The aim of this consultancy is to produce a report mapping women’s rights advocacy organisations, networks and coalitions in the Sahel region of Africa, the issues that they advocate on, targets of advocacy and approaches. The countries of focus are: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Northern Nigeria and Chad.

The consultant should have:
1. Expert knowledge of women’s rights advocacy, organisations and movements across the Sahel region
2. Experience in conducting mappings/action research
3. Excellent writing skills and proficiency in English essential.
4. Excellent command of French essential (for interviews and literature review as needed)
5. Excellent interpersonal skills and flexible attitude
6. Commitment to feminist and human rights principles of equality and diversity.

The assignment shall be for 12 working days including submission of final document.

Submissions must be received no later than June 6, 2019

CLICK HERE FOR TERMS OF REFERENCE

THE AFRICAN WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT FUND (AWDF)INVITES AFRICAN WOMEN WRITERS AND JOURNALISTS TO APPLY FOR THE AFRICAN WOMEN’S WRITERS WORKSHOP 2019. THIS 10-DAY WRITING WORKSHOP TAKES PLACE IN GHANA, FROM 21ST OCTOBER 2019 TO 30TH OCTOBER 2019.

The workshop will be facilitated by award-winning writer Yewande Omotoso, and internationally acclaimed journalist, Sylvia Vollenhoven.
This workshop is targeted at women writers, journalists and activists who wish to step-up their involvement in highlighting issues around women’s rights and social justice and who wish to improve and practice their personal writing skills. Participants will be expected to read widely from assigned selected texts, and to complete daily writing exercises. After the workshop, the participants are expected to use the knowledge acquired to write widely about social justice issues in and beyond their communities. Participants will also be required to produce at
least two articles, blogs or longer pieces for use by AWDF.

To apply, send an e-mail to communications@africlub.net/awdf with the following:

· Contact details including name, email address, telephone
number
· A short bio (maximum 200 words)
· A sample article written by the applicant, about women’s rights or social justice -between 500 and 1000 words. The
sample maybe unpublished or published on any media. AWDF will not be responsible for any cases of alleged plagiarism

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL CALL/APPLICATION GUIDELINES

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Dear AWDF Grantees and Partners,

This is to inform you that Ms Rissi Assani-Alabi, Grants Programme Officer – Francophone, no longer works with AWDF and therefore would no longer be engaging with you in the capacity of an AWDF staff member.

For any communication with regards to your grant or the work AWDF does please direct all your questions and or comments to Beatrice Boakye-Yiadom, Grants Manager at beatrice@africlub.net/awdf.

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Chères bénéficiaires et partenaires de l’AWDF,

Nous vous informons que Mlle Rissi Assani-Alabi, Administratrice de Programmes pour l’Afrique Francophone ne travaille plus avec l’AWDF et ne sera donc plus en contact avec vous en capacité de personnel de l’AWDF.

Pour toute communication concernant votre subvention et/ou le travail effectué par l’AWDF, veuillez adresser un mail à Beatrice Boakye-Yiadom, Chef de Département-Subventions sur beatrice@africlub.net/awdf

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From 13-15 September 2018, the African Women’s Development Fund convened activists, scholars, researchers and policymakers to build a thoughtful, progressive and transformative vision for the Future of African Women and the Economy under AWDF’s Economic Justice and Security thematic area. This convening investigated the various ways that African feminists are engaged in critique, analysis and the re-visioning of African economies to provide justice and security for African women. The convening is part of a larger movement-building process and ongoing conversation around resourcing African women’s economic justice and security at AWDF. The Bread and Butter series is a multifaceted knowledge production project that springs out of the convening, reflecting AWDF’s commitment to providing feminist analysis of African women’s organising. The article below is the second Article of the series.

Bread and Butter Article 2: Advancing Resources for Rural Women Farmers by Sylvia Nalubega

Women are the primary food producers globally. Within the continent of Africa, 57% of total female
employment is within agriculture. The continent’s future of food security in the face of climate change will be largely centered on the resources afforded rural women farmers. However, gender inequality perpetuates biases in resources allocated to rural women farmers and their communities. ARUWE understands that the future of food security depends on a holistic, rightsbased approach to addressing gender inequality. Central to expanding the economic opportunities for rural women is access to financial services. In this article, Sylvia Nalubega (ARUWE Uganda) provides a case study analysis of ARUWE’s work, demonstrating how rural women’s access to
finance is a necessary component in securing food on the continent. ARUWE Uganda champions
rural women and supports their movement as they advocate for their rights to financial resources.

For the full Article please click the link below:

ARUWE – Bread and Butter_FINAL (1)

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Figure 1- Participants at the North Africa Convening of women’s rights organisations and feminists movements

By Ablodegbo Ameyo Savi Dekoleadenu

29/04/2019

Since the Beijing Declaration in September 1995, Women’s rights issues in Africa have registered significant progress. For example, in the area of ​​women’s political participation in Africa, the report on “Women’s Rights in Africa” ​​highlights a major improvement, showing Rwanda (61.3%), South Africa (42.7%) and Senegal (41.8%) in the top 11 of the world ranking of women’s representation in national parliaments.

In countries like Mauritius, Liberia, Malawi, and the Central African Republic, women have been elected into office as President and Vice-President of their republics. Also, for the first time in its history, Ethiopia is currently headed by a woman. Togo, Senegal, Mozambique and several African countries have ratified several conventions that guarantee respect for women’s rights.

Despite all this progress however, women are still deprived of some of their rights in various aspects of their lives. The exclusion of women (especially rural women) in decision-making processes and in the process of social development; female genital mutilation; child marriage, illiteracy, social constraints, religious extremism, Sexual harassment, domestic violence, the exploitation of women by men and many others constitute obstacles to the full enjoyment of women’s rights.

In North Africa, feminist movements and women’s organisations hold up the torch of hope and continue to be active in the struggle for women’s rights. In Morocco, Association Démocratique des Femmes du Maroc (ADFM), a grantee organisation of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) and the Fondation YTTO pour l’hébergement et la Réhabilitation des Femmes Victimes de Violences, actively contribute to the promotion of women’s rights through their work to support women, (especially rural women) in their region.

ADFM is more involved in reform projects with the main objective of promoting women’s strategic rights and interests. ADFM is a co-founder of the “coalition printemps de la dignité pour la réforme du code penal” and has supported the soulaliyates women in obtaining equal treatment in land rights.

Every year, YTTO Foundation organises a social caravan. The overall objective is to increase awareness on women’s rights issues and integrate women’s movements through village associations. The caravan consists of a multi-activity action in which there are free medical and legal consultations and workshops for women entitled “Madam you have rights – Express yourself”

To help North African countries fight for the rights of African women, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) organised a convening of feminist and women’s organisations on 17 and 18 April 2019 at the Odyssée Center Hotel, Casablanca, Morocco. The main objective of this convening is to share not only the successes achieved by feminists’ activists, but also the challenges they face and discuss ways of collaborations and opportunities.

The African Women’s Development Fund was established in June 2000, as an Africa-wide philanthropic, grant making initiative to support the realisation and fulfilment of African women’s rights through funding of autonomous women’s organisations on the continent. AWDF supports change-makers; African women’s activist organisations and individuals who have held and advanced the line on women’s rights.

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Figure 1 Participantes à la rencontre des mouvements et organisations féministes de l’Afrique du Nord

Ecrit par Ablodegbo Ameyo Savi Dekoleadenu

29/04/2019

Depuis la déclaration de Beijing en Septembre 1995, Les droits des femmes en Afrique ont enregistré de nombreux progrès. Par exemple, en matière de participation politique des femmes en Afrique, le rapport “ Droits des femmes en Afrique” souligne une grande avancée. Le Rwanda (61.3%), l’Afrique du Sud (42.7%) et le Sénégal (41.8%) se trouvent dans le top 11 du classement mondial de la représentation des femmes dans les parlements nationaux.

Dans les pays comme l’Ile Maurice, le Liberia, le Malawi, et la République Centrafricaine, les femmes ont été élues en tant que Présidente et Vice-Présidente de leurs républiques. Aussi, pour la première fois dans son histoire, l’Ethiopie est actuellement dirigé par une femme. Le Togo, le Sénégal, le Mozambique ainsi que plusieurs pays d’Afrique ont ratifié plusieurs Conventions qui garantissent le respect des droits de la femme.

Cependant, mêmes si des avancées ont été notées, les femmes sont encore privées de certains de leurs droits. L’exclusion des femmes (surtout les femmes rurales) dans les instances de prises de décisions et dans le processus du développement social ; les mutilations génitales féminines ; le mariage des mineures ; l’analphabétisme ; les pesanteurs sociales ; l’extrémisme religieux ; le harcèlement sexuel ; les violences conjugales ; l’exploitation des femmes par les hommes et bien d’autres constituent des freins à la pleine jouissance des droits des femmes.

En Afrique du Nord, les mouvements féministes et organisations de femmes continuent d’être dans la lutte pour la défense des droits des femmes. Au Maroc, l’Association Démocratique des Femmes du Maroc (ADFM) organisation bénéficiaire du Fonds Africain pour le Développement de la Femme (AWDF) et la fondation YTTO pour l’hébergement et la Réhabilitation des Femmes Victimes de Violences contribuent activement à la promotion des droits des femmes.

L’ADFM intervient plus dans les projets de réformes avec comme objectif principal la promotion des droits et intérêts stratégiques des femmes. L’ADFM est co-fondatrice de la coalition printemps de la dignité pour la réforme du code pénal et a soutenu les femmes soulaliyates dans l’obtention d’un traitement égalitaire en matière de droits fonciers.

La fondation YTTO quant à elle, organise chaque année, une caravane sociale qui a pour objectif global développer la prise de conscience des femmes, et intégrer les mouvements des femmes à travers les associations villageoises. La caravane est composée d’une action multi-activité dans laquelle il y a les consultations médicales et juridiques gratuites et des ateliers de prises de parole des femmes ; intitulé « Madame vous avez des droits – Exprimez-vous »

Pour aider les pays de l’Afrique du Nord dans leur lutte pour la défense des droits de la femme africaine, le Fonds Africain pour le Développement de la femme (AWDF) a organisé une rencontre des mouvements féministes et organisations de femmes le 17 et 18 avril 2019 à l’hôtel Odyssée Center, Casablanca au Maroc. L’objectif principal de cette rencontre est de connaitre non seulement les succès réalisés par ses activistes, mais aussi les défis auxquels elles sont confrontées et discuter des moyens de collaborations et d’opportunités.

Le Fonds Africain pour le Développement de la Femme (AWDF) est une initiative philanthropique d’octroi de subventions qui vise à soutenir et promouvoir les droits des femmes africaines en finançant les organisations de femmes sur le continent. AWDF soutient les acteurs du changement; Les organisations féministes africaines et les particuliers(es) qui font progresser les droits des femmes.

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When we think of African women, we think of strength, resilience, courage and sisterhood, of making the impossible possible as they spearhead change across the continent.

Bisi Adeleye Fayemi, co-founder of the African Women’s Development Fund and First Lady of Ekiti State in Nigeria, has just been awarded the 2018 Zik Leadership Prize for Humanitarian Leadership in Lagos Nigeria.

Bisi, who served as the first Executive Director of the African Women’s Development Fund from 2001-2010 is well known for her activism in defending and promoting women’s rights. She has vast experience as a Gender Specialist, Social Entrepreneur, Policy Advocate, Politician, Social Change Philanthropy Practitioner, Communications Specialist and Social Sector expert. Bisi is also one of the founders of the African Feminist Forum (AFF).

Bisi runs Above Whispers, an online platform which provides a forum to engage in discussions on various issues including social justice, women’s rights, politics, development, financial security, health, entrepreneurship, popular culture, faith, parenting, relationships.

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Chaque fois que nous pensons aux femmes africaines, nous pensons à la force, à la résilience, au courage et à la sororité. Nous pensons à celles qui font de l’impossible une réalité et sont au-devant du changement à travers le continent.

Bisi Adeleye Fayemi, cofondatrice du Fonds Africain pour le Développement de la Femme (AWDF), Première Dame de l’État d’Ekiti au Nigéria, vient de recevoir le Prix du leadership Zik 2018 pour le leadership humanitaire à Lagos, au Nigéria.

Bisi, qui a été la première Directrice Exécutive du Fonds Africain pour le Développement de la Femme (AWDF) de 2001 à 2010, est bien connue pour son activisme dans la défense et la promotion des droits des femmes. Elle possède une vaste expérience en tant que spécialiste sur les questions de genre, entrepreneur social, défenseuse des politiques, politicienne, philanthrope, spécialiste en communications et experte du secteur social. Bisi est également l’une des fondatrices du Forum Féministe Africain (AFF).

Bisi a créé Above Whispers, un site internet qui engage beaucoup de personnes sur divers sujets tels que la justice sociale, les droits des femmes, la politique, le développement, la sécurité financière, la santé, l’entrepreneuriat, la culture populaire, la foi, l’éducation des enfants et les relations.

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The first article in our Bread and Butter series was written by Crystal Simeoni from the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), convenors of the African Feminist Macroeconomics Academy. The article provides a feminist reflection on current neoliberal macro level economic policies in Africa and how they affect women’s lives. The writer argues that current definitions of women’s economic empowerment are too narrow to offer impactful strategies. This follows from increasing analyses that, in as much as Africa’s economies grow, so does inequality between her people. Simeoni argues that current neoliberal macroeconomic frameworks will continue to exacerbate the problem.

Please click HERE to read the article.

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AWDF works in two major languages, English and French.  AWDF is looking for a bilingual feminist grantmaking consultant to serve as Temporary Cover for its Francophone grantmaking portfolio for a period of 8 weeks. The consultant will report to the Grants Manager, and will work in close collaboration with Grants Programme Officers and administrators, Programme specialists, the Director of Programmes, as well as other members of the AWDF team.

The role is primarily Grant Management and includes the following:

1. Review French applications and recommend credible organisations that promote AWDF’s mission, prepare a summary docket for management consideration
2. Conduct due diligence on selected women’s rights organisations when needed
3. Review grantee reports and provide feedback and recommendations to the Grants and Finance teams
4. Provide translation from French into English and English into French concerning grants as needed
5. Any other task in keeping with the role as assigned by Supervisor

How to apply

Qualified candidates should please send a cover letter, a CV of not more than 3 pages and indication of two referees by email to jobs@africlub.net/awdf.

Deadline for submission: April 24th 2019

Please find the full Job Decription Here Francophone Consultant

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Les deux langues officielles utilisées à l’AWDF sont l’anglais et le français. AWDF est donc à la recherche d’un (e) consultant (e) féministe bilingue avec une connaissance approfondie en octroi de subventions et qui pourrait travailler sur notre portefeuille de subventions des pays francophones. La durée de ce poste est de 8 semaines. Le/la consultant(e) fera rapport et sera supervisé(e) par le chef du département de subventions. Elle/il travaillera en étroite collaboration avec les responsables et administratrices de programmes de subventions, les spécialistes de programmes, la Directrice de Programmes ainsi que d’autres membres de l’équipe AWDF.

Le rôle est principalement la gestion du portefeuille de subventions qui comprend les éléments suivants:

1. Examiner les demandes de subventions en français et recommander des organisations crédibles qui défendent la mission de l’AWDF, faire un résumé de toutes les demandes et les présenter à l’équipe de gestion pour leur considération.
2. Faire des vérifications nécessaires sur les organisations de femmes sélectionnées
3. Examiner les rapports des bénéficiaires et fournir des commentaires et des recommandations à l’équipe subventions et finance.
4. Faire la traduction des documents de subventions du français vers l’anglais et vice versa
5. Exécuter toute autre tâche confiée par son superviseur

Comment postuler ?

Les candidats (es) qualifiés (es) doivent envoyer une lettre de motivation, un CV (pas plus de 3 pages) et les détails de deux références professionnelles qui peuvent être utiles à leurs candidatures  par email à jobs@africlub.net/awdf.

Les dossiers de candidatures doivent être envoyés au plus tard le 24 avril 2019

TELECHARGEZ ICI LE TERME DE REFERENCE 

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As part of our capacity building and donor advocacy roles, AWDF is embarking on a process to encourage African women’s funds, allied philanthropic actors, and the African women’s organisations that we support to engage with the growing field of knowledge production and programme development and implementation around evidence-based prevention of violence against women. This initiative has a particular focus on intimate partner violence but will also consider other forms of violence and both evidence generation and programming around them.

The aim of this consultancy is to produce a report mapping key donors, women’s organisations, researchers and other actors in the African region working on evidence-based prevention of violence against women. Although intimate partner violence as focus, we will also look at work on other forms of VAW.

WANT TO APPLY? , Click here for TOR .

Submissions must be received no later than 15 April 2019.

Bisi Adeleye Fayemi, a co founder of AWDF wrote a piece that reflected on her experiences of the CSW and various feminist spaces within the Nigerian Feminist ecosystem. In her piece she spoke to the importance of galvanising the feminist movement within African spaces and keeping track of the gains that we have made despite our many obstacles.

To read the article please click here!