Category: News

In recent months, AWDF has noticed with deep concern, a rise in the frequency of violence-related deaths and injuries, and domestic violence cases being reported by the various Ghanaian mediahouses. Not only does it seem that violence has increased, it also seems that it comes in a wider variety of instances, some increasingly brutal and others startlingly fatal.

 

In reaction to this, three of our staff put together this personal blog piece on a call to action against violence against women very recently. Barely two weeks after, the Ghanaian celebrity representative to the popular South Africa-based Big Brother Africa, a very visible and internationally broadcasted reality show, slapped a fellow female housemate in a shocking act of violence which had them both expelled from the show, and left the entire continent debating. Our Communications Officer, Nana Sekyiamah issued an emphatic disapproval of this action of violence by a male against a female, and this was captured on leading radio stations and by Big Brother’s website.

 

These events have prompted us on the need to always ensure the availability of educative and preventive materials for victims and potential victims as well as perpetrators, on Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women. Hence, this resource paper on what defines Domestic Violence and places to go to for safety, counselling, protection and violence-related support in several countries all over the continent of Africa.

 

Violence rates are rising everywhere, for a variety of reasons, and as Mr. Freeman Tettey, DOVVSU (Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit) Public Relations Officer said in an interview with The Times newspaper in Accra in March this year, there were 15, 495 reported cases of violence against women last year in Ghana, and 2,474 cases of woman-to-man violence cases in the same period. It is about time we increase public awareness and education of this negative situation in our societies.

For the Resource Paper on Violence Against Women (What to do, Where to go), please click the link below:

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

END

 

About the African Women’s Development Fund

Over the past ten years, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) has blazed a trail for women’s rights and philanthropy across the African continent. AWDF is an African, not for profit, grantmaking organisation. Since the start of operations in 2001, AWDF has provided US$19 million in grants to 800 women’s organisations in 42 African countries.

AWDF’s grant making processes are uniquely designed to meet the needs of African women and activities include the provision of small and larger grants to African women’s organisations, capacity building support and a strong focus on advocacy and movement building.

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is pleased to support the Open Forum 2012 on the theme of ‘Money, Power and Sex’. This event takes place from the 22nd -25th May at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in South Africa.

On Tuesday 22nd May in room 2.62 at the CTICC, Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, AWDF’s Communications Officer will moderate a session on:

“Organising Online: Feminists share experiences of cyber activism” with panelists Hakima Abbas, (Executive Director, Fahamu); Gathoni Blessol, (Co-Founder of Watetezihaki Platform); Jan Moolman, (Association for Progressive Communications); Minna Salami, (Blogger & Writer, Ms Afropolitan); and Spectra Speaks (Afrofeminist WriterArtivist, and Executive Editor of Queer Women of Color and Friends). In this conversation, feminists from Africa and the Diaspora share details of their online activism, connecting with feminists online, managing safety and security online, and linkages between online and offline activism.

On Wednesday 23rd May in the main auditorum Theo Sowa, Interim CEO of AWDF will provide an overview of ‘Power’ and its connections to Money and Sex.

AWDF looks forward to connecting with participants attending the 2012 Open Forum.

PRESS RELEASE

 

For Immediate Release

Accra, 7^th April 2012

The African Women’s Development Fund congratulates Joyce Banda, President of Malawi

 

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) extends our congratulations to Her Excellency Joyce Banda, who has recently been sworn into office as President of Malawi.

 

Joyce Banda has been a longtime advocate for women’s rights and through her leadership of the ‘Joyce Banda Foundation’ (an AWDF grantee partner) she has supported civic education and empowerment activities for community based women. A member of the African Womens Leadership Network for Reproductive Health and Family Planning, in November 2010, AWDF awarded Joyce Banda a ‘Woman of Substance’ award in the ‘Special Recognition Category’.

 

Theo Sowa, Interim CEO of AWDF states, “Our condolences go to the family of the late President Bingu wa Mutharika. Despite the tragic circumstances of her appointment, I am certain that President Joyce Banda will guide the people of Malawi with the same vision, principled leadership and diligence that she has shown in her life and work to date. Her track record as a women’s rights activist, and her history of working with community-based organisations is commendable. In November 2010, AWDF was privileged to have Joyce Banda participate in our 10^th anniversary celebrations, where she spoke on the topic, “Quality versus quantity: How far have we come in promoting African women’s participation in politics?” This panel discussion now seems prescient, and we look forward to Joyce Banda distinguishing herself as an inspiring African woman president.

 

ENDS

About the African Women’s Development Fund

Over the past ten years, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) has blazed a trail for women’s rights and philanthropy across the African continent. AWDF is an African, not for profit, grantmaking organisation. Since the start of operations in 2001, AWDF has provided US$19 million in grants to 800 women’s organisations in 42 African countries.

AWDF’s grant making processes are uniquely designed to meet the needs of African women and activities include the provision of small and larger grants to African women’s organisations, capacity building support and a strong focus on advocacy and movement building.

Press Enquiries

 

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah (AWDF Programme Officer for Communications)

Tel: +233 302 521 257 (Ghana)

Email: nana@africlub.net/awdf

Website: www.africlub.net/awdf

On Thursday 5th April 2012, Theo Sowa, AWDF’s Interim CEO spoke on the critical importance of ‘African Women’s Voice and Representation’, at a TEDxChange in Berlin. Germany. To watch a video of her speech please click here

Theo Sowa spoke alongside Melinda French Gates, Sven Giegold and Baaba Maal. For full details of the TEDxChange event please visit their website

 

Nneka Egbuna, AWDF’s Ambassador for the Arts has been featured in the April/May edition of New African Woman (English edition).

This article focuses on Nneka’s working visit to the African Women’s Development Fund in Ghana to officially start her role as the foundation’s Ambassador for the Arts. Nneka arrived in Ghana on the 12^th of February 2012 immediately after finishing her Africa tour, which had taken her to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Zanzibar.

New African Woman is widely distributed throughout Africa and the rest of the world. For details of where to purchase a copy or for digital access please visit http://www.africasia.com/newafricanwoman/

 

The staff of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) congratulates Dr Hilda Tadria on being recognised by ‘New Vision’, a leading Ugandan daily, as a woman who has made a positive mark on Ugandan society. At AWDF we are intimately aware of the hard work, passion and commitment which Dr Tadria brings to women rights work, especially in the areas of mentoring, leadership and inter generational dialogue. For this reason we are especially pleased to see Dr Tadria being recognised in her own home country.

We also extend our congratulations to Winnie Byanyima, Dr Sarah Ntiro and Dr Sarah Tamale who have all contributed immensely to the women’s movement in Uganda.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, AWDF is pleased to release ‘African Woman’. ‘African woman’ is performed by Lady Jay Wah of Pidgen Music, and the version below features the talented musician Sena Dagadu. All royalties from this song have been donated by the artists and Pidgen Music to AWDF’s thematic area of ‘Arts, Culture and Sports’. We thank all the musicians who have been involved in this process for their hard work and generosity.

Click link below to download the track:

african woman

 

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Accra, 28th February 2012

 

Celebrate International Women’s Day with the African Women’s Development Fund and Alliance Francaise (Ghana)

Every year on 8^th March the world celebrates International Women’s Day. This year, celebrate International Women’s Day with the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) and our partner, Alliance Francaise (Ghana).

On Thursday, 8^th March 2012 at 6.30 pm attend an art exhibition and reception themed, “Young African Women, Inspiring Futures”, featuring Adowa Amoah, Co-Director of the Foundation for Contemporary Art (FCA) and Fatric Bewong, a painter. Although Adwoa’s medium is primarily painting, she experiments with installations and photography, which extends her language of expression to reflect contemporary situations. Fatric is a contemporary artist whose work incorporates a multifaceted approach to the vibrant colours, textures and rhythms of Ghana’s social landscape.

This exhibition is followed at 8.00pm with a concert featuring Sia Tolno, an award winning musician from Guinea and RFI Discovery Award winner of 2011, as well as Lady Jay Wah of Ghana who will perform a medley of inspiring music, including ‘African woman’, a song specially commissioned by AWDF. Ticket sales for this event are GHC10, with sales and a portion of any art pieces sold supporting AWDF’s ‘Arts, Culture and Sports’ thematic area.

ENDS

About the African Women’s Development Fund

Over the past ten years, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) has blazed a trail for women’s rights and philanthropy across the African continent. AWDF is an African, not for profit, grantmaking organisation. Since the start of operations in 2001, AWDF has provided US$19 million in grants to 800 women’s organisations in 42 African countries. AWDF’s grant making processes are uniquely designed to meet the needs of African women and activities include the provision of small and larger grants to African women’s organisations, capacity building support and a strong focus on advocacy and movement building.

Press Enquiries

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah (AWDF Programme Officer for Communications)

Tel: +233 302 521 257 (Ghana)

Email: nana@africlub.net/awdf, Website: www.africlub.net/awdf

Press Release

Immediate

Website: http://www.acbf-pact.org

 

African Capacity Building Foundation signs second phase grant with the African Women’s Development Fund to upscale women’s participation in policy development and implementation on the continent

Accra, 23 February 2012 (ACBF) – The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) today signed a US$ 2.73 million grant with the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) in Accra. The second phase funding will promote the economic empowerment and political participation of women in Africa, by strengthening AWDF’s institutional and human capacity and increasing the institutional capacity of African Women Organizations to engage effectively on issues of women’s human rights and development in Africa. This follows a successful first phase of US$1 million, which ended in December 2011.

Women and girls constitute over 51% of Africa’s 850 million people. In Sub-Saharan Africa over 70% of the poor are women currently living below the World Bank’s poverty headcount ratio of US$2 per day. According to the 2010 UN progress report on the achievement of the MDGs, although, gender parity has been achieved or is close to being achieved at primary school level in over two-thirds of African countries, Africa has the lowest female literacy rate in the world. Much remains to be done at secondary and tertiary levels. Maternal mortality also remains higher in sub-Saharan Africa than in any other region, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to affect more women than men in most African countries, with women accounting for 60% of new infections. Women also have a harder time finding jobs in environments where there are few opportunities due to job rationing with preference going to men.

Against this challenging background some progress has been made regarding the development of women’s organizations working to promote gender equality and women’s rights in various parts of Africa. These organizations are considered as key drivers in efforts to attain gender equality and end discriminatory and exclusionary practices against women.

Capacity for women’s organisations to deliver on all fronts remains thin and further investment is needed in order to realize women’s human rights and development. Several constraints remain for these organisations, including poor ability to build their own dynamic capacity and ensure they are sustainable in the long term. Other challenges include unstable financing, the constant need to build strategic movement, and the need for conceptual clarity, as well as addressing ideological differences and poor employment opportunities.

Speaking at the Grant signing ceremony, ACBF Executive Secretary, Dr. Frannie Léautier highlighted that ACBF recognizes the importance of equal participation of both women and men in the development and implementation of policies, and the continuous need for capacity development in this area. She said: “It has become evident over time that where women have access to education, economic assets or live free of conflict there is a reduction in poverty levels. At ACBF, we have embarked on our third strategic medium term plan. The strength of this plan lies in the Foundation’s ability to strengthen partnerships with institutions such as the AWDF, where work on gender and women is continentally focussed. This allows the Foundation to have a wider reach, and to also make a larger contribution to the capacity strengthening of women’s organizations”.

She added that through such partnerships there is a shared responsibility to achieve results and develop a critical mass of skilled women to deal with gender issues at national levels, while also focussing on policy and implementation at regional and global levels.

This second phase funding will enable AWDF to innovate through their various platforms and fora to engage fully in the development discourse of women on the continent.”

In her address, AWDF’s Interim Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Theo Sowa said: “We welcome the grant from ACBF to AWDF of 2.7 million dollars over a four-year period but what we appreciate more is the way in which that grant is framed. ACBF is giving AWDF the opportunity to both strengthen our core capacity and to reach out to the various women’s organisations we partner with to strengthen their capacities. This is a wonderful opportunity and one for which ACBF should be praised. Only too often, donors focus on projects, wanting organisations to deliver results on the ground without taking into consideration the need for organisations to be strong and sustainable themselves, if they are to deliver on results. ACBF recognises this and makes its funding available in such a way as to strengthen organisational capacity, sustainability and therefore strengthen the impact of programmes on the ground.”

The implementation of the second phase of this project, which runs from 2011-2015 holds significance, as this period coincides with international and sub-regional benchmarks, such as the African Union Decade for Women, the 15 year review of the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, including those covering gender, and the review of progress under the SADC Gender and Development Protocol by 2015.

 

Ends: //

About the African Capacity Building Foundation

ACBF was established in February 1991. It is the outcome of collaboration between African governments and the international donor community. Its mission is to build sustainable human and institutional capacity for sustainable growth and poverty reduction in Africa. ACBF’s vision is for Africa to be recognized for its socio-political and economic capabilities and endowments – a continent with effective institutions and policies acquired through sustained investment in people and institutions. The Foundation is a leader, major partner and centre of excellence for capacity building in Africa.

The African Union currently serves as an Observer on the ACBF Board of Governors.

For further information on ACBF, please contact:

c.noumon@acbf-pact.org

a.mpunzwana@acbf-pact.org

r.kambarami@acbf-pact.org

 

African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)

PO Box 1562, Harare

ZIMBABWE

Tel: + 263 4 700208/210

 

About the African Women’s Development Fund

 

Since the start of operations in 2001, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) has blazed a trail for women’s rights and philanthropy across the African continent. AWDF has provided US$19 million in grants to 800 women’s organizations in 42 African countries. AWDF’s grant making processes are uniquely designed to meet the needs of African women and include the provision of small grants ($1000-$5000) to community-based organizations, main grants (up to $50,000), capacity building support and a strong focus on movement building.

 

For further information on AWDF, please contact:

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah (Programme Officer for Communications)

Tel: +233 302 521 257

Email: nana@africlub.net/awdf

Website: www.africlub.net/awdf