Tag: AWDF
Reflections on AWDF’s 3rd CEO Forum by Zukisiwa Wanner
Reflections on AWDF’s 3rd CEO Forum by Zukisiwa Wanner
I spent the first three days of this week attending the African Women’s Development Fund’s (AWDF) third Chief Executive Officer’s Forum at the Crowne Plaza Hotel here in Nairobi. The CEO Forum brings together leaders in women’s organizations that work with AWDF.
I admit it, I had no idea what to expect. Yes I had received the program in advance. Yes, I’ve heard of many of the women previously. Maybe even worked with one or two of their organisations. And yes, like me all of these women are African feminists. But but but…there was also a key difference. I am self-employed and in a very practical way, whatever actions I take regarding my advocacy on women’s issues is my own decision and often affects only me. These women, leaders in their own organizations, take actions that impact other women in ways I could never even begin to do.
I knew that I would meet a woman who is pushing to get more African stories by African writers for African children on the continent – my younger sister Deborah Ahenkorah of Golden Baobab.
I had Googled the women training women in politics and those looking out for the rights of young women too often under threat from patriarchy through forced marriages and payment of fines to parents (mostly fathers) where girls have been raped instead of prosecution – Mawusi Awity, Amy Oyekunle, Yvette Kathurima.
I would meet the amazing food microbiologist and retired Dean of Science from the University of Botswana who I planned to ambush to become my son’s newly adopted grandmother, Professor Sesae Mpuchane who is also the Chair of the AWDF Board.
And the legends in Afro feminist circles – Mary Rusimbi, Sarah Mukasa and Hope Chigudu (I knew these three as being part of the team that gave us the Charter of Feminist Principles for African Feminists but had never met them) and the Ugandan Woman Achiever 2013,the incorrigible and lovable Dr. Hilda Tadria.
Then too, I would meet the women behind my meeting these other fantastic women, the AWDF team consisting of the soft-spoken but uncompromising (on feminist issues) Theo Sowa, convenor of all these amazing women Nafi Chinery, well-known Afro-sexuality blogger Nana Darkoa, and of course the aforementioned Sarah Mukasa.
My leadership, if I can be said to have any, is different from any of the women above and consists of much navel-gazing and compliment seeking on whether a word or phrase sounds right and yet, in the three days I never had a single moment of being an outsider looking in. It was amazing listening, learning, laughing, crying, comforting, sharing with all of them. Through being with them, I learnt some very important things that I should have known but did not know. I learnt that whatever successes one makes of whatever they are doing is not very useful if it isn’t communicated to the people who should know about it. As an example, we can set up mentorship programs for young women or set up a centre for abused women, a workshop for women writers but if we do not communicate the message to the people who it’s set out for; to the public among whom may be a sympathetic audience that may help out when needed then there is a degree of failure. And yes, too often while self-identifying as a feminist and talking of a feminist cause on this continent often leads to a hostile media within, there are ways to counter the hostility through proper messaging.
Equally important, I learnt that being a ‘strong African woman’ at the expense of my well-being is counter-revolutionary to the feminist movement. I learnt that it is okay to admit being tired. To ask for help and admit that I cannot do it all and most importantly, I am under no obligation to do it all. To quote Hope Chigudu, “after all, what are human rights if we are fragmented, have no support and are unhappy?”
On Monday 2nd June 2014, I went into a room full of strangers, and left having met some people I know will be lifelong friends. And for those whose paths may not cross with mine again (why ever not?), I leave having learnt valuable lessons from each and every one. A major reason for this was that the group was small enough that in the course of the three days I got to chat with each of the women and found echoes of myself in many of them. As I reflect on the three days spent with the women I met at the CEO Forum, I happily admit that whatever it is I expected, what I experienced was beyond my expectation. If the coaching that many of these women will undertake in the next ten months is as successful as the three days I spent with them, the future of African women leadership and the African feminist movement is in good hands. Best wishes to the CEOs and Executive Directors taking part in the 10 month coaching program as a follow up to this forum on leadership, governance and communications.
By: Zukisiwa Wanner
Zukisiwa Wanner is a writer who was most recently recognised “…as one of the top 39 sub-Saharan African novelists under 40 writing in English, French, Portuguese or an African language.” Check out her blog
AWDF’s 3rd CEO Forum in Tweets and Images
AWDF’s 3rd CEO Forum in Tweets and Images
The 3rd Chief Executive Officers Forum (CEO Forum)
The 3rd Chief Executive Officers Forum (CEO Forum)
The CEO Forum forms part of AWDF’s commitment to strengthening the leadership of women’s organisations in Africa. It is a biennial event that provides a safe space for the leadership of women’s organisations to discuss strategic leadership issues, share experiences and build skills that will support their personal and organisational development. It is a safe creative space, imbued with feminist values, for renewing energy and spirit.
The (3rd) Chief Executive Officer’s Forum will be held from 2- 4 June 2014 in Nairobi, Kenya and will focus on the theme, ‘Leadership, Governance & Communication for CEO’s and Executive Directors from African women’s organisations’.
The forum was set up with two key objectives:
- To create safe spaces for the leadership of women’s organisations to share challenges and ideas within the current global context with their peers and collectively develop strategies for addressing these
- To create a platform for the leadership of women’s organisations to discuss challenges around leadership, management and governance issues facing women’s organisations in Africa and how to promote these for development.
These objectives do not end with Nairobi. As part of its core mandate, AWDF has committed itself to efforts that seek to enable and strengthen African women’s organisations and their leadership to contribute to wider development goals and especially those around women’s development. Therefore, as part of its leadership support, AWDF is offering a ten month coaching support to ten Africa women leaders from AWDF grantee organisations in leadership and communication. This coaching is not about teaching, it’s about walking and thinking alongside leaders and supporting them into being transformational in their leadership capacity.
Please see PDF below for bios of the leaders undertaking the coaching programme.
Profiles of 10 leaders to be coached over 10 Months (final)
By: Nafi Chinery, Capacity Building Specialist, AWDF
AWDF’s Grantmaking in 2013
AWDF’s Grantmaking in 2013
In 2013, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) provided grants of US$2,232,250 to 126 women’s rights organisations in 27 African countries.
Our smallest grant was US$4,000 to a community based organization and our largest grant was US$90,000 to a national organization.
We worked in the following African countries: Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somaliland, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Our work is spread across 6 thematic areas:
- Women’s Human Rights
- Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods
- Governance, Peace and Security
- Reproductive Health and Rights
- HIV and AIDS
- Arts, Culture and Sports
* Many thanks to Catchafire who matched us with Brian Coursen who volunteered his time and talent to create this infographic of our grantmaking in 2013
Join our Team: AWDF seeks a Communications Consultant
Join our Team: AWDF seeks a Communications Consultant
The African Women’s Development Fund seeks to hire a Communications Consultant who may either work out of AWDF House in Ghana or virtually if they are located outside of Ghana. Please send your C.V. by email to grace[at]awdf dot org by 10th of June 2014.
Please see PDF of job description in the link below
JD – Communications Consultant (May 2014)
22 African Women Writers selected by the African Women’s Development Fund to Participate in a Creative Non Fiction Writers Workshop
22 African Women Writers selected by the African Women’s Development Fund to Participate in a Creative Non Fiction Writers Workshop
The African Women’s Development Fund, (AWDF) is pleased to announce that after a competitive application process, 22 African women writers have been selected to take part in its first creative non-fiction writer’s workshop. This is the first of a series of workshops intended to give African women writers the space, time and enhanced skills to write in compelling ways about a range of social, economic and political issues of concern.This event is being organized in collaboration with the Uganda Women Writers Association (FEMRITE) from 21st-31st July in Kampala, Uganda. The lead facilitators for this workshop are award winning writers Mamle Kabu and Yewande Omotoso.
The successful applicants are as follows:
Abena Kyere – Ghana
Adegbeye Olutimehin – Nigeria
Alexis Teyie – Kenya
Amina Doherty – Nigeria
Beatrice Lamwaka – Uganda
Chinelo Sylvia Onwualu – Nigeria
Comfort Mussa – Cameroon
Deborah Frempong – Ghana
Eunice Kilonzo – Kenya
Fafa Yvonne Quashigah – Ghana
Florence Khaxas – Namibia
Fungai Rufaro Machirori – Zimbabwe
Hannah Wanja Maina – Kenya
Jennifer Thorpe – South Africa
Kagure Mugo – South Africa/Kenya
Kechi Nomu – Nigeria
Moiyattu Banya – Sierra Leone
Njoki Wamai – Kenya
Rita Nketiah – Ghana
Ritah Atwongyeire – Uganda
Tendai Garwe – Zimbabwe
Valérie Dginia Bah – Benin/Haiti
AWDF’s creative non-fiction workshop aims to support African women writers who seek to use the power of the written word to highlight issues around women’s rights and social justice. Theo Sowa, AWDF’s CEO states, “We know that as African women, we are in the best position to tell the world our multiple, diverse stories and yet those stories continue to be told predominantly by others. So we are delighted to have such a diverse and talented group of African women writers taking part in our very first writers’ workshop and intend to facilitate relationships between these writers and media outlets all over the world in order to amplify the voices of African women.”
This workshop has been made possible through the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
22 African Women Writers selected by the African Women’s Development Fund to Participate in a Creative Non Fiction Writers Workshop
22 African Women Writers selected by the African Women’s Development Fund to Participate in a Creative Non Fiction Writers Workshop
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]The African Women’s Development Fund, (AWDF) is pleased to announce that after a competitive application process, 22 African women writers have been selected to take part in its first creative non-fiction writer’s workshop. This is the first of a series of workshops intended to give African women writers the space, time and enhanced skills to write in compelling ways about a range of social, economic and political issues of concern.This event is being organized in collaboration with the Uganda Women Writers Association (FEMRITE) from 21st-31st July in Kampala, Uganda. The lead facilitators for this workshop are award winning writers Mamle Kabu and Yewande Omotoso.
The successful applicants are as follows:
Abena Kyere – Ghana
Adegbeye Olutimehin – Nigeria
Alexis Teyie – Kenya
Amina Doherty – Nigeria
Beatrice Lamwaka – Uganda
Chinelo Sylvia Onwualu – Nigeria
Comfort Mussa – Cameroon
Deborah Frempong – Ghana
Eunice Kilonzo – Kenya
Fafa Yvonne Quashigah – Ghana
Florence Khaxas – Namibia
Fungai Rufaro Machirori – Zimbabwe
Hannah Wanja Maina – Kenya
Jennifer Thorpe – South Africa
Kagure Mugo – South Africa/Kenya
Kechi Nomu – Nigeria
Moiyattu Banya – Sierra Leone
Njoki Wamai – Kenya
Rita Nketiah – Ghana
Ritah Atwongyeire – Uganda
Tendai Garwe – Zimbabwe
Valérie Dginia Bah – Benin/Haiti
AWDF’s creative non-fiction workshop aims to support African women writers who seek to use the power of the written word to highlight issues around women’s rights and social justice. Theo Sowa, AWDF’s CEO states, “We know that as African women, we are in the best position to tell the world our multiple, diverse stories and yet those stories continue to be told predominantly by others. So we are delighted to have such a diverse and talented group of African women writers taking part in our very first writers’ workshop and intend to facilitate relationships between these writers and media outlets all over the world in order to amplify the voices of African women.”
This workshop has been made possible through the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
# # #
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 over US$24 million in grants to more than 1000 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.
AWDF contact:
Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah (Communications Specialist)
Tel: +233 302 521 257 (Ghana)
Email: nana@africlub.net/awdf, Website: www.africlub.net/awdf[/tp]
[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]Le Fonds africain de développement de la femme, (AWDF) est heureux d’annoncer qu’après un processus de demande concurrentiel, 22 écrivaines africaines ont été sélectionnées pour participer à son premier atelier d’écriture non-fictionnelle. Ceci est le premier d’une série d’ateliers destinés à donner aux écrivaines africaines de l’espace, du temps et un renforcement des compétences pour écrire de manière convaincante sur un éventail de questions sociales, économiques, politiques et de problèmes courants.Ceci est organisée en collaboration avec l’Uganda Women Writers Association (FEMRITE) du 21 au 31st Juillet à Kampala, en Ouganda. Les animateurs principaux pour cet atelier sont les écrivaines primées Mamle Kabu et Yewande Omotoso.
Les candidates retenues sont les suivantes:
Abena Kyere – Ghana
Adegbeye Olutimehin – Nigeria
Alexis Teyie – Kenya
Amina Doherty – Nigeria
Beatrice Lamwaka – Uganda
Chinelo Sylvia Onwualu – Nigeria
Comfort Mussa – Cameroon
Deborah Frempong – Ghana
Eunice Kilonzo – Kenya
Fafa Yvonne Quashigah – Ghana
Florence Khaxas – Namibia
Fungai Rufaro Machirori – Zimbabwe
Hannah Wanja Maina – Kenya
Jennifer Thorpe – South Africa
Kagure Mugo – South Africa/Kenya
Kechi Nomu – Nigeria
Moiyattu Banya – Sierra Leone
Njoki Wamai – Kenya
Rita Nketiah – Ghana
Ritah Atwongyeire – Uganda
Tendai Garwe – Zimbabwe
Valérie Dginia Bah – Benin/Haiti
L’atelier créatif d’écriture non fictionnel d’AWDF vise à soutenir les écrivaines africaines qui cherchent à utiliser la puissance de la parole écrite afin de mettre en évidence les questions autour des droits des femmes et la justice sociale. Theo Sowa, Directrice dénérale d’AWDF, “Nous connaissons les femmes africaines, nous sommes dans la meilleure position pour dire au monde nos multiples, divers récits et encore ces histoires continuent d’être racontées principalement par d’autres. Donc, nous sommes ravies d’avoir un tel groupe diversifié et talentueux d’écrivaines africaines qui prennent part à l’atelier de nos premiers écrivains avecl’intention de faciliter les relations entre ces dernières et les médias partout dans le monde afin d’amplifier la voix des femmes africaines. ”
Cet atelier a été rendu possible grâce au soutien de la Fondation Bill et Melinda Gates.
# # #
A propos du Fonds de développement des femmes africaines
Au cours des dix dernières années, le Fonds africain de développement de la femme (AWDF) a ouvert la voie pour les droits des femmes et de la philanthropie à travers le continent africain. AWDF est un organisme de subvention Africain à but non lucratif. Depuis le début des opérations en 2001, AWDF a fourni plus de 24 millions $ US en subventions à plus de 1000 organisations de femmes dans 42 pays africains. Les processus d’octroi de subventions d’AWDF est spécialement conçu pour répondre aux besoins des femmes africaines et les activités comprennent la mise à disposition des petites et grandes subventions aux organisations de femmes africaines, le soutien au renforcement des capacités et un fort accent sur la sensibilisation et le renforcement des mouvements.
AWDF contact:
Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah (Communications Specialist)
Tel: +233 302 521 257 (Ghana)
Email: nana@africlub.net/awdf, Website: www.africlub.net/awdf[/tp]
AWDF Staff Give to the Nsawam Female Prison
AWDF Staff Give to the Nsawam Female Prison
As part of it’s workplace giving scheme, the staff of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) has provided women prisoners at Nsawam Female Prison with a range of items including an industrial sewing machine, knitting machine, fabrics, threads and a range of sewing accessories valued at approximately US$1400. These items were donated by staff of AWDF in order to support women prisoners learn skills which will help them gain employment/a means of making a living once they re enter the outside world.
AWDF staff participate in an internal Workplace Giving Programme which is funded by optional monthly deductions from staff salaries. In previous years AWDF staff have supported the Mothers Hostel at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital through the provision of a water tank for the unit.
Organisations which wish to set up an Employee Workplace Giving Scheme to support women and girls may contact the Special Programmes Department at AWDF via specialprograms@africlub.net/awdf
Video: AWDF’s Grants Manager interviews Mawusi Nudekor Awity of NEWIG
Video: AWDF’s Grants Manager interviews Mawusi Nudekor Awity of NEWIG
In this video Beatrice Boakye-Yiadom, AWDF’s Grants Manager speaks to Mawusi Nudekor Awity, Executive Director of the Network of Women in Growth (NEWIG), Ghana, about business management skills and enterprise development for community based women.Mawusi also shares how AWDF’s capacity building support has enabled NEWIG to reach potential new donor partners.
Intern with AWDF to support our monitoring and evaluation
Intern with AWDF to support our monitoring and evaluation
Please see flyer below