After nearly six years at the helm of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), Chief Executive Officer Françoise Moudouthe has decided to step down from her role, with her final day being 30 June 2026, to pursue a new professional opportunity.

Reflecting on her decision, Françoise shared:

“Serving as CEO of AWDF has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I am deeply grateful to have been entrusted with building on AWDF’s extraordinary vision, impact, and legacy, and proud of what we have advanced together with focus and integrity. At a time that calls for clarity of purpose, I have chosen to focus my contribution to gender justice on girls’ rights, an area that remains critically overlooked and underfunded.”

To ensure a smooth transition, the AWDF Board of Directors has appointed Nana Zulu, currently Director of Programmes, as Interim CEO for a nine-month term (effective 1 July 2026), during which a new CEO will be recruited. Nana has been instrumental in shaping AWDF’s context-responsive programmatic strategy and brings a clear vision, strong leadership, and deep commitment to the organisation’s mission and values.

Nana shared:

“I am honoured to step into the role of Interim CEO at this pivotal moment. We remain focused on meeting the demands of this moment: resourcing feminist movements, defending the rights of women, girls and gender-diverse people, challenging oppressive power structures, and shaping the feminist futures that African feminists envision. I look forward to working closely with the Board, our team, and most importantly, our partners to carry this work forward with clarity, accountability and courage.”

AWDF enters this transition from a position of strength. The organisation has a clear strategic direction, a capable and committed team, strong relationships with African feminist movements, and the continued trust of its funding partners.

Board Chair Jean-Ann Ndow added:

“The Board thanks Françoise for her visionary leadership and her fearless advocacy in favour of African women’s rights and feminist movements. Her commitment to listening to those at the forefront of injustice made AWDF stronger, and the way she centred care in her work was deeply felt by the team and Board. We wish her well as she moves to the next chapter in her journey. Looking forward, AWDF remain steadfast in its mandate, and the Board has full confidence in Nana’s ability to lead AWDF through this transition and deepen our impact.

With the guidance of the Board and the support of the team, Françoise and Nana will work closely together over the coming months to ensure a structured and thoughtful handover. Further updates will be shared with our partners and allies as the transition progresses.