Category: Uncategorized
Diana Louise Ofwona
Diana Louise Ofwona
Diana Ofwona is the Resident Representative of UNDP in Niger since April 2019. As the main interlocutor with the Government of Niger on behalf of UNDP, her key assignment is to provide substantive leadership for sustainable and inclusive development, with particular focus on AU Agenda 2063 and UN Agenda 2030. She is also responsible for the formulation of the UNDP Country Strategy for Niger, mobilising resources and partnerships for Niger’s development agenda, and providing strategic guidance and oversight for UNDP’s operations in Niger.
In her current assignment, she is also in charge of leading UNDP Niger’s strategy for the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin and Liptako Gourma Regions in mitigating the effects of violent extremism, notably the Boko Haram and ISWAP1 insurgencies, through a robust, coherent and integrated approach to security, humanitarian and development challenges under the $100m Regional Stabilisation Programme.
A graduate of the University of Nairobi (M.A), Diana has over 30 years’ work experience in government, private sector, international NGOs, the Academia and the United Nations. Prior to her current appointment, Ms. Ofwona held, from 2015 to 2018, the position of Regional Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), in charge of all countries in West and Central Africa (WCAR). Ms. Ofwona has held other senior positions in the UN across three continents (Africa, the Caribbean and North America), notably as:
1. Regional Director, UNIFEM Central Africa based in Kigali, Rwanda (2010-2015).
2. Special Advisor to the UN Assistant Secretary General/UNDP Regional Director for Africa based in New York, USA (2006-2008).
3. UNDP Deputy Resident Representative based in Niamey, Niger (2004-2006).
4. UN Policy Analyst for Southern Africa based in Pretoria, South Africa (2002-2004).
5. Policy Analyst, UNDP in Trinidad and Tobago (June to September 2002) – UNDP Trainee.
6. UN Regional Advisor for the Great Lakes Region based in Kigali, Rwanda (2000-2002).
A leader and senior international development practitioner, she has proven capacity to shape and lead socio-economic policy. Ms. Ofwona has served on several high-level boards and committees, notably the UN high-level Strategy and Management Review Panel commissioned to develop a new strategy for UNDP in Africa. She also served on the Boards of the North-South Institute (Canada), the Makerere Female Scholarship Foundation (Uganda) and the MTN Foundation (Rwanda).
Diana is a life member of the International Association of Students of Economics and Business (AIESEC) and the Lions Club International.
Finalists: African Women Writers Workshop 2019
Finalists: African Women Writers Workshop 2019
We are pleased to announce the final list of selected applicants for the 2019 African Women Writers Workshop due to be held in Ghana.
The quality and sheer volume of applications received was truly amazing, and we thank everyone who put in an application to be part of this wonderful experience. We received over 1,300 applications and it was really tough deciding on the finalists and we couldn’t have done it without the assistance of our partners Femrite and facilitators Yewande Omotoso and Sylvia Vollenhoven.
We are truly sorry if you applied and did not make it this time. We hope you will try again at the next opportunity.
We take this opportunity to congratulate the selected finalists as listed below, as we prepare to welcome them to the workshop in Ghana.
- Paula Akugizibwe (Rwanda)
- Lydia Ume (Nigeria)
- Fatima Derby(Ghana)
- Dorcas Tiwaa Addai (Ghana)
- Awa Badara Joof (The Gambia)
- Anne Waruguru Kiai (Kenya)
- Lerato Molisana (Lesotho)
- Louise Mutabazi (Rwanda)
- Gcotyelwa Jimlongo (South Africa)
- Makomborero Muzenda (Zimbabwe)
- Musih Tedji (Cameroon)
- Shameelah Khan (South Africa)
- Sharon Tshipa (Botswana)
- Beryl Adhiambo (Kenya)
- Ingrid Nayame (Zambia)
- Jessica Mandanda (Malawi)
- Ndapewoshali Ndahafa(Namibia)
- Sophie Efange (Ethiopia)
- Bigoa Chuol (South Sudan)
- Aminata Sanneh (Gambia)
Programme Officer – Grants
Programme Officer – Grants
Background
The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is a pioneering grantmaking foundation headquartered in Accra, Ghana. AWDF was founded by and for African women. Since its founding in 2001, AWDF has continued to support a growing portfolio of grants to leading women’s rights organisations and feminist movements across Africa, while also supporting knowledge generation, capacity building, movement building and donor advocacy around African women’s activist histories, movement resourcing needs, and feminist futures.
Job Summary
The Programme Officer – Grants plays a critical role in the grants department taking primary responsibility for assessing new grants applications, recommending organisations to be funded, and preparing dockets in collaboration with the Grants Manager, and other colleagues in the Grants Department, and in line with AWDF’s strategic plan. With a focus on Francophone grantmaking, the post-holder will work to grow the Francophone grantmaking portfolio in line with the overall strategy, conduct desk and field based assessments in both French and English, and prepare dockets in English for review and approval. The position also provides grants management services and supports technical assistance to grantees. Contributing to due diligence processes, site visits and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning activities related to grant making, the post holder also supports with outreach and networking as well as fundraising activities.
Qualifications
- Minimum educational qualification: Degree in gender and development, human rights or other relevant area
- Work experience: At least 5 years work experience in substantive and comparable roles in development/ human rights fields in Africa; experience of working in grant making will be advantageous
- Excellent command of oral and written English and French is essential
- Experience using an information management or grants database is desirable
How to Apply
Qualified candidates should send a cover letter indicating their relevant skills and experience and CV of not more than 3 pages by email to: The Human Resources Manager at jobs@africlub.net/awdf with “Application for position of Programme Officer – Grants” as the subject line.
Applications should reach AWDF no later than Tuesday, 8th October, 2019. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
Please note that this is a national post on two-year renewable contract on local terms and conditions. AWDF will assist non-Ghanaian hires with work/resident permit processes but will not offer relocation expenses or expatriate benefits. The post can also be on virtual working arrangement with the post-holder working from an African country that they have the legal right to work in.
In line with AWDF’s mission, qualified African women candidates are encouraged to apply.
FOR FULL CALL FOR APPLICATIONS, CLICK HERE
Knowledge Management Specialist (KMS)
Knowledge Management Specialist (KMS)
Background
The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is a pioneering grantmaking foundation headquartered in Accra, Ghana. AWDF was founded by and for African women. Since its founding in 2001, AWDF has continued to support a growing portfolio of grants to leading women’s rights organisations and feminist movements across Africa, while also supporting knowledge generation, capacity building, movement building and donor advocacy around African women’s activist histories, movement resourcing needs, and feminist futures.
Job Summary
The Knowledge Management Specialist’s role is to lead and coordinate the work of the AWDF Knowledge Management function- producing analysis, generating new knowledge around women’s rights in Africa, and collaborating to communicate the impact of AWDF’s work and the work of its grantees, advocacy and movement building partners. The KMS coordinates also 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.
The Knowledge Management Specialist will work with colleagues to sustain a programme of knowledge generation and management initiatives (including documentation, archiving, building knowledge resources, co-developing and managing knowledge production by staff and external actors), and to grow the work of the Knowledge Management unit in line with the AWDF strategic framework and direction and with support from Senior Management. As a member of the AWDF staff team, the Knowledge Management Specialist supervises the Knowledge Management Assistant, engages in other cross-departmental activities of AWDF and represents AWDF in external events as relevant.
Qualifications
- Minimum educational qualification: Post-graduate degree in Gender, Women’s Rights, Knowledge Management or related discipline; ideally with a research component.
- Work experience: At least 8 years work experience in human rights/social justice/rights-based development involving knowledge management and production.
- Excellent written and spoken English. Working knowledge of French will be an advantage.
- Expertise in producing knowledge on women’s rights concerns for NGOs/activist, policy and/or donor audiences. 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.
How to Apply
Qualified candidates should send a cover letter indicating their relevant skills and experience and CV of not more than 3 pages by email to: The Human Resources Manager at jobs@africlub.net/awdf with “Application for position of Knowledge Management Specialist” as the subject line.
Applications should reach AWDF no later than Tuesday, 8th October, 2019. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
Please note that this is a national post on two-year renewable contract on local terms and conditions. AWDF will assist non-Ghanaian hires with work/resident permit processes but will not offer relocation expenses or expatriate benefits.
In line with AWDF’s mission, qualified African women candidates are encouraged to apply.
FOR FULL JOB DETAILS, CLICK HERE
Programme Officer – Donor Liaison
Programme Officer – Donor Liaison
Job Summary
The role of the Programme Officer – Donor Liaison is to work with other team members to coordinate and manage AWDF’s donor portfolio, ensuring that AWDF is meeting its implementation and reporting obligations to all stakeholders as identified. The post holder will work cross organisationally to ensure the development of strong quantitative and qualitative reporting on the work of AWDF. The role includes key responsibilities in the AWDF fundraising structure, including development of fundraising initiatives, writing of funding proposals, tracking and documentation of initiatives geared towards AWDF’s financial sustainability.
Qualifications
- Minimum educational qualification: Post graduate degree in a related discipline.
- Work experience: At least 5 years of experience of working with donor related projects
- Experience with monitoring/reporting of projects.
- Excellent spoken and written English is a requirement. Fluency in French or Portuguese is an advantage
How to Apply
Qualified candidates should send a cover letter indicating their relevant skills and experience and CV of not more than 3 pages by email to: The Human Resources Manager at jobs@africlub.net/awdf with “Application for position of Programme Officer – Donor Liaison” as the subject line.
Applications should reach AWDF no later than Tuesday, 8th October, 2019. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
Please note that this is a national post on two-year renewable contract on local terms and conditions. AWDF will assist non-Ghanaian hires with work/resident permit processes but will not offer relocation expenses or expatriate benefits. The post can also be on virtual working arrangement with the post-holder working from an African country that they have the legal right to work in.
In line with AWDF’s mission, qualified African women candidates are encouraged to apply.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CALL FOR APPLICATION
Call for Consultants: Documentation of AWDF’s Timeline
Call for Consultants: Documentation of AWDF’s Timeline
AWDF has been in existence for the last 19 years and is documenting its herstory to share the transformative journey the organisation has gone through and its contributions towards achieving its vision.
OBJECTIVES OF THE DOCUMENTATION
The main objective of the assignment is to document the timeline of AWDF since the inception of the organisation as the first African women’s fund in 2000. This assignment includes capturing the transformative stories of the organisation and the role it played in strengthening the African women’s movement.
The documentation process is intended to focus on the journey of growth and success of AWDF from 2000 to 2019 and will serve as a reference document for all other publications.
CONSULTANT’S PROFILE AND QUALIFICATION
AWDF is seeking to engage a consultant with extensive experience in the production of similar documentation. Among other things, the consultant must have the following:
- Familiarity with the work of grant making foundations at the regional level – Africa
- Outstanding writing skills with the ability to synthesize information in coherent, succinct and compelling format
- Outstanding storyteller who will bring cohesion to the various components of the project.
- Expert knowledge and understanding of women’s rights issues, movements, and organisations
- In-depth understanding of feminist principles and its contextual considerations
WANT TO APPLY? CLICK HERE FOR FULL TERMS OF REFERENCE
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: 26TH JULY 2019
Honoring Dr Musimbi Kanyoro
Honoring Dr Musimbi Kanyoro
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
Theo Sowa named one of Apolitical’s 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy
Theo Sowa named one of Apolitical’s 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy
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/
Consultancy opportunity: Scoping on evidence-based VAW prevention
Consultancy opportunity: Scoping on evidence-based VAW prevention
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.
#BlogoftheWeek: The Annual Pilgrimage
#BlogoftheWeek: The Annual Pilgrimage
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.