Category: event
Resource Centre Day: African Feminists Doing Research
Resource Centre Day: African Feminists Doing Research
Are you interested in learning more about African feminist theories?
Do you want to learn how to be a feminist researcher?
Do you want to know more about how to use Wikipedia to tell African women’s stories?
Join the AWDF staff for an afternoon of trainings, conversations and deep critical thinking about African feminist theory and praxis.
This session will be open to AWDF staff and (feminist) public interested in deepening their knowledge of African feminist research practices and learning more about Wikipedia usage.
Register for the event HERE
AWDF 4th Resource Mobilisation Bootcamp 2017
AWDF 4th Resource Mobilisation Bootcamp 2017
The African Women’s Development Fund is organising the 4th Resource Mobilisation bootcamp in Accra, Ghana from the 28th to the 31st of August 2017. The Resource Mobilisation Bootcamp is one of the capacity building programmes organised by AWDF to support grantees to develop their resource mobilisation strategy. AWDF has been providing capacity building support to its grantees to enhance their ability to effectively and efficiently achieve their set mandate.
AWDF recognises that a resource mobilisation strategy is critical to ensuring the sustainability of women’s rights organisation and to this end has organised this bootcamp for selected grantee partners since 02013. As at the end of 2015, a total of over 77 organisations had benefited from the first 3 resource mobilisation boot camps.
This year’s bootcamp has 19 participants from Cameroon, Kenya, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria Zambia and Zimbabwe. By the end of the 4 day boot camp, participants would have drafted their resource mobilisation strategy document. They will then be supported over a 4 months period through virtual coaching to finalise the draft Resource mobilisation strategy.
The News
The News
AWID Forum – Bahia, Brazil
The African Women’s Development fund participated in this year’s AWID Forum. Members of our organisation were present on several panels, and helped carry the voices of African Women to the discussions in Bahia, Brazil. The conference took place from the 8—11 September, with the Black Feminisms Pre-Forum taking place from the 5-6 September. The theme was “Imagining Feminist Futures”, and over the course of four days participants were made to imagine a feminist future and strategize around making that happen. It was an important, fruitful conference and we were glad to be a part of it.
Power and Care : A mind and Life Dialogue with the Dalai Lama
AWDF CEO Theo Sowa was a moderator at the Power and Care Dialogue, held in Brussels from September 9-11. It was a two and a half day Mind and Life Dialogue of leading experts with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The aim of the conference was to see how forces of power and care could be conscientiously and fruitfully allied, and engender projects and actions to promote the welfare of living beings and of our environment.
Launch of Education Commission Report to the United Nations Secretary General at the UN General Assembly
In September 2016, AWDF CEO Theo Sowa and other commissioners of the Global Commission for Education launched their report and agenda for action. They also presented the report to the United Nations Secretary General at the UN General Assembly.
Over the last year, the Education Commission has sought to persuade global leaders to take urgent action by bringing together the best evidence on what works in expanding access to quality education and learning for all. If leaders do not take action now to increase investment and reform global education, more than 124 million young people will continue to be denied access to schools and more than 250 million will not gain the skills they need to lead healthy and successful lives.
Supporting Arts, Culture and Sports for the promotion of Women’s Human Rights
Supporting Arts, Culture and Sports for the promotion of Women’s Human Rights
The African Women’s Development Fund will be hosting a thematic convening on arts, culture and sports from October 22-24th under the theme “Weavers of Intersectionality: Amplifying Women’s Rights, Social Justice and Feminist Narratives in Arts, Culture and Sport.”
The first of its kind, this convening will bring together key women creatives from multidisciplinary fields of art, cultural production and sports to talk about their experiences, connect with one another and devise new strategies to strengthen the voices of women within their industry and on the continent as a whole.
It is no secret that the multidisciplinary fields of arts, cultural production, and sports have a huge impact on how people across the world engage with one another and the African continent is no exception. Over the years, African traditions rich with oral history, visual imagery, poetry, proverbs, dance, theatre, and sports have used these tools for education, entertainment, conflict resolution and community building. However, these cultural industries have historically been dominated by men which limit women’s participation in these spaces.
Women’s engagement in arts and in sports has led to the birth of radical ideas, beliefs and attitudes about the immense value and contributions of women. It has also invigorated connections and possibilities for communities across the continent and the world at large. Through both the arts and sports, women have challenged and broken stereotypes, amplified the demands of women and feminist movements, raised resources, and spread messages of social change.
In spite of this work, women practitioners in arts, cultural production and sports face persistent restraints from intimidation, harassment, and theft of work to isolation, immobility, burnout and limited access to networks of care, support, and resources of sustainability. By working through a lens of intersectionality, African women are in a key position to speak out against multiple oppressions – gender, sexuality, disability, race, class, ethnicity, geography, etc. – within their fields of work. This convening will help connect women whose work has been instrumental in telling the stories of african women’s lives and who have used their various mediums to amplify women’s rights, social justice and feminist narratives. The multidimensional nature of the convening will promote cross learning and solidarity. It will be a creative, engaging space that will help spark new momentum for change within various creative industries on the continent.
THIRD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING ANNOUNCEMENT
THIRD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING ANNOUNCEMENT
THIRD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING FOR AWDF GRANTEES IN
LAGOS, NIGERIA
16 – 18 AUGUST, 2016
“I am once more excited that The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is able to organise this important training with support from Comic Relief. Since 2014, thirty-six (36) organisations have benefited from our Finance Management Skills Trainings. Of these, 22 have already reported steps put in place toward sound financial systems. As feminist grant makers we understand the need for accountability and results and therefore work towards building robust organisations by investing in human resource development of our grantees. This skills enhancement training on finance management for finance officers and managers in Nigeria is one of the ways by which we do this.” Nafi Chinery, Capacity Building Programme Specialist, AWDF
Second Financial Management Training held in 2015 in Uganda.
The Capacity Building Unit of AWDF is organising its third Finance Management Training programme for finance officers and managers of grantee organisations. This skills enhancement training will be held from 16 – 18th August 2016 in Lagos, Nigeria.
This training forms part of AWDF’s mandate to provide technical skills to grantees in order to ensure sound and prudent financial management of resources for results in their organisations.
The three-day (3) training will bring together nineteen (19) finance managers and officers from twelve (12) grantee organisations from seven (7) states in Nigeria including Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Gombe states. The training will cover budgets and cash flow projections, grant management, internal controls and checks, compliance with statutory requirements, and financial reporting among others.
It is our hope that participants will gain insights and skills into developing sound financial systems that meet minimum international standards for any financial management including donor reporting. Below are some expectations expressed by some participants ahead of the Lagos training.
“My main expectation from the training is to gain additional best practice procedures to include in our Financial and Accounting Manual which is currently being developed. I expect to strengthen my knowledge on NGO regular financial recording and management.” Ms. Joy Ngwakwe, Executive Director at Centre for Advancement of Development Right (CEADER) in Lagos.
“Knowing the logic in allowable and unallowable expenditures and developing the ability to analyse financial reports as well as develop skills in prudent financial resource management” Lucy Auwalu, Executive Director, Women and Children of Hope Foundation, Lagos.
To learn financial management best practices that will promote HELIN in her dealing with donors and how to harmonise the management of finances from diverse donors.” Doris Brendan, Executive Director, Heal the Land Initiative Nigeria (HELIN), Uyo
Fourth African Feminist Forum:VOICE POWER AND SOUL, Harare, Zimbabwe 9-12 April, 2016
Fourth African Feminist Forum:VOICE POWER AND SOUL, Harare, Zimbabwe 9-12 April, 2016
4th AFRICAN FEMINIST FORUM
Harare, Zimbabwe April 9-12, 2016
It’s finally here! AWDF is honored to be hosting the fourth regional African Feminist Forum (AFF) in Harare, Zimbabwe from 10-12 April 2016 under the theme: African Feminism: Voice, Power and Soul.
The forum will be preceded by a pre-forum of feminists from Francophone Africa, who will meet on April 9. This year, AFF is being organized in partnership with the Zimbabwe Feminist Forum and coordinated by the Zimbabwe Women’s Resource Centre and Network (ZWRCN).
Over 170 feminists from all over Africa will be attending this power charged programme which will include:
- Plenaries- to set the context, take stock and identify areas of strategic concern around politics, economics and society.
- Breakout sessions- for more in-depth strategizing on the key themes
- Skills sharing– sessions where feminists specialists train participants
- The Great Debate- a highly participatory debate on a contentious issue within feminism
- Wellness space– one-on-one and group sessions focused on physical and emotional health and wellbeing.
- Arts programming– showcasing African feminist art-activism
Each of the three days of the forum will be dedicated to Zimbabwean feminists ancestors Day 1: Chiwoniso Maraire singer, mbira player and advocate of social justice. Day 2: Award-winning writer Yvonne Vera, and Day 3: Freedom Nyamubaya, freedom-fighter, poet, dancer and farmer.
The African Feminist Forum (AFF) regional gathering brings together African feminist activists to discuss strategy, refine approaches and develop stronger networks to advance women’s rights in Africa.
For more information, please check out the relaunched African Feminist Forum website at: www.africanfeministforum.com
International Women’s Week: A celebration of Voices and Truths.
International Women’s Week: A celebration of Voices and Truths.
At AWDF we recognize the importance of celebrating women in our daily lives and during the month of March we especially invite the public to join us in this joyous task. This year, we marked the day with three special events, each of which had a strong recurring theme: Voices and Truth.
AWDF believes conversations like these are vital to changing stereotypical notions about African women and their role in society.
Renowned Ghanaian photographer Nana Kofi Acquah’s photo exhibit “Don’t Call Me Beautiful,” was a work that focused on displaying the complexity and variety of the African woman, and in that vein it definitely succeeded. AWDF held a panel discussion at the close of the exhibition, on 8th March – International Women’s Day – to explore these themes and to question the relevancy of the word resilience in connection to the African woman. The event took place at Alliance Francaise Accra.
The room was filled with members and staff of Alliance Francaise Accra and an engaged public. At times contentious, never dull, the panel, which was moderated by Kinna Likimanni, discussed notions of beauty, colour and skin bleaching, with active participation from the audience.
Our second panel discussion organized jointly with the Centre For Gender Studies and Advocacy ( CEGENSA) on Friday March 11 was another opportunity to tackle thorny issues.
The theme “About Last Night,” focused heavily on student relationships, date rape, and sexual abuse on Legon Campus and the ways in which victims are treated both by the institution and their peers. The room was full of students from the University and some students from SOS-Hermann Gmeiner International College. A few young undergraduate women were brave enough to share harrowing stories of their own abuse that they’d suffered on Legon Campus and the lack of response that followed it.
“He walks around here like this untouchable, charming guy and no one knows that this is what he really is,” said a young woman about the male student friend who assaulted her.
And she was not the only one– many students and people in the room expressed the unfairness of society’s expectations for young girls and the need for women to be the ones who guard themselves from sexual assault. It was clear that there was much to discuss, and the event ended on a note of bittersweet hope for all involved.
One high note was the presence of the SOS students (all female), whose vocal and confident contributions underlined their heightened self-awareness and knowledge of women’s rights and feminism.
“They were the real stars of tonight. They absolutely made my day – and the entire programme,” said Prof. Audrey Gadzekpo, who acted as moderator for the discussion.
We wrapped up the week with a celebration of music at Accra’s cultural mecca Alliance Francaise, where the Francophonie festival began with a concert by Malian singer Fatoumata Diarawa.
At AWDF we recognize the importance of the arts as a tool to promote social justice and a medium to nurture and raise the profile of African women and their achievements. Teaming up with Alliance Francaise and other partners for Diawarra’s concert was a way in which we could salute one of the continent’s brightest talents.
After a soulful curtain opener by AWDF’s communications staffer “Suga” and high-energy Ghanaian musician Sherifa Gunu, Fatoumata hit the stage for an unforgettable night of music and dance. Two of Fatoumata’s songs, “Oumou” which celebrates African Female Artistes and “Boloko,” a song with a strong anti FGM message, reinforced the power of music as a tool for social change.
From the various ways in which we portray women in art to the lives women lead in silence, these events examined the truth of African women, finding it painful, complicated and inspiring.
African women and their achievements and struggles must be celebrated and discussed. And the spirit of International Women’s Day, that week and month must be carried through the entire year if we are to reach the goal of gender parity. For us at AWDF we will continue to strive to see that women are understood as deserving of recognition, celebration and a voice.
International Women’s Day 2016: AWDF In Conversation
International Women’s Day 2016: AWDF In Conversation
To mark International Women’s Day this year, AWDF will host two special public events examining the status, role and contribution of African women. Join us as we explore “Don’t Call Me Beautiful,” a photo exhibition by Nana Kofi Acquah and tackle sex and relationships at the University Of Ghana campus.
Panel Discussion: Don’t Call Me Beautiful
Date: Tuesday 8th March, 2016 Time: 6pm Venue: Exhibition Hall, Alliance Francaise Rate: FreeRenowned Ghanaian Photographer Nana Kofi Acquah’s photo exhibition “Don’t Call Me Beautiful,” celebrates the resilience of African women. In partnership with Alliance Francaise, this informal and interactive discussion will use the photo exhibit as a springboard for conversation about stereotypical depictions of women in current social media trends, women’s rights, gender, arts and culture and feminism. There will also be readings by participants of the 2016 Writivism workshop which is to be held in Accra. Moderator: Kinna Likimani, Mbaasem Foundation
Catch Nana Kofi Acquah’s thoughts on his exhibition here:
Panel Conversation About Date Rape, Sex and Relationships On Campus
Date: Friday 11 March 2016 Time: Film Screening: 4-5h30 pm, Panel Discussion: 6 PM. Venue: Institute Of African Studies Auditorium, UG, Legon Rate: FREE
In partnership with the Center for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA) and the African Studies Department of the University Of Ghana Legon, AWDF will host an interactive panel discussion on Campus date rape, sex and relationships. The event will be preceded by the screening of a film: The Hunting Ground, a ground-breaking documentary on rape on campuses in the US. Again, there will be also be readings by participants of the 2016 Writivism workshop which is to be held in Accra. Moderator: Prof. Audrey Gadzekpo, University of Ghana, Legon
We invite you to be a part of these special events. Don’t miss.
Passionate Legacies: AWDF @15
Passionate Legacies: AWDF @15
Passionate Legacies: A Celebration and Fundraiser For The African Women’s Development Fund At 15
“When you invest in women and girls, the return on your investment is not about the life of the one woman or the one girl who has been affected, but it’s about healthier families, healthier communities, healthier countries and revitalized communities all round.”– Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi
New York, NY—March 1, 2016— The African Women’s Development Fund-USA (AWDF-USA) today announced a cocktail gala event for the 15-year anniversary celebration of the African Women’s Development Fund. The event is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, March 16, from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. at the Millennium Plaza Hotel located at 1 United Nations Plaza in Manhattan.
Entitled “Passionate Legacies: A Celebration and Fundraiser for the African Women’s Development Fund @ 15” the event will host founders, grantees, partners, community members as well as the passionate legacies, work and history of AWDF. It is a great time to recognize the achievements and history of AWDF during the 60th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the UN headquarters in New York.
The invite-only affair will include a cocktail hour and two live performances from recording artist and prominent leader in the Pan African movement, Maame Afon Yelbert-Obeng. The event will also commemorate African women through the dual launch of “Voice, Power and Soul II,” a book that illustrates the success stories of African women feminists, and “Sheroes,” an AWDF Compilation CD that includes
- music from artists such as Angelique Kidjoe, Nneka, Somi, Maame Afon- Yelbert Obeng, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and many other African women
- select videos and short films
- original poetry authored by African women
Hosts of the event include AWDF Co- Founder and First CEO Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, AWDF CEO Theo Sowa, Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee, and The AWDF-USA Board.
AWDF USA provides a vehicle for effective American philanthropy to Africa that builds the capacity of the continent’s women for social change and sustainable development. This event is an important platform to elevate the visibility of our work with the US Diaspora, empowering and engaging African women currently living in the United States.
For further inquiries please email info@womenchangeafrica.com. Additional information is also available online via social media via facebook.com/awdfusa or twitter.com @AWDFUSA
A Fire to Transform This World: A Perspective on Sexual Health and Rights
A Fire to Transform This World: A Perspective on Sexual Health and Rights
By Belinda Amankwah
“I remember when I was growing up, my mom told me I like to play too much and that I shouldn’t play with my brothers. She said I was to help her in the kitchen. So she would wake me up early in the morning whilst my brothers were still in bed to sweep the compound and do some other house chores. So I asked my mother why my brothers won’t join me to do the house chores and she said it is because I am a woman and that’s my job. This was when I realized that I was different and society had different expectations from what they had for men.” – ACSHR Participant
The 7th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights (ACSHR) was held at the Accra International Conference Center this month. AWDF and Curious Minds hosted a Young Women’s Pre-Conference on 9th February, 2016 to provide a safe space for feminist engagement and knowledge sharing on the topic of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
According to the organizers, ACSHR’s vision is “part of a long-term process of building and fostering regional dialogue on sexual health and rights that leads to concrete actions and enhance stakeholders’ ability to influence policy and programming in favour of a sexually- healthy continent.”
The conference saw the gathering of many young women from different countries around the continent, mostly between the ages of 15- 30. The venue was almost filled to capacity by the time the conference started. The young women looked happy to be together, enthusiastic about the day and the atmosphere was very blissful. Many were striking an acquaintance with other young women and getting to understand the environment.
As a young women’s rights activist, it was a great experience attending this meeting. I met many intelligent and passionate young feminists, women’s rights activists and a few veterans in the African Feminist movement. The sessions were well delivered as the facilitators did not only present information but also made the experience very interactive. This gave young women the opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences freely – more so than they would have had the chance to in other spaces.
The first session focused on the foundations of African Feminism. The facilitator, Jessica Horn, Director of Programmes at AWDF and a feminist activist, spoke on the principles, theories and practice of feminism. She started by throwing this question to the audience: “When did you first know you were a woman and that you were different?” This exercise was done in small groups, giving us the opportunity to listen to some interesting stories and lessons. For me, what I heard most was that being a woman comes with a lot of expectations that sometimes do not allow women to develop themselves to their full desired potential, especially outside the home. However, being a woman surely has positive results, too.
Here is another story shared in my group:
“When it was time for me to go to college, my father paid my fees and provided me with everything I needed but when it was my brother’s turn to go to college, things got financially difficult and my brother had to work to pay his fees. My dad still continued to pay my fees. He said, a man is supposed to provide for himself and a woman is to be taken care of.”
I have a memory from my childhood. My brother and I are very close in age and we would fight over any and everything. Every time we fought, my mom would tell me I am too tough. She said women should be emotionally and physically soft and should not fight. So I kept on asking myself, “Why should I intentionally allow my brother to beat me when I am capable of fighting back?” I understood at an early age that this showed the world that I was a woman.
A highlight during the workshop for me was when Juliana Lunguzi, a woman MP from Malawi, was invited to share some motivating words. She told us about her struggles as a member of Parliament but also reminded us of the need to support girls throughout their education. She said, “UNICEF, Action Aid and other organisations are building schools but no one is paying the fees of these young girls to attend school, and for me, that is the most important thing. In our fight for the rights of women and equal opportunities, we should remember that it is through education that young women can occupy and share the spaces we are fighting to create for them.”
I enjoyed the session by Cecilia Senoo (Executive Director for Hope for Future Generations) on how Feminism intersects with SRHR. I particularly loved the interactive aspect as it led to some passionate discussion on issues such as virginity, violence against women, and harmful cultural practices, among other issues. From that conversation, here are some profound statements I would like to echo:
- Why is a woman’s virginity so important to men when many men sexually abuse girls and women? Does a woman check if a man is a virgin before she marries him? “IT’S MY BODY, I OWN IT, IT’S MINE” – our bodies do not belong to men for them to decide what to do with it.
- African peoples have some harmful cultural and community practices that directly affect women and can destroy us, physically and emotionally. What is a culture when it destroys its own people? A true culture protects its people and does not expose them, especially marginalised populations, to harm.
- How do we break the cycle of violence against women? We need to put systems in place and ensure that they work. We will fight for our rights as women because no one will fight for us if we don’t. We should remember that power is not given; it must be expressed from within.
A fiery passion to transform this world and demand respect for women’s rights was borne in me this day, attending the conference and meeting so many young and courageous Feminists. It is important for us to sustain the dialogue on women’s rights and build support networks between young women so that we don’t feel isolated. It is good to have sisters around who will encourage and keep you.
Belinda Amankwah works at AWDF as a Knowledge Management intern.