Category: event
Diane Abbott Meets With Ghanaian Women’s Rights Activists At AWDF House
Diane Abbott Meets With Ghanaian Women’s Rights Activists At AWDF House
“Change can happen quicker than you thick. We have to have the courage to seize opportunities,” Abbott said.
A moment with Joan Koomson
A moment with Joan Koomson
Joan Koomson, AWDF’s Donor Liaison Specialist spoke with Ghana’s Metro TV about the International Conference for Family planning in Bali Indonesia held 25-28 January. She discussed some of the steps that have been taken in Ghana to move forward policy on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). She also touched on some of the shortfalls and the need to strengthen the country’s policy and implementation strategies.
Don’t call me beautiful: An Exhibit by Nana Kofi Acquah
Don’t call me beautiful: An Exhibit by Nana Kofi Acquah
Wed 3rd February, 2016
6:00 pm
DON’T CALL ME BEAUTIFUL
Alliance Francaise Accra – Exhibition hall, Accra
“I cannot think of a significant life moment, I have had, that didn’t involve some woman. These photographs are both a song in celebration of the African woman, and a criticism of how our societies deliberately impede their every movement.” This is Nana Kofi Acquah’s artist statement. More than a photo exhibition, this event will also feature poetry and a sound installation by the Nana Kofi Acquah himself.
Until 9th March.
Opening hours : 9am-9pm daily (except during activities)
FREE
16 Days Of Activism: November 25 – December 10, 2015
16 Days Of Activism: November 25 – December 10, 2015
The United Nations defines violence against women as “Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”
“Hannah was raped. It does not end there. Hannah was disembodied; skull fractured, glue found in her eyes, broken bones in multiple areas of her body, her spinal cord – shattered. When Hannah was found, only a pink brassiere covered the top part of her body. Her legs were sprawled apart, the only cover came from the beach’s sand and seaweed. Hanna was raped and her murder, an inhumane act of violence.” – Fatou Wurie – CEO Conceptor, Innovator of The Survivor Dream Project, Sierra Leone
Fatou’s chilling account of a brutally murdered teenager found on a beach in the Sierra Leone capital this August was particularly disturbing because it appeared to highlight an alarming rise in the number of unsolved assaults on women and young girls in the west African nation. The incident led to a massive street protest by activists and civil society groups calling on the government to take a stand and to halt the violence.
“Hannah’s death reminds us all that women’s bodies in Sierra Leone are under heavy siege. That Sierra Leone’s highly patriarchal society still subjugates with structural discrimination in practice, custom, and law, with a plethora of women still facing suppression in education, employment and politics. Sexual violence has always been rampant in Sierra Leone – the rhetoric that Ebola has induced a spike in sexual violence undermines the reality that little has been done to improve social and economic options for women.” – Fatou Wurie
In Ghana, women make up just over half of the population, yet they still play a subservient role to men despite the constitution guaranteeing equal roles. According to the Gender Studies and Human Rights Documentation Centre, under our customary systems women are expected to give precedence to men in all things creating a position where Ghanaian women are equated to children…this has meant that many women have accepted the situation which allows men to “punish” them for their alleged disobedience.
Daily reports of murder, abduction and rape or defilement of women and minors, a member of Parliament’s remarks about punishing adulterous women and two high-profile alleged rape cases involving media celebrities, are a painful reminder of the distance we still have to cover in order to push against the denigration of women, persistent disregard for women’s sexual and personal rights and the prejudices and injustices suffered by women corageous enough to charge men with rape.
Last December Daboya Mankarigu Nelson Abudu Baani, a member of parliament in northern Ghana spoke against a new intestate succession bill saying that it could cause “customary anarchy” and recommended that women who cheat on their spouses be stoned or hanged. The bill was aimed at giving more rights to women with regards to the property of their deceased husbands.
His remarks were condemned by women’s rights activists and members of the public who called for his resignation but he refused to do so, clinging to his seat until he lost a re-election bid this past weekend.
Nineteen year old Ewuraffe Orleans Thompson accused Ghanaian television celebrity Kwesi Kyei Darkwa of raping her in a hotel bathroom in March, but withdrew her case against him a few weeks later, citing pressure from the media frenzy the story generated.
A few weeks later, a radio presenter’s report of her abduction and gang rape, while pictures of her nude body allegedly taken during the rape were circulated widely on the internet, caused a similar furor. The abduction story was condemned by the government and caused public outcry, but a police investigation into the case of Miss Ada, a popular host of YFM radio station in the western, ran into problems when she was unable to provide evidence for her abduction.
What all three incidents had in common were the profusion of hateful, sexist and misogynistic reactions they generated among the Ghanaian public.
Elsewhere on the continent, comments by Grace Mugabe, wife of Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe last week, sparked off a twitter stream of protest.
“If you walk around wearing mini skirts displaying your thighs and inviting men to drool over you, then you want to complain when you have been raped? It’s unfortunate because it will be your fault,’ Grace Mugabe said during a political rally this month.
As we join in the UN’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign this year, we invite you to tell your stories, highlight atrocities in your countries and tweet your comments, opinions and thoughts to our website, facebook page or twitter feed @awdf01 using the hashtags: #orangetheworld #16days
Sincerely,
Amba Mpoke-Bigg AWDF, Communications and Fundraising Specialist
Key Dates during the 16 days campaign:
- November 25: The International Day For the Elimination of Violence Against Women
- December 1: World AIDS Day
- December 3: International Day for Persons with Disabilities
- December 10: International Human Rights Day
Every year AWDF supports women’s groups over the continent to highlight the 16 Days campaign with a small grant. This ensures that we are are constantly keeping the fire burning and fulfilling one of our main missions of advocacy and the promotion of women’s rights.
AWDF will also support initiatives by women’s groups to address the stigma and discrimination against women living with HIV-AIDS. This year we are proud to support 40 organizations in their campaigns to mark 16 Days and World AIDS Day
Aspen New Voices Fellowship Announces Call for 2016 Nominations
Aspen New Voices Fellowship Announces Call for 2016 Nominations
Aspen New Voices Fellowship Announces Call for 2016 Nominations
The Aspen Institute seeks nominations for one-year non-resident media skills and coaching program for next generation of global development leaders from the developing world
WASHINGTON, DC September 1, 2015– The Aspen Institute’s New Voices Fellowship today announced a call for nominations for the 2016 Fellowship class. The Fellowship initiative, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, offers development experts from Africa and other parts of the developing world a year-long program of media support, training, research and writing under the guidance of experienced mentors and trainers.
Candidates for the 20 Fellowships awarded next year must be experts in fields relating to global development. The Fellowship welcomes specialists from all development fields, and this year is particularly interested in professionals with backgrounds in food security, polio and/or infectious diseases and development finance.
Fellows must be from a developing country, and ideally work and live in their country of origin or another developing country.
Over the course of a year, the Fellowship works to prepare and support Fellows to become recognized thought leaders, helping amplify their insights and ideas rooted in experience on the ground. They will be given training and support to speak at major events; write conversation-starting op-eds and think pieces for major outlets; and build their social media platforms. The Fellowship is non-resident, but includes travel to training workshops as well as opportunities for travel to select international conferences.
Current Fellows have had their work featured in media sites ranging from the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN and Al Jazeera to the Huffington Post, Africa Report, and AllAfrica.com. Fellows have been interviewed by news organizations including the BBC, CNBC, and National Public Radio (NPR) and been invited to speak at events including TED and the Aspen Ideas Festival
Application to the Fellowship is by nomination only through the program website at http://www.aspennewvoices.org/Nominations. The nomination period will close on November 1, 2015 and the incoming class will be announced in January 2016.
The New Voices Fellowship
The New Voices Fellowship at the Aspen Institute is a groundbreaking initiative designed to bring more expert voices from the developing world into the global development discussion. Launched in 2013 with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the New Voices Fellowship is part of Aspen Global Health and Development. For more information, visit www.aspennewvoices.org.
The Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, CO; and on the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.
Contact: Andrew Quinn
Director, New Voices Fellowship
The Aspen Institute
202-736-2291
Andrew.Quinn@aspeninstitute.org
AWDF APPOINTS JESSICA HORN AS NEW DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMES
AWDF APPOINTS JESSICA HORN AS NEW DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMES
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”] AWDF is Delighted to announce the appointment of Jessica Horn as icts new Director of Programs Beginning October 1, 2015. Ms Horn’s ground breaking work, commitment to feminist philanthropy, and vividly innovative communications strategies-have-been integral to social change and social justice leadership on the African continent.
Jessica is a founding member of the African Feminist Forum Working Group, a board member of Urgent Action Fund-Africa, and sits on the International Grants Committee of Comic Relief. In 2012 She Was named an African woman changemaker by ARISE Magazine and as one of Applause Africa’s 40 Africans Changemakers under 40. Her research and analysis has-been published in professional journals The Lancet and Feminist Africa, and media platforms Al Jazeera, openDemocracy and The Feminist Wire.
“AWDF is Delighted That She Will Be joining our team and look forward to her leadership AWDF Taking forward into yet Reviews another phase of our journey Promoting and Achieving African women’s rights and global social justice” AWDF’s CEO Theo Sowa said.
Jessica’s work under her consultancy, Akiiki Consulting, HAS led to ground-breaking initiatives, Including in social justice philanthropy, with the establishment of UHAI -EASHRI- the first African-led fund Supporting the rights of sexual minorities. She Was a leader in early thinking around funding models for FRIDA – The Young Feminist Fund and aussi managed funding for Women’s Rights and Minority Rights at the Sigrid Rausing Trust, one of the Largest private human rights funders in Europe, overseeing substantial businesses growth in Both funding portfolios.
“Jessica Horn HAS Worked for over 15 years Supporting activist organizations, funders and the UN, to Deepen analysis, shape policy and funding, and refine interventions to defend women’s rights to health, bodily autonomy and freedom from violence. This includes 10 years in women’s rights and social change philanthropy as a donor Grantmaker and in advisory and governance roles. “
Ms Horn join AWDF from the Stephen Lewis Foundation Where She Has served as Senior Advisor to AIR (The African Institute for Integrated Responses to Violence Against Women & Girls and HIV / AIDS). Ms Horn replaces Sarah Mukasa, Who served in the position for nine years. [/tp]
[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”] AWDF is pleased to announce the appointment of Jessica Horn its new Director of Programmes at 1 October 2015. The innovative work of Ms. Horn in engaging in feminist philanthropy communication strategies were an integral part of social change and leadership for social justice in Africa.
Jessica is a founding member of the African Working Group of Feminist Forum, a member of the Board of Urgent Action Fund-Africa, and serves on the International Comic Relief Grants Committee. In 2012 she was named African woman ‘changemaker’ by ARISE Magazine and as one of the 40 Africans among 40 Changemakers by Applause Africa’s. Its research and analysis was published in professional journals The Lancet and Feminist Africa, the Al Jazeera media platforms, and openDemocracy The Feminist Wire.
“AWDF is thrilled that she is joining our team and we are delighted that its leadership leads AWDF forward into a new phase of our journey to the promotion and realization of the rights of African women and global social justice,” said the Theo Sowa CEO of AWDF.
The work of Jessica as his counsel Akiiki Consulting, has led to pioneering initiatives, including philanthropy for social justice, with the creation of UHAI -EASHRI- the first African funds directed to support the rights of sexual minorities. She was a leader in the early days of reflection on the funding models for FRIDA – The Fund young feminists and also managed funding for women’s rights and minority rights in the Sigrid Rausing Trust, one of the largest private funders of human rights in Europe, overseeing substantial growth in two portfolio funds.
“Jessica Horn worked for over 15 years in supporting militant organizations, donors and the UN in order to deepen the analysis, shape policy and funding, and refine interventions to defend the rights of women to health, bodily autonomy and freedom from violence. This includes 10 years on the rights of women and the change of social philanthropy as a funder and governance donor and advisory roles. “
Ms. Horn joined AWDF after the Stephen Lewis Foundation, where she served as Senior Advisor AIR (The African Institute for integrated responses to violence against women and girls and HIV / AIDS). Ms. Horn replaces Sarah Mukasa, who operated at this position for nine years. [/tp]
AWDF SELECTS 22 WOMEN WRITERS FOR 2015 WRITING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE WORKSHOP
AWDF SELECTS 22 WOMEN WRITERS FOR 2015 WRITING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE WORKSHOP
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]AWDF selects 22 African Women For Its African Women Writers Workshop In Kampala, Uganda, July 27-August 5, 2015
The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is pleased to announce the selection of 22 African female writers for its second creative non-fiction writers workshop on social justice to be held in Kampala, Uganda, from July 27-August 5, 2015.
The candidates were chosen by a competitive process from over 200 applications that poured in after the call was announced in April this year.
The workshop is being organized in collaboration with the Uganda Women Writers Association (FEMRITE), an NGO which promotes the development of creative writing in Africa through workshops and courses.
Lead facilitators this year are veteran BBC journalist Elizabeth Ohene from Ghana and award winning writer Yewande Omotoso (Nigeria, Barbados South Africa)**.
A novel feature of this year’s program will be a Moth Workshop, conducted by experienced story telling instructors. Moth workshops seek to aid participants learn to shape selected life experiences into well crafted stories, which are then presented to peers and members of the local community.
The AWDF Women Writers Workshop sets out to give African women writers the space, time and enhanced skills to enable them write in compelling ways about a range of social, economic and political issues of concern to African women.
The successful women writers for 2015 are:
Tamika Kampini– Malawi
Merna Thomas Soryal- Egypt
Fatou Wurie – Sierra- Leone
Billie McTernan- UK/Ghana
Amarachi Orji- Nigeria
Zanele Mabaso- South Africa
Salma Takky- Morocco
Zemdena Abebe Areru- Ethiopia
Simamkele Dlakavu- South Africa
Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi- Nigeria
Zeyana Abdullah- Kenya
Ny Anjara Nofy Ary Tiavina Andrianarisaina – Madagascar
Aisha Ali Haji- Kenya
Monica Cheru-Mpambawashe- Zimbabawe
Annette Denise Mkandawire- Malawi
Reham Elgebaly- Egypt
Ngwentah Berlyne Ngwalem- Cameroon
Ruth Olando Adong- Uganda
Jama Jack – The Gambia
Sibusiso T Mtshede- Zimbabwe
Stellamaris Kembabazi- Uganda
Josephine Opar- Kenya
Both this and the previous women writers workshop held in 2014 were made possible through the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
**AWDF would like to announce that since this article was published, there was a change in the lead facilitators for the workshop. The workshop will now be lead by Sylvia Vollenhoven from South Africa and Yewande Omotoso from Nigeria/Barbados/South Africa. Please see Sylvia’s profile below, taken from International Center for Journalists:
Sylvia Vollenhoven
Knight International Journalism Fellow
Sylvia Vollenhoven is a Knight Development Journalism Fellow who is leading a project to improve coverage of poverty and development issues in Ghana.
An award-winning journalist and media trainer from South Africa, she is the founder of the VIA – Vision in Africa media organization, which has spearheaded innovative international training initiatives. As the Africa representative for the Thomson Foundation, Vollenhoven also was the lead trainer for the Foundation’s first-ever documentary filmmaking course at Cardiff University in 2008.
More recently, she brokered a collaboration between the Foundation and key African partners to launch the Africa Means Business (AMB) project, a long-term, pan-African training initiative for business journalists. Vollenhoven served as the facilitator for the AMB pilot training seminar in Nairobi in June 2009.
In the early 1990s, Vollenhoven was the Southern African Correspondent for the Swedish newspaper,Expressen, and was awarded Sweden’s top journalism prize, one of many awards she received for her work. She later went into broadcasting, joining the South African Broadcasting Corporation, where she held a variety of positions over the years, including reporter, producer, trainer and manager. Subsequently, she has been a consultant for the SABC and for the Kaiser Family Foundation, training broadcast media professionals across Africa.
For 10 years, Vollenhoven served as the Southern Africa Coordinator for the International Public Television (INPUT) organization, raising the profile of public broadcasting in the region.
More about Sylvia:
http://whoswho.co.za/sylvia-
http://www.thejournalist.org.
/tp]
[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]AWDF sélectionne 22 auteures africaines pour son African Women Writers Workshop à Kampala, en Ouganda, du 27 Juillet au 5 Août 2015.
Le Fonds Africain de développement de la Femme (AWDF) est heureux d’annoncer la sélection de 22 écrivaines africaines pour son deuxième atelier de création sur la justice sociale pour les écrivains non-fictionnels qui se tiendra à Kampala, en Ouganda, du 27 juillet au 5 août 2015.
Les candidates ont été choisies grâce à un processus rigoureux parmi plus de 200 candidatures déposées après que l’appel d’offre ait été lancé en Avril de cette année.
L’atelier est organisé en collaboration avec l’Association des femmes écrivains ougandaises (FEMRITE), une ONG qui promeut le développement de l’écriture créative en Afrique à travers des ateliers et des cours.
Les animateurs principaux cette année sont la journaliste Elizabeth Ohene du Ghana, vétérante de la BBC et l’écrivaine primée Yewande Omotoso (Nigeria, Afrique du Sud, Barbade).
Une nouvelle caractéristique du programme de cette année sera l’atelier Moth, mené par des instructeurs expérimentés pour raconter des histoires. Les ateliers Moth cherchent à aider les participantes à apprendre à sélectionner et façonner des expériences de vie dans des histoires bien conçues, qui sont ensuite présentées à leurs pairs et les membres de la communauté locale.
L’African Women Writers Workshop d’AWDF vise à donner aux femmes écrivains africaines de l’espace, du temps et un renforcement des compétences pour leur permettre d’écrire de manière convaincante au sujet d’un éventail de questions sociales, économiques et politiques qui préoccupent les femmes africaines.
Les lauréates de l’édition 2015 sont:
Tamika Kampini- Malawi
Merna Thomas Soryal- Egypte
Fatou Wurie – Sierra-Leone
Billie McTernan- UK / Ghana
Amarachi Orji- Nigeria
Zanele Mabaso- Afrique du Sud
Salma Takky- Maroc
Zemdena Abebe Areru- Ethiopie
Simamkele Dlakavu- Afrique du Sud
Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi- Nigeria
Zeyana Abdullah- Kenya
Ny Anjara Nofy Ary Tiavina Andrianarisaina – Madagascar
Aisha Ali Haji- Kenya
Monica Cheru-Mpambawashe- Zimbabawe
Annette Denise Mkandawire- Malawi
Reham Elgebaly- Egypte
Ngwentah Berlyne Ngwalem- Cameroun
Ruth Olando Adong- Ouganda
Jama Jack – Gambie
Sibusiso T Mtshede- Zimbabwe
Stellamaris Kembabazi- Ouganda
Josephine Opar- Kenya
Cette édition des atelier des écrivains africaines comme la précédente tenue en 2014 ont été rendues possibles grâce à l’appui de la Fondation Bill et Melinda Gates.[/tp]
3rd African Grantmakers Network Assembly to be Held in Arusha, Tanzania July 1-3
3rd African Grantmakers Network Assembly to be Held in Arusha, Tanzania July 1-3
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]30th June 2015
PRESS RELEASE
Arusha To Host 3rd African Grantmakers Network Assembly July 1-3, 2015
Activist and humanitarian Graça Machel, Nobel laureate, Leymah Gbowee and HRH Sylvia Nagginda of Buganda will be among keynote speakers and presenters at this year’s African Grantmakers Network (AGN) third General Assembly, which will take place in Arusha, Tanzania at the Arusha International Conference Centre, Arusha.
The meeting will be held from July 1-3, 2015 under the theme: “Philanthropy in Africa 2015 People, Policy and Practice.” It will be hosted by the African Women’s Development Fund and the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS).
The AGN conference will bring together philanthropists, grantmaking bodies and other sectors for a three day meeting during which they will share experiences and good practise in contributions to philanthropy in Africa. Attendees will discuss the contribution made by the wide range of critical constituencies such as women, youth and other marginalised groups, and tackle crucial issues such as the impact of governance on philanthropy.
Theo Sowa, current Chair of AGN said ‘this is one of the platforms AGN has created for renewed and vibrant conversations about philanthropy in Africa, and the AGN board is delighted that at this Assembly at least three new publications on African philanthropy will be launched.’
A major highlight of the Assembly will be the African Philanthropy awards, a recognition given by AGN to individuals and organisations that have contributed to development and philanthropy on the continent.
Founded in 2009, the African Grantmakers Network (AGN) is a continentwide network of African grantmaking organisations that facilitates networking, learning and good practise amongst established and emerging African philanthropic institutions. The AGN promotes the voices of African philanthropy on the continent and globally.
AGN’s first steering committee members were the African Womens’ Development Fund (AWDF), Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) ,TrustAfrica (TA),the Southern Africa Trust (SAT), the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS), and Akiba Uhaki Foundation (AUF). The current board members include the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and Community Development Foundation Western Cape in South Africa.
For more information and to see the full programme, visit: www.africangrantmakersnetwork.org
For media enquiries or request for interviews contact:
Joyce Ambale
joyce@fricagrantmakersnetwork.org
+254 705 216 215
or
Amba MpokeBigg
amba@africlub.net/awdf
+255 682 327 082[/tp]
[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]
COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
Arusha pour Accueillir la 3ème Assemblée du Réseau des subventionneurs africains du 1er au 3 Juillet, 2015
L’activiste et humanitaire Graça Machel, lauréate du prix Nobel, Leymah Gbowee et SAR Sylvia Nagginda du Buganda seront parmi les principaux conférenciers et présentateurs lors de la 3ème Assemblée du Réseau des subventionnaires africains de cette année (AGN), qui aura lieu à Arusha, en Tanzanie au Centre de Conférence International d’Arusha.
La réunion se tiendra à du 1er au 3 Juillet 2015 et portera sur le thème: «La philanthropie en Afrique en 2015: les acteurs, la politique et la pratique.” Il sera accueilli par le Fonds Africain de développement de la femme et la Fondation pour la société civile (FCS).
La conférence réunira des AGN philanthropes, des organismes subventionnaires et d’autres secteurs pour une réunion de trois jours au cours de laquelle ils vont partager expériences et bonnes pratiques des contributions à la philanthropie en Afrique. Les participants discuteront de la contribution apportée par le large éventail de parties prenantes essentielles telles que les femmes, les jeunes et d’autres groupes marginalisés, et d’aborder des questions cruciales telles que l’impact de la gouvernance sur la philanthropie.
Theo Sowa, présidente actuelle de l’AGN déclare:”Ceci est l’une des plates-formes qu’AGN a créé pour renouveler et dynamiser les discutions sur la philanthropie en Afrique, et le conseil d’AGN est ravi qu’au moins trois nouvelles publications sur la philanthropie africaine soient lancées lors de cette Assemblée . ‘
Un des faits marquants de l’Assemblée seront les Prix de Philanthropie Africaine, une reconnaissance accordée par AGN aux individus et aux organisations qui ont contribué au développement et à la philanthropie sur le continent.
Fondé en 2009, le Réseau des subventionaires africains (AGN) est un réseau à l’échelle du continent des organisations subventionnaires africaines, qui facilite le réseautage, l’apprentissage et les bonnes pratiques entre les institutions philanthropiques africaines établies et émergentes. L’AGN favorise les voix de la philanthropie africaine sur le continent et dans le monde.
Les membres du premier comité de direction de l’AGN étaient le Fonds de développement de la Femme Africaine (AWDF), Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF), TrustAfrica (TA), Southern Africa Trust (SAT), la Fondation pour la société civile (FCS), et la Fondation Akiba Uhaki (AUF). Les membres actuels du conseil comprennent le Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and Community Development Foundation Western Cape en Afrique du Sud.
Pour plus d’informations et pour voir le programme complet, visitez: www.africangrantmakersnetwork.org
Pour tout renseignement ou demande d’entrevues avec les médias:
Joyce Ambale
joyce@fricagrantmakersnetwork.org
+254 705 216 215
or
Amba MpokeBigg
amba@africlub.net/awdf
+255 682 327 082[/tp]
AWDF & Stakeholders To Discuss Health and Reproductive Rights in Arusha, Tanzania, June 30 2015
AWDF & Stakeholders To Discuss Health and Reproductive Rights in Arusha, Tanzania, June 30 2015
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]AWDF will convene a roundtable on June 30th 2015, to discuss findings of an evaluation of its Health and Reproductive programme and current and emerging issues for women and girls.
The conversation with stakeholders – donors, partners, individual activists and consultants, will focus on analysing key concerns and recommendations noted in a desk based external evaluation done on AWDF’s Health and Reproductive Rights programme in October 2014. The goal is to identify strategic interventions that would scale up and sustain impact on the ground as well as influence policies around Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)/Health and Reproductive Rights(HRR) at local, national and regional levels.
This meeting is also a pre-event to the African Grantmakers Network (AGN) third Biennial Assembly to be held in Arusha, Tanzania from 1st -3rd July, 2015, hosted by AGN, AWDF and the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS)
The 2015 review of the Millennium Development goals revealed that insufficient progress has been made in the areas of maternal mortality, infant mortality and HIV & AIDS. Continued practice of harmful social, cultural and religious traditions compounded by years of neglect and under-investment in women’s health, have contributed to a lack of proper healthcare for women. This is especially true for poor, marginalized women in rural and remote regions of the continent.
The evaluation established the relevance of Health and Reproductive Rights as a theme for AWDF and the African women’s movement. It also reaffirmed the fact that women’s health, diseases and sexual and reproductive concerns, are not prioritized by most African governments, with the exception of Sexually Transmitted Infections(STI’s), HIV & AIDS, safe delivery and infant mortality.
According to the findings, AWDF’s work has contributed significantly to increased awareness and critical consciousness amongst African women and girls about their rights, rights over their bodies and better access to health services. The increased awareness amongst communities and service providers has enabled women and girls in many communities to access HRR services freely and without fear, stigma or discrimination. Where the services have not been available, some women have demanded those services from local governments.
The review also made suggestions for AWDF’s future work such as a strategic reframing and repositioning of its work in order to impact both the practical and strategic need of women.
“ At AWDF we like to pause and reflect on our activities and one of the ways in which we do this is to create a platform to engage all stakeholders in the area. This convening in Arusha is one of such platforms and, l look forward to learning new ideas about women’s health development that will help us bring transformational changes in the lives of women and girls in Africa,” says Nafi Chinery, AWDF’s Capacity Building programme Specialist.
Do you have a comment or opinion you’d like to share? Please contribute and follow the discussion by following the social media hashtag #AWDFHRR[/tp]
[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]AWDF va organiser une table ronde le 30 Juin 2015 pour discuter des résultats d’évaluation de son programme sur la santé et la santé reproductive ainsi que des questions actuelles et émergentes concernant les femmes et les filles.
La discussion avec les parties prenantes – les bailleurs de fonds, des partenaires, des militants et des consultants individuels, se concentrera sur l’analyse des principales préoccupations et recommandations mentionnées dans une évaluation externe portant sur le programme de santé et les droits reproductifs d’AWDF en Octobre 2014. L’objectif est d’identifier des interventions stratégiques qui pourraient être développées à grande échelle et pérenniser l’impact des actions sur le terrain ainsi que des politiques d’influence autour de la santé sexuelle et les droits reproductifs (SSDR) / la santé et les droits reproductifs (FCR) aux niveaux local, national et régional.
Cette réunion est aussi un pré-événement pour la troisième édition de l’assemblée biennale du Réseau des subventionnaires africains (AGN) qui se tiendra à Arusha, en Tanzanie du 1er au 3 Juillet 2015, organisée par l’AGN, AWDF et la Fondation pour la société civile (FCS)
Le compte rendu de 2015 sur les Objectifs de Développement du Millénaire a révélé que les progrès accomplis dans les domaines de la mortalité maternelle, la mortalité infantile et le VIH & SIDA ont été insuffisants. La perpétuation des traditions sociales, culturelles et religieuses néfastes sont aggravées par des années de négligence et de sous-investissement dans la santé des femmes, contribuant à un manque de soins de santé appropriés pour ces dernières. Cela est particulièrement vrai pour les femmes pauvres et-ou marginalisées dans les régions rurales et éloignées du continent.
L’évaluation a démontré la pertinence d’un volet sur la Santé et droits reproductifs pour AWDF et le mouvement des femmes africaines. Il a également été réaffirmé le fait que la santé, les maladies des femmes et les préoccupations sexuelles et de reproduction, ne sont pas prioritaires pour la plupart des gouvernements africains, à l’exception des infections sexuellement transmissibles, le VIH et le SIDA (IST-MST), des accouchements sans risques et la mortalité infantile.
Selon les résultats, le travail d’AWDF a contribué de manière significative chez les femmes et les filles africaines à accroître la sensibilisation et la conscience critique de leurs droits, les droits sur leurs corps et un meilleur accès aux services de santé. La prise de conscience accrue parmi les communautés et les fournisseurs de services a permis aux femmes et aux filles dans de nombreuses communautés d’accéder librement et sans peur de stigmatisation ou de discrimination aux services de FCR. Lorsque les services ne sont plus disponibles, certaines femmes ont exigé ces services des gouvernements locaux.[/tp]
AWDF To Give First African Women In Film Award June 27th
AWDF To Give First African Women In Film Award June 27th
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) will announce the winner of its first African Women in Film Award (AWIF) on Saturday 27th June at a movie awards ceremony in the Ghanaian capital Accra.
AWDF has partnered with Golden Movie Awards, a new pan-African award scheme that seeks to honour innovation, excellence and humanitarian efforts of individuals within the African Film industry.
The event is set to take place at the State House Banquet Hall, bringing together performers, writers, directors and other content creators from all over the continent.
AWDF’s African Women in Film Award will celebrate the contribution of African women to the industry.
The award will be given to an African woman who has demonstrated through her work, measurable efforts to change the narrative and challenge stereotypes about women on the continent.
AWDF recognizes the importance of the arts as a tool for social justice work and as a medium to train, nurture and raise the profile of African women through their creative works and expression.
The aim is to build the cadre of skilled African women who can use the different art mediums to promote women’s rights.
Tickets for the events can be purchased in Accra for GHS 150 at Surfline Ghana offices in Osu, Dansoman, East Legon, Tema and the Accra Mall.[/tp]
[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]Le Fonds Africain de développement de la Femme (AWDF) annoncera le vainqueur de son premier prix pour les femmes africaines dans Cinéma (AWIF) le samedi 27 Juin lors d’une cérémonie de remise de prix de cinéma dans la capitale ghanéenne Accra.
AWDF a conclu un partenariat avec Golden Movie Awards, un nouveau système d’attribution panafricain, qui cherche à honorer l’innovation, l’excellence et les efforts humanitaires des individus au sein de l’industrie cinématographique africaine.
L’événement est prévu à la State House Banquet Hall, réunissant des artistes, des écrivains, des réalisateurs et autres créateurs de contenu de partout dans le continent.
Le prix pour les femmes africaines dans le cinéma d’AWDF célèbre la contribution des femmes africaines à l’industrie.
Le prix sera décerné à une femme africaine qui a démontré à travers son travail, des efforts mesurables pour changer le récit et lutter contre les stéréotypes sur les femmes sur le continent.
AWDF reconnaît l’importance des arts comme outil pour la justice sociale et comme un moyen de former, entretenir et élever le profil des femmes africaines par leurs œuvres créatives et expression.
Le but est de construire un cadre de femmes africaines qualifiées qui peuvent utiliser les différents médiums de l’art pour promouvoir les droits des femmes.
Les billets pour l’événement peuvent être achetés à Accra pour 150GhC dans les bureaux Surfline Ghana à Osu, Dansoman, East Legon, Tema et le centre commercial d’Accra.[/tp]