Between the 27th of May-7th of June, a team of AWDF staff visited grantee partners, and potential grantee partners in Lagos, Ibadan, Ile-Ife, Ilorin and Abuja.

The images below represent a photo essay of some of the grantees and potential grantees visited. All photography by Chika Oduah.

In the last ten years the number of organisations seeking to raise funds in the South has grown rapidly. There has also been a dramatic increase in the numbers of civil society organisations whilst funding patterns have altered significantly. International donors have been decentralising funding decisions to their regional offices and increasingly funding via Southern governments. Private foundations and International NGOs have also decentralised, and there have been shifts in thematic and geographic focus for aid. Social enterprise, corporate social responsibility and private/public partnerships have all been on the rise. In some cases international NGOs are starting to compete for local funding with indigenous NGOs as they seek to expand beyond their crowded home markets. In all of the countries where this is happening there is a huge shortage of professionally trained and experienced fundraisers. Training which is available tends to be brief, not systematic or sustained, and of variable quality and appropriateness. The lack of professionalism in fundraising creates problems for NGO credibility.

Since 2008, AWDF has supported a minimum of 100 women leaders from grantee organisations across the continent to the International Workshop on Resource Mobilisation (IWRM) organised by the Resource Alliance UK and with administrative support from AWDF. The primary aim of the IWRM is to provide an opportunity for people who work in the not-for-profit organisations to receive training in practical fundraising skills and other aspects of resource mobilization such as writing grant proposals. It also focuses on helping delegates to diversify their funding base to become more sustainable and less reliant on donor grants.

This year AWDF will convene thirty (26) fundraisers from grantee organizations in Kampala in May in a practical workshop on the development of a resource mobilization strategy document. The development of this strategy document forms a critical part of grantees’ effort at mobilizing resources for their organizations. And as part of AWDF’s core mandate of ensuring sustainability of women’s right organisations, it is important that we put in place measures that will move grantees to the next level of developing funding strategies in support of their resource mobilization efforts especially after sponsoring these organizations to the IWRM and GIMPA courses.

In this workshop, AWDF will be targeting about twenty-six (26) fundraisers from grantee organizations who have been trained at the IWRM and GIMPA but have not been able to develop a resource mobilization strategy document. Participants will be drawn from organisations from grantee organisations who have participated in the IWRM or GIMPA courses.

[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]Podcast with Thokozile Makhanya, Board Member of Biowatch a public interest organization that publicises, monitors and researches issues of genetic modification, and promotes biological diversity and sustainable livelihoods. In this podcast Thoko speaks about the importance of resisting the use of genetically modified organisms, the importance of farmers rights and food sovereignty. Please click link below to listen to the podcast.

Podcast featuring Thokozile Makhanya, Biowatch, South Africa[/tp]

[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]Un podcast avec Thokozile Makhanya, membre du conseil de Biowatch une organisation d’intérêt public qui publicise, surveille et analyse les enjeux de la modification génétique, et favorise la diversité biologique et les moyens de subsistance durables. Dans ce podcast Thoko parle de l’importance de résister à l’utilisation d’organismes génétiquement modifiés, l’importance des droits des agriculteurs et la souveraineté alimentaire. Veuillez cliquer sur le lien ci-dessous pour écouter le podcast.

Podcast avec Thokozile Makhanya, Biowatch, Afrique du Sud[/tp]

(Thoko was interviewed by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, Communications Specialist, AWDF)

[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]I was pleased when I heard that AWDF had been nominated in the category of ‘best organisational blog’ for Ghana’s very first social media awards which took place on Saturday 23rd March at the Kofi Annan Centre in Accra. AWDF was one of 3 blogs shortlisted in the category. Ahead of the presentation, representatives of the blog awards organising committee stated that there were 1,128 nominations spread over 13 categories with an average of 87 nominations per category. Its indeed commendable that in the face of such fierce competition AWDF made the shortlist. Congratulations to the Accra[dot]Alt team that won in the category of ‘best organisational blog’.

The ‘overall best blog’ and ‘best activist blog’ awards went to ‘Adventures from the Bedrooms of African Women‘ which is curated by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, a member of AWDF ‘s staff.

It was also really good to see a number of women bloggers pick up awards including double award winner Ganyobi Naa , Jemila Abdulai with Kinna Likimani picking up an honorary award on behalf of the ‘Ghana Decides’ team which did a phenomenal job of utilising the power of social media to mobilise Ghanaians during Ghana’s recent Presidential and Parliamentary elections. Kinna also did an amazing summary of #BlogCamp13 on her site which I recommend you read to get a sense of the event.

Congratulations to all winners at #BlogCamp13

By: Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah[/tp]

[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]J’ai été heureuse d’entendre qu’AWDF avait été nominé dans la catégorie du «meilleur blog organisationnel» pour le tout premier prix des médias sociaux du Ghana qui a eu lieu le samedi 23 Mars au Centre Kofi Annan à Accra. AWDF était l’un des 3 blogs finalistes dans la catégorie. Avant la présentation, les représentants du comité d’organisation des récompenses a déclaré qu’il y avait 1128 candidatures réparties sur 13 catégories, avec une moyenne de 87 candidatures par catégorie.C’est louable que face à une telle concurrence qu’AWDF ait fait partie de la liste. Félicitations à l’équipe d’Accra[dot]Alt qui a remporté le prix dans la catégorie de «meilleur blog organisationnel».

Le «meilleur blog global» et prix du «meilleur blog militant» sont allés à «Adventures from the Bedrooms of African Women» qui est organisée par Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, un membre du personnel d’AWDF.

Il était aussi très bon de voir un certain nombre de femmes blogueuses recevoir des prix, dont le double vainqueur du prix Ganyobi Naa, Jemila Abdulai avec Kinna Likimani recevoir un prix honorifique au nom de “Ghana Decides” dont l’équipe a fait un travail phénoménal de l’utilisation de la puissance des médias sociaux pour mobiliser les Ghanéens lors des élections présidentielles et parlementaires récentes du Ghana. Kinna a également fait un résumé incroyable de #BlogCamp13 sur son site que je vous recommande de lire pour avoir une idée de l’événement.

Félicitations à tous les gagnants de # BlogCamp13[/tp]

[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]Between the 18th and 21st of February, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) and Alliance Francaise (Accra), organised a photography workshop for women led by Fatoumata Diabate, the award winning Malian photographer.

Feedback from participants who attended the workshop included:

“My skills are definitely improved in terms of knowing what makes a good photo” Onyinyechi Okechukwu, Nigeria

“Learnt a lot about the historic background of photography, need to be more attentive on surroundings before taking pictures. Be careful with cropping and over editing, always keep an original copy.” Sena Dede Ahadji, Ghana

“I learnt about history of photography and pioneering photographers” Roxanne Scott, United States.

Enjoy the visual representation of the workshop below. All photographs by Fatoumata Diabate.[/tp]

[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]Entre le 18 et le 21 Février, le Fonds africain de développement de la femme (AWDF) et l’Alliance Française (Accra), ont organisé un atelier de photographie pour les femmes dirigé par Fatoumata Diabaté, photographe malienne primée.

Les commentaires des participants qui ont assisté à l’atelier ont inclus:

“Mes compétences sont certainement améliorées en termes de savoir ce qui fait une bonne photo” Onyinyechi Okechukwu, Nigeria

“J’ai appris beaucoup sur le contexte historique de la photographie, j’ai besoin d’être plus attentive sur les alentours avant de prendre des photos. Soyez prudent avec les recadrages et sur l’édition, toujours garder une copie originale.” Sena Dede Ahadji, Ghana

“J’ai appris l’histoire de la photographie et les photographes pionniers” Roxanne Scott, États-Unis.

Profitez de la représentation visuelle de l’atelier ci-dessous. Toutes les photographies de Fatoumata Diabaté.[/tp]

Prudence Mabele is the Executive Director of the ‘Positive Women’s Network‘ (PWN) in South Africa, an organisation that supports women living positively. To date, PWN has received US$210,000 in grants from the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF). This has included funding to support the expansion of PWN’s ‘Community Home Based Care’ programme, bursaries for staff to attend influential policy spaces where issues of HIV and AIDS are being discussed, such as the ‘International Aids Conference’, and support for education and awareness raising on HIV and AIDS. Prudence is also a member of the African Women’s Leaders Network for Family Planning which supports the efforts of African women to improve access to reproductive health and family planning.

In this video Prudence shares her thoughts on the state of violence against women in South Africa.

Photography by Paballo Thekiso

I’m really pleased that AWDF’s blog has been nominated in the category of ‘best organisational blog’. Many thanks to all of the AWDF staff that have contributed to this blog. I plan to revamp this blog soon with even more exciting content.

In the meantime, please vote for AWDF ‘s blog to win ‘best organisational blog’. Your vote counts towards 40% of the final vote. Also take the opportunity to check out the vast array of blogs listed. Who knows you might find a new blog that you could have you hooked.

By: Nana Darkoa

PROGRAMMES SPECIALIST, KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

Background

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is a grant making foundation, which aims to support the work of the African women’s movement for peace, equality, sustainable development and social justice. AWDF, which is based in Accra, Ghana. AWDF requires the services of an experienced, innovative and dedicated Programmes Specialist, Knowledge Management, to support the senior management team in the development and implementation of an organisational knowledge management strategy.

Job Specification

As a learning organisation, the generation of knowledge, its management and dissemination is critical to the work of AWDF. Knowledge produced in various forms within AWDF is important to the organisation’s mandate to raise the profile and visibility of African women, the African Women’s Movement, the organisation itself and most importantly, the issues it seeks to address.AWDF also disseminates knowledge to showcase the work of its grantees, to raise awareness of the issues they seek to address, to influence decision-making in Africa and internationally and to mobilise greater public support for women’s rights in Africa. In addition, it generates and disseminates information, knowledge and learning to strengthen grantee organisational effectiveness.

The post holder will be responsible for coordinating AWDF’s knowledge management function, ensuring a sound evidence base of the impact of AWDF’s work, as well as the ability to showcase this work and the issues the organisation seeks to address, to broad publics both internal and external to AWDF.

The post holder will have primary responsibility for:

1. Commissioning, Repackaging and Disseminating of research in AWDF’s key areas of work:

• Ensuring AWDF is kept abreast of external research, studies and trends that will impact on AWDF’s key areas of work.
• Coordinating specified AWDF commissioned research
• Developing tools to enhance knowledge management within AWDF
• Working closely with the Communications team to disseminate key information and education about AWDF’s work.

2. Ensuring Quality Standards of AWDF’s Knowledge Production
   • Coordinating the compilation of AWDF’s key publications
   • Ensuring that publications such as reports and other publications are produced in line with AWDF’s publications and reporting guidelines.
   • Ensuring that all AWDF commissioned research and documentation is produced in line with AWDF publications and reporting guidelines.

3. Ensuring a Sound Evidence Base of AWDF’s Impact
   • Working with the M&E Specialist to produce periodic qualitative and quantitive reports of AWDF’s work and achievements
   • Compiling or coordinating compelling narratives of the achievements of AWDF’s constituents for advocacy, awareness raising and public mobilisation.
   • Development of dissemination strategies for this work
   • Supporting senior management and AWDF colleagues with high quality, well written, accurate and specific information to achieve AWDF’s mandate
   • Developing and managing a database of AWDF’s key partners and stakeholders.

4. Ensuring Knowledge Production as a Learning Tool
   • Coordinating the production or collation of good practice guidelines, tools and practice
   • Providing regular internal briefs to AWDF staff team
   • Developing advocacy materials, policy and legislative briefs on key aspects of AWDF’s work
   • Representing AWDF at key meetings and convenings with a view to demonstrate AWDF effectiveness and value added from a sound evidence base.

5. Managing AWDF’s Resource Centre
   • Working with the team to update the electronic and physical library as well as oversee the use of this resource).
   • Providing guidance to the management team on key research, documentation, studies and writing for purchase to house in the resource centre

6. Any other duties as may be assigned by the line manager

Person Specification

• At least a second degree in social sciences or related field with at least seven years relevant experience, including significant experience of working in the field of women’s rights organising in Africa.
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills.
• Strong IT skills especially in the areas of database development and management
• Demonstrable commitment to women’s rights and social justice.
• A productive self starter who can develop and put in place innovative information ideas
• Demonstrable ability to liaise with a broad range of people
• Ability to absorb high volumes of information and documentation and to break down difficult and complicated concepts.
• Ability to track multiple activities assist and collaborate with other staff and respond to direction and requests
• Ability to work on one’s own with minimum supervision.
• Experience working with an international organisation (preferred)
• Working knowledge of French preferred.
• Experience of engaging in social science research is desirable
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally

Qualified candidates should send applications (2 pages) and a CV of not more than 4 pages to the Human Resources Manager, African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), 78 Ambassadorial Enclave, East Legon, P.M.B.CT 89, Cantonments Accra Ghana. Copies should be sent by email to Grace@africlub.net/awdf, with ‘Programmes Specialist, Knowledge Management’ as the subject reference. Applications should reach AWDF no later than February 28, 2013.

Only short listed candidates will be contacted for additional information and interviews.

In 2012, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) received a total of 905 grant applications from 35 Africancountries. A total of 187 organisations from 32 African countries were awarded grants of $2,176,500 in the following thematic areas: Women’s Human Rights, Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods, Governance, Peace and Security, Reproductive Health and Rights, HIV/AIDS, and Arts, Culture and Sports.

The highest percentage of grants awarded (34.3%) was in the area of Women’s Human Rights. In this thematic area AWDF prioritized funding work that addresses issues of gender based violence and access to justice including issues of forced marriages, female genital mutilation and domestic violence. Other priorities included building young women’s leadership, movement building, the promotion and protection of women’s rights including land and property rights, and adult literacy for women. Our grantee partners working in this area utilized a variety of methodologies to meet their objectives including training paralegals, setting up monitoring committees, establishing gender clubs, implementing referral mechanisms and enhancing access to justice. Grantee partners also utilized sports, drama, radio, information vans and community/market place campaigns as a tool to disseminate information on Women’s Human Rights.

The breakdown of grants disbursed in other thematic areas were as follows:

Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods – 21%

HIV and AIDS – 19%

Governance, Peace and Security – 13.9%

Reproductive Health and Rights – 6%

Arts, Culture and Sports – 5%

The AWDF offices will be closed from the 20th of December 2012 until the 6th of January 2013.

Please click here to read the ‘End of Year Letter’ from Theo Sowa, CEO of AWDF.

We wish you the best of the festive season.