacy, activism and solidarity. Right from the onset of the pandemic, you went straight to the frontline, providing solace and comfort to your communities, protecting the lives of fellow African women and girls, and challenging patriarchal systems of oppression.

The AWDF team’s priority was to continue to support you in all the creative and flexible ways the circumstances warranted, and we have learned invaluable lessons that will continue to shape our work moving forward. As we work with our grantee partners, other women’s funds, and the entire African feminist community, our contribution to the post-COVID world will be grounded in an actualisation of our feminist values and a prioritisation of self-care and wellness.

For us, 2020 has been a year of joyous transitions. We successfully closed phase one of Leading from the South and looking to moving to the next phase. We also saw a number of our colleagues transition out of the organisation and moving on to new chapters in their lives. Notable among these were our Director of Programmes Jessica Horn (read her reflection here), and now imminently, our indomitable CEO, Theo Sowa, who is bidding farewell to AWDF after nine years at its helm.

As Theo explained in this brief podcast, leadership transitions must be celebrated, not feared, for they contribute to the vibrancy of feminist movements. We are excited to welcome Françoise Moudouthe as our new CEO. Françoise is a passionate advocate for women’s rights and says she’s looking forward to working with the AWDF team to nurture and support dynamic feminist activism in Africa and beyond.

To end the year, we are heeding the advice of our sister Hope Chigudu on the importance of servicing our bodies like vehicles and taking a much-needed step in self-care: rest. We will therefore be going on a break from 18 December 2020 until 6 January 2021. We hope that you too will get a chance to rest, and we look forward to standing alongside you in the New Year as you work to defend and protect the lives of African women and girls.

Here’s to entering 2021 in the spirit of solidarity and sisterhood! We wish you all the happiest of holidays, and a marvellous New Year!

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Quelle année! D’une pandémie mondiale à une série de crises économiques, sociales, raciales et politiques, l’année 2020 a fait des milliers de victimes et a exposé et approfondi les inégalités et les injustices que les féministes africaines combattaient inlassablement depuis des décennies. En tant qu’individus, organisations et mouvements, 2020 a été pour nous tous à la fois une année de tristesse et d’espoir.

Et pourtant, nous avons progressé ensemble. Malgré tous les défis qui se sont présentés, nos formidables partenaires bénéficiaires de subventions ont trouvé des moyens innovants pour maintenir l’élan de leur plaidoyer, de leur activisme et de leur solidarité. Vous avez été en première ligne dès le début de la pandémie, apportant soulagement et réconfort à vos communautés, protégeant la vie des autres femmes et filles africaines et remettant en question les systèmes patriarcaux d’oppression.

Notre priorité était de continuer à vous soutenir de toutes les manières créatives et flexibles que les circonstances justifiaient, et nous avons tiré des leçons importantes qui guideront notre travail à l’avenir. En travaillant avec nos partenaires bénéficiaires de subventions, d’autres fonds pour les femmes et l’ensemble de la communauté féministe africaine, notre apport au monde après le COVID-19 sera fondé sur une actualisation de nos valeurs féministes et sur la priorisation des autosoins et du bien-être.

Pour nous, 2020 a été une année de transitions joyeuses. Nous avons conclu avec succès la première phase du projet Le Sud Aux Rênes de Leadership (LFS) et nous nous réjouissons de passer à la phase suivante. Un certain nombre de nos collègues ont également quitté l’organisation et sont passés à de nouveaux chapitres de leur vie. Notamment notre directrice des programmes, Jessica Horn (lire sa réflexion ici), et bientôt notre indomptable PDG, Theo Sowa, qui fait ses adieux à l’AWDF après neuf ans de direction.

Comme Theo l’a expliqué dans ce bref podcast, les transitions de leadership doivent être fêtées, et non pas redoutées, car elles renforcent la vitalité des mouvements féministes. Nous sommes ravis d’accueillir Françoise Moudouthe comme notre nouvelle directrice générale. Françoise est une avocate passionnée des droits de la femme et se dit impatiente de travailler avec l’équipe de l’AWDF pour nourrir et soutenir le dynamisme du mouvement féministe en Afrique et au-delà.

Pour terminer l’année, nous suivons le conseil de notre soeur Hope Chigudu sur l’importance de prendre soin de notre corps comme un véhicule et de faire un pas nécessaire dans l’autosoin : le repos. Nous allons donc faire une pause du 18 décembre 2020 au 6 janvier 2021. Nous espérons que vous aurez vous aussi l’occasion de vous reposer et nous nous réjouissons de vous rejoindre au cours de la nouvelle année pour défendre et protéger la vie des femmes et des filles africaines.

Entrons en 2021 en toute solidarité et sororité ! Tous nos vœux de bonheur pour les congés et une merveilleuse nouvelle année !

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