Category: News

When I was told about Hope Rising and asked to say a few words, I accepted immediately. No hesitation, no checking of schedules – just immediate acceptance. There were two reasons for this.

 

The first is all about Stephen Lewis. He has been a key influence in my life – though I am only one of so many young women (well, not so young now!) whose careers he has nurtured. I will always love him for his passion, his caring, his fierce commitment to challenging the inequities of our world… and also for his ingrained respect for others, especially women. It’s that determination to root out inequality, to challenge the use and abuse of power, and to nurture strength and potential that has been reflected not just in his life and work, but also in the establishment and the work of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

 

And that is the second reason I came: Because I knew that Hope Rising wouldn’t be the typical fundraising event. I’ve witnessed far too many that have made me furious about their portrayals of African women as helpless, hapless victims, about their pictures of children with distended bellies and their implications that Africans cannot or do not care for their children or communities, and need to be ‘saved’ by people thousands of miles away. I knew that SLF would make sure Hope Rising was about solidarity and not a degrading type of pity.

 

It has been a great privilege to have spent years working alongside many truly extraordinary African women…I cannot and never would dream of speaking for them, but I do want to bring them into this space this evening – as I know them – experts, innovators and true leaders.

 

So let me tell you the story of just one of the thousands of women we want to celebrate. Patience is a retired nurse living in Tanzania, raising 5 grandchildren. After losing three of her five adult children to AIDS, she made the 5 hour walk to the nearest clinic with her grandchildren, and they all got tested. Only 1 child tested positive, but so did Patience.

 

Depression, and the sting of stigma kept Patience at home for months. Her

grandchildren stayed home from school, worried sick about the only adult left in their lives. Maybe it was seeing her grandchildren so frightened; maybe it was her love

for them, or the knowledge that her three dead children had entrusted her with the wellbeing of their children; or maybe it was what used to be drummed into me as a child – that African women just don’t give up! Whatever the motivation, Patience found the strength to pull herself out of that depression and tackle the multiple calamities that AIDS had laid at her door.

 

Today, Patience is a home-based care worker with a project called Umatu. Every day she is up at 5 a.m., gets the children ready for school, cooks a modest breakfast, and heads out on a bicycle to care for 20 other families struck down by AIDS. They are in different stages of suffering and loss, and for many, it is the nutrition, healing, counseling and support that Patience and Umatu bring that has helped them begin to live positively with HIV, rather than dying from AIDS.

 

Yet, even as we celebrate Patience, we must ask why her expertise is so marginalised in decision making circles; why her voice is not heard in the corridors of power where HIV/AIDS policy is designed.

 

This short sightedness has accelerated the ravages of AIDS in Africa — along the faultlines of gender inequality. Women’s bodies have become the ground zero of the pandemic: The violence they absorb, the love and nurture they give, the children they nurse, the children they bury, the grandchildren they raise. With pain and with strength, women repair the fabric of their lives and of those around them.

 

It is this expertise that the SLF listens to and treats with respect. In 9 years the SLF has invested over 60 million dollars, working with more than 300 organisations in 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We can see the profound difference in the quality of life in those communities, but so much more still needs to be done.

 

At an African grandmothers’ gathering in Swaziland in 2010 hosted by the SLF and a local organization, SWAPOL, we heard the powerful voices of African women. Let me end with their words:

 

“In 2006 we were battered by grief, devastated by the deaths of our beloved sons and daughters, and deeply concerned for the futures of our grandchildren. We stand here today battered, but not broken.

We are the backbones of our communities. We form the core of community-based care. With our love and commitment we protect and nurture our orphan grandchildren. Africa cannot survive without us.

We are strong, we are visionary, we have faith and we are not alone. Together we will turn the tide of AIDS.”

 

Tonight I ask you to show that those grandmothers really are not alone. I ask you to stand in solidarity with the women of Africa, with the SLF, and with women and men of commitment the world over – to stand in solidarity to turn the tide of AIDS… and to keep hope rising. Thank you.

The International Network of Women’s Fund (INWF) is a network of independent women funds committed to expanding the resources available to women’s human rights in the global south and countries in transition. It is a membership association linking Women’s Funds to promote philanthropy with a feminist perspective. INWF currently has 45 members in 32 countries.

The mission of INWF is to strengthen the political and financial capacity of Women’s Funds to empower women and girls and redistribute resources to transform their lives and communities. INWF promotes an alternative vision for the act of “giving” based on the principles of trust and empowerment. The organizations approach to sustainability is both political and financial, and places women’s funds from various countries of the globe as a key lever for change.

The INWF has been working to ensure that the political and financial capacity of Women’s Funds is strengthened and currently has total membership of 45 Women’s Funds from 32 countries working together to empower women and contribute to the redistribution of resources to transform women’s lives and communities.

The Biennial Conference:

The Biennial Conference organized every two years conveys all members and it has become a key space for advancing the work of the network.

This years’ Biennial meeting is being hosted by the African Funds in Johannesburg, South Africa from November 15 – 17, 2012 and will host about 70 members of the network. The key objectives of the biennial conference are:

• Analyze and evaluate the work of the Network.
• Advance the Monitoring and Evaluation Research-Action Program.
• Promote the work of the regions and the members.
• Strengthen members’ alliances.

 

AWDF is co-sponsoring the 2012 Biennial meeting.

The biennial meeting will be preceded by the following events:

2-day Meeting of Africa funds (Nov 9 -10, 2012)

2-day Meeting Asia Funds (Nov 8 -10, 2012)

3 -day M&E meeting for all network members ( Nov. 12 -15)

Biennial meeting (Nov 15 – 17)

 

Contact Info INWF Mirlo No. 53

Col. El Rosedal

Coyoacan CP 04330

Mexico City, Mexico

Tel + 5255492051

Website: www.inwf.org

 

Launch of ‘Women Leading Africa: Conversations with Inspirational African Women’ by the African Women’s Development Fund as part of the Adventurers in the Diaspora (AiD) Forum

Date: Thursday, 25th October 2012

Venue: Branche Lounge, Golden Tulip

Time: 7.30pm

This event will include a panel discussion on ‘African Women and Leadership’ moderated by H.E. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi with panelists Ama Ata Aidoo, internationally acclaimed writer; Mercy Amba Oduyoye, Theologian; and Mary Wandia, Regional Programme Officer for the Open Society for Eastern Africa

Please find flyer attached Flyer

 

Watch this video interview with Abigail Burgesson, AWDF’s Special Programmes Manager to learn more about the work that we do

Today is the first ‘International Day of the Girl‘ At AWDF we believe in “Investing in young women’s leadership, and promoting an inter-generational transfer of skills and knowledge“.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The BRICS axis of trade and investment offers great opportunity for Africa’s continued economic growth. But is the BRICS effect a game-changer in social investment? What’s new in BRICS models of philanthropy and social investment? Where does Africa fit in the priorities of BRICS social investors? And how can philanthropy from emerging economies help to tackle Africa’s social justice challenges in a fresh way? The 2012 assembly of the African Grantmakers Network will ask social investment experts from BRICS countries about the BRICS effect and explore what Africa can gain from these new developments. Click here to register now!

The African Grantmakers Network is a continent-wide platform to grow an African voice and agenda for philanthropy.

Main conference days: 30 October to 1 November 2012.
Satellite meetings: 29 October and 2 November 2012.

For more information contact Shekeshe Mokgosi at the Southern Africa Trust smokgosi[at]southernafricatrust.org.

AWDF is proud to support the participation of women artists in the 2012 edition of High Vibes produced by Creative Storm, Pidgin Music and Alliance Francaise (Accra).

For details of events please see poster below

BURSARY ANNOUNCEMENT

International Workshop on Resource Mobilisation (IWRM)

IWRM Africa 2012

Don’t miss out – the IWRM Africa is your starting point for fundraising success!

 

27 – 30 November, 2012 Speke Resort & Conference Centre, Kampala (Uganda)

The International Workshop on Resource Mobilisation (IWRM) Africa will take place in Kampala, Uganda from 27 – 30 November 2012. The IWRM Africa is the Resource Alliance’s second African IWRM and is organised in parnership with The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF). This 4 day workshop will address the major challenges faced by African NGOs in the areas of financial security and sustainability. The aim of IWRM Africa is to enhance the ability of African non-governmental organisations to mobilise resources for their cause. The Resource Alliance has 11 years history of organising the IWRM. It is widely recognised as the leading training opportunity to building the fundraising capacity of non-profit organisations in the emerging economics. Host countries have included India, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa and Kenya. For more information on the programme and the workshop please email iwrm@resource-alliance.org

AWDF Bursary

AWDF has put in place a small bursary to sponsor a minimum number of existing AWDF grantees to attend the IWRM. The bursary will cover only airfare and local transport for residential and non-residential delegates respectively. Applying Grantees should be ready to cost share and priority will be given to applicants who state this in their application. All successful applicants must be ready to submit a report from the workshop following a set of guidelines to be provided by AWDF. Please note that only one staff per organization will qualify for the bursary. Priority will be given to organizations that have never benefited from AWDF bursary to attend the IWRM.

 

How to apply for the AWDF Bursary

Organisations applying on behalf of staff members should submit the following documents:

• Application letter including the following:

• Name of organisation
• Address (both physical and postal)
• Telephone and Fax number
• Contact person’s name and title
• Applicant’s CV
• A maximum of 2 pages write up explaining how you intend to utilising skills acquired from the IWRM within your organisation.
• A signed recommendation letter from applicant’s organizations
• A budget (Please note that the final decision will be taken by AWDF)

Important information

The selection process will be highly competitive and will adhere strictly to the entry requirements and fundraising needs of organisations. No application will be reviewed without a signed recommendation letter from applicant’s organisation’s head. Soft copies of your application should be emailed to awdf@africlub.net/awdf.

Please send both hard and soft copies of your application documents to the following address:

 

The Grants Administrator

78 Ambassadorial Enclave

East Legon, Accra, Ghana

 

PMB CT89 Cantonments

Accra, Ghana

Tel: +233 302 521257

Email: awdf@africlub.net/awdf

 

Note that the deadline for receiving all applications is Tuesday, October 2^nd 2012. This bursary is open to existing AWDF grantees only

NOTE: THE IWRM IS CONDUCTED IN ENGLISH WITH NO TRANSLATION FACILITIIES.

 

In 2011 the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) made grants worth US$2,722,440 to 208 organisations across 29 countries in Africa over six thematic areas.

 

 

For further details on grantee partners please see the documents below:

List of 2011 grantee partners

Summary of grantee partners per country

The Executive Board of the African Women’s Development Fund is pleased to announce that Theo Sowa has agreed to be confirmed in post as AWDF’s CEO.

AWDF’s Board Chair and Co-Founder Dr Hilda Tadria says, “ As many of you know, AWDF’s visionary Executive Director and Co-Founder, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, having led AWDF since inception, stepped down at the end of 2010, following her husband’s election as Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Theo was approached to step in as Interim CEO, to provide a safe pair of hands for the organisation while the Board found the new substantive CEO. Theo did a sterling job of handling the transition for AWDF and her quiet, inclusive, yet firm leadership meant that many stakeholders did not even notice the transition taking place. Having started the Executive search, it became clear very quickly to the Board that the best person for the post was Theo and that confirming her in post would allow also for consistency, continuity and the grounding of some of the adapted systems she has introduced. I am sure you will join with the Board and staff of AWDF in our pleasure at this development.”

To read the full press please click here