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Deepening Roots is a report on our achievements, learnings and growth in 2018. We strongly believe in the power and potential of African women to shape our own destinies and this report is a testament to all the growth work that continues to guide our cause. The report has been structured across three major themes: growth, reflection, and learning. Each theme captures the ways that AWDF implemented our strategic vision in 2018. We stay committed to
supporting a range of African women’s organisations to live out their visions of justice and freedom for all African women. As we continue to reach upwards and outward in our feminist journeys, we also remember to dig deeper and more intentionally into the values that root us to do this work. We hope
you enjoy reading as much as we enjoyed growing, reflecting and learning in 2018.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT ENGLISH VERSION

TO READ THE FRENCH VERSION, PLEASE CLICK HERE

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L’enracinement (Deepening Roots) est un rapport sur nos réalisations, nos apprentissages et notre croissance en 2018. Nous croyons fermement au pouvoir et au potentiel des femmes africaines à forger nos propres destins; et ce rapport est un témoignage de toutes les activités qui ont marqué notre croissance et qui continuent de guider notre cause.

Le rapport a été structuré autour de trois principaux thèmes: croissance, réflexion et apprentissage. Chaque thème représente les voies par lesquelles notre vision stratégique a été mise en oeuvre par l’AWDF en 2018. Nous demeurons engagées à notre volonté de soutenir un éventail d’organisations de femmes à accomplir leur vision de justice et de liberté pour toutes les femmes africaines. En poursuivant notre engagement à la cause féministe vers les sommets et l’extérieur, nous nous rappelons également de puiser profondément et de manière plus intentionnelle dans nos valeurs qui nous lient à ce travail qui nous passionne tant.

Nous espérons que vous trouverez du plaisir à lire ce rapport tout comme nous avons été heureuses de croître, de réfléchir et d’apprendre en 2018.

CLIQUEZ ICI POUR LIRE ET TELECHARGER LE RAPPORT

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We are happy to share this update on the upcoming African Women Writers Workshop. The number of applications received was truly amazing and we’re excited by the high level of interest in the event.

Screening is still ongoing, but due to the high number of qualified applications received, we are unable to respond to every single applicant. We will notify shortlisted applicants by 30th August 2019. If you have not heard from us by the end of August, it means you did not make the shortlist. There will be an opportunity to try for the next one.

Thank you!

The AWWW 2019 Team

Photograph: Dinendra Haria/Alamy

Gender activism is yielding significant dividends as funding for women’s rights initiatives reach unprecedented levels. The African Women’s Development Fund has made great strides in driving donor funding towards more impactful causes with partnership initiatives such as Leading from the South, Amplify Change and the recently announced Equality Fund.

But this is not nearly enough, according to AWID’s Kasia Staszewska, Tenzin Dolker and Kellea Miller. The totality of funding for Gender Equality that goes to women’s organisations pales in comparison to the amounts that go to international organisations based in the donor countries. Read the article here

” The continent is emerging from some really difficult challenges and some of the drivers of that change are women and girls. The continent can do so much more and has so much more potential but we will only get there if we use 100% of our human resources and that means women and girls have got to be at the center of that change we want to see”.

To listen to the interview, click here

Edith Asamani

More than 6000 delegates from around the world participated in this year’s Women Deliver Conference in Vancouver, Canada. It was a time of sharing, learning and networking with discussions focused on diverse topics including education, economic and political empowerment, good governance, women and girl empowerment. World leaders, journalists, influencers, advocates, academics, activists, journalists were all present at the conference.

In addition to the panel discussions, competitions were held to award grants to deserving individuals and organisations who were leading on promoting gender equality and reducing gender based violence.

Ghanaian campaigner on sexual reproductive health rights, Edith Asamani, emerged the winner of a 30,000 Euro grant for advocacy to end gender based violence.

The panel which included the African Women’s Development Fund and the Global Fund for Women selected Edith, who works with the African Youth and Adolescents Network (AfriYan), out of 6 contenders.

Edith Asamani says the grant will enable AfriYAN Ghana to push to reduce sexual and gender-based violence. She added that it provides an opportunity for a youth-led network to lead change.

FOR FULL ARTICLE, CLICK HERE

Manchie Women gari processors working in a smoke-free environment using Improved LPG Stoves provided by AWDF/20/05/11

By Rose Buabeng, AWDF

05/06/2019

Since inception, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) has invested in and supported several women agro-processing groups to improve their production processes into more energy efficient systems.

With a global focus on air pollution for this year’s World Environment Day, this article seeks to highlight the activities of rural women agro-processors and how these activities impact the environment and their health.

A large number of rural women in Africa are engaged in agro processing cottage industries, and most of them use solid fuels in their production processes, creating environmental risks which could have significant impact on their health and wellbeing. The burden from solid fuels disease remains most prominent in areas with limited access to clean fuels, mostly poor households in developing countries. Globally, 2.6% of all ill-health is attributable to indoor smoke from solid fuels, nearly all of this in poorer regions.

With this in mind, AWDF has partnered the women’s groups to boost their incomes and to move into more eco-friendly models that will protect not only their health but the environment in general.

Some of these groups are involved in gari processing, groundnut paste and oil processing, shea butter processing, brewing of local beer, etc. AWDF has supported such women groups with modern processing equipment, processing structures as well as clean and more efficient energy source (LPG). The groups have also received capacity building support in health, hygiene and safety with some being able to certify their production activities with quality and standards regulatory bodies within their countries.

A typical example is the Manchie Women Food Processing and Marketing Group in Ghana. Since 2008, AWDF has provided support to the tune of $100,000 to provide modernised cassava processing equipment, clean and efficient energy sources, health and hygiene capacity support, marketing and financial management support. This has enabled the women processors to produce in a pollution-free environment; expand marketing channels and increase income levels. The support has also given them credibility in the district; they are contacted or invited to participate in all development and leadership activities in the Amasaman District in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.

Solid fuels will continue to remain the main source of household fuel in developing countries for the foreseeable future but collective effort must be made to scale down on its use and move into sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources.

Manchie Women gari processors using Improved processing equipment provided by AWDF/20/05/11

Job Summary

The Knowledge Management Assistant (KMA) plays an exciting role in the Knowledge Management Unit supporting with the implementation of AWDF’s Feminist Knowledge Hub. Reporting to and working in close collaboration with the Knowledge Management Specialist, to produce analysis, generate new knowledge around women’s rights in Africa, and collaborate to communicate the impact of AWDF’s work and the work of its grantees, advocacy and movement building partners. The KMA also assists with the documentation of organisational learning and knowledge generation within AWDF. The work of the KM function is conducted in English, with selected initiatives in French.

Essential Knowledge and Experience

• Entry-level experience in knowledge production and archiving around women’s organising
• Strong analytical, writing and editing skills are essential. Some experience of working with African women’s organisations, and some knowledge of African women’s rights issues and concerns is advantageous.
• Some experience of developing or managing information systems (for example, virtual or physical libraries or archives) and in using multiple communication and knowledge production formats (film, audio, visual/graphics) desirable.
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral)
• High level of proficiency in MS Office required. Experience of working with WordPress, and managing social media accounts desirable.
• Ability to work independently and part of a team
• Ability to work democratically with diverse groups and people.
• Ability to travel within Africa/ internationally essential
• Willingness to work flexible working hours, occasionally outside of regular working hours are expected

CLICK HERE FOR FULL CALL FOR APPLICATION

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A ground-breaking funding initiative for the promotion of women’s rights.

An exciting new fund has just been launched by the African Women’s Development Fund in collaboration with ten other partners in an alliance that is aimed at breaking down barriers to investment and supporting gender equality.

THE EQUALITY FUND, expected to reach $300000000, is funded by the Government of Canada and reflects the Canadian vision to support women around the world. It is the first of its kind in a bold initiative to harness the collective power of the members of the alliance to mobilise resources in novel ways to promote women’s rights.

The eleven members of the alliance bring on board varying expertise and strengths and comprise the following: The MATCH International Women’s Fund (The MATCH Fund), the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), Calvert Impact Capital, the Canadian Women’s Foundation (CWF), Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), Philanthropy for Advancing Women’s Human Rights (PAWHR), Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Toronto Foundation, World University Service of Canada WUSC), Oxfam Canada and Yaletown Partners.

Read the Press Release here: Equality Fund Press Release

For more information, visit the Equality Fund Website at https://equalityfund.ca/

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Le Fonds Africain pour le Développement de la femme vient de lancer un nouveau fonds novateur en collaboration avec dix autres partenaires d’une alliance pour éliminer les obstacles à l’investissement et soutenir l’égalité des sexes.

EQUALITY FUND (FONDS POUR L’ÉGALITÉ), d’un montant de 300000000 $, est financé par le gouvernement du Canada et confirme la vision du canada dans sa poursuite pour aider les femmes du monde entier. Cette première initiative de son genre vise à exploiter le pouvoir collectif des membres de l’alliance pour mobiliser des ressources de manière novatrice afin de promouvoir les droits des femmes.

Les onze membres de l’alliance apportent une expertise et des atouts divers. Ils sont les suivants: The MATCH International Women’s Fund (The MATCH Fund), the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), Calvert Impact Capital, the Canadian Women’s Foundation (CWF), Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), Philanthropy for Advancing Women’s Human Rights (PAWHR), Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Toronto Foundation, World University Service of Canada WUSC), Oxfam Canada and Yaletown Partners.

Cliquez ici pour lire le communiqué de presse de EQUALITY FUND (FONDS POUR L’EGALITE)

Pour plus d’informations, visitez le site Web du Fonds pour l’égalité : https://equalityfund.ca/

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All across the world, African women continue to drive change as they strive to make the world a better place for all. On Africa day this year, our partner and feminist sister, Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, CEO of Global Fund for Women was honored by the African Diasporan Network for her incredible work in advancing Women’s rights on the African continent.

Here is an excerpt from the piece written on her:

To Musimbi Kanyoro, we thank you for contributing to ADN as a bold visionary and driver of change and unity. Together, we will continue to develop a global community in which we engage partners and community members to change the lives of youth, women, educators, farmers, entrepreneurs, and all the people of Africa and the communities in which we live.

To read the entirety of the piece please click HERE

We’re excited to announce that Theo Sowa, AWDF’s CEO has been included on Apolitical’s second annual list of the 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy for 2019. 2019’s list includes other incredible activists, such as Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Ruth Bader-Ginsburg, Caren Grown and Michelle Obama. The list was created from over 9000 nominations from governments, international organisations and academia, including UN Women, Women Deliver, Women in Global Health, the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council, Harvard, and the Gates Foundation.

Apolitical is a global platform for public servants and policymakers to stay informed about policy and the public service, announced its compilation of the 100 most influential people in gender policy around the world on Wednesday 29th May, citing Theo for her work in Philanthropy. This accolade recognises her incredible efforts, both at AWDF and in her own personal capacity, to make the world a better, kinder, and freer place for women.

Please follow this link for the full list:

http://apolitical.co/lists/gender-equality-100/