TheAfrican W om en’s Development Fund An Africa - wide fundraising and grant - making initiative for African women .

Report of activities. June 2000 - December 2001

C o n te n ts

Page Page No

Mission Statement

1

AWDF Background Information

2

History of AWDF

3

Message from the Chair

4

Letter from the Executive D irector

5

Profiles of AWDF Board Members, Staff and Advisers

6

Highlights of AWDF activities Grant - Making Program 2001

10 15

Financial Information

27

Messages from Patrons

30

AWDF Supporters

32

How to Support AWDF

34

How to Apply to AWDF

34

Mission Statement T h e African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is a fundraising and grant-making initiative, which aims to support the work of the African Women’s Movement. The vision of the AWDF is for African women to live in a changed world in which transformed women can live with integrity and in peace. To this end, our mission is to mobilise financial, human and material resources to support local, national and international initiatives for transformation led by African women, which will lead to the achievement of this vision.

The A frican W o m en’s D evelopm ent Fund

B ackground Information

O

ver the past thirty years, consciousness has been raised on issues affecting women all over the world, on a macro and micro level. In spite of this, the material conditions of women have not necessarily improved. Lifestyles in most of the ‘developing’ world have continued to deteriorate for both men a l l women. Global phenomena such as the debt crises, structural adjustment policies, increased militarisation and communal violence, have continued to widen the gap between most western nations and developing regions. The Africa region has fared particularly badly over the past two decades. If there is a crisis, women are affected in different ways from men, and in most cases, they suffer most. This affects all spheres of development - economic, political, technological and social. Therefore women in Africa have borne the brunt of the continent s misfortunes. Approximately 44% of Africa’s population, the majority of whom are women, are currently living below the poverty line of USD39 (per capita) per month. Women continue to lack access to resources such as land, capital, technology, water and adequate food. Africa has the lowest literacy rate in the world St only 50%. The majority of the illiterate are women. Women’s health in Africa has been affected by bias in gender policies and programmes and socio-cultural practices. Decreased health spending and privatisation of health care systems in many countries without guaranteeing universal access to health care has affected the health of women and girls. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has exacerbated the already vulnerable status of women’s health. Over the past ten years at least 2 million Africans have lost their lives in wars and genocideJjMany more have become refugees. These conflicts have placed a tremendous burden on women who suffer displacement, loss of families and livelihoods, various forms of violence, and the responsibility of sustaining entire communities. Women and children from countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burundi and Somalia have spent the last decade living under unbelievably difficult circumstances. Many African countries have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). There have been several regional and international agreements guaranteeinglie human rights, equality and integrity of women and girls throughout the life cycle. However, African women still face discrimination in both public and private spheres. African women have contributed towards the development of the continent in all spheres. M i have done this through organisations, coalitions, associations, unions, faith-based networks, local, national and regional networks and through mainstream institutions. Through activities ranging from consciousness raising, advocacy and campaigns, to research and analysis, they have contributed to what is referred to as a Movement - a movement for social justice, equality and empowerment for women. Almost all the organisations which constitute what is known as the African Women's MovtiJntBt have problems of sustainability because their growth and development can not be adequately resourced. It has become clear in this new millennium, that the role of civil society organisations is indispensable. Women's organisations in particular have made significant gains and contributions. Therefore, the issue of access to funding for strategic initiatives in Africa is vital if all the gains that have been made by the African Women’s Movemwt in the 80’s and 90’s are to be sustained. Civil society organisations can serve as a strong recruitment ground for future leaders. With the strategies being devised to get more women into decision-making positions in the governmental, corporate and social sectors, it is important that attention be paid to the quality of leadership, which is needed. Non-governmental organisations with the appropriate capacity, have the ability to provide the necessary conceptual, analytical J d practical tools for emerging leaders. Women’s organisations in particular have the potential to produce well-grounded leaders through their many awareness raising, self-esteem, inter-generational and capacity building programs it these organisations are weak, the opportunities are wasted. In spite of the quantity and quality of work that has been done by women’s organisations in maw areas, there are still inadequate resources to facilitate urgently required initiatives. Donor support from the I n te r n a tio n a community has been ongoing but it has had its limitations due to budgetary constraints and changing priorities. The African Women's Development Fund, has emerged from the African Women's Movement, as , at tackling the perennial problem of insufficient resources. The AWDF complements existing : nor initiatives within the region, and is working to ensure that there is a strategy for supporting a progrmovement in Africa.

A B rie f,

History

T

he AWDF emerged out of two initiatives which evolved independently over a period of three years, and I converged to become one vision for another three until the dream was actualised. During preparations for the 1995 Beijing conference, it became quite apparent that there was a problem of accessing resources for women’s organisations in Africa. This impacted negatively on their contributions to the whole process. So women like Joana Foster started thinking that there should be a way of harnessing resources, particularly within Africa, for the women’s movement, without the usual constraints. Examples of the difficulties women’s organisations experience include a lack of flexibility with the grants they receive, little or no support for institutional costs, and a lack of funding for work that challenges the status quo. Joana Foster spoke to other women’s funds such as the Global Fund for Women in the US and Mama Cash in The Netherlands, and they agreed to help. Both of these organisations have been a tremendous source of support to AWDF over the years. Joana Foster shared her ideas with Dr Hilda Tadria, who she met in Dakar at the 1994 Africa regional preparatory conference for Beijing. She was excited about the idea and agreed to work with Joana c project. Over the next year, they did some feasibility work and networking to pursue the idea. In 1996, Joana Foster went to work as the Regional Coordinator of WiLDAF, and the plans for the fund were temporarily put on hold. In 1994, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, who was then the Director of Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA) based in London, I suggested to its members, that the organisation should start a Fund to help reduce the high level of donor dependency in the African Women’s Movement. It was decided that the organisation would pursue this once it had established a track record for itself with the African Women’s Leadership Institute it was planning at the time. In 1997, when Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi became aware of the work that had been started by Ms Foster and Dr Tadria, I the three of them agreed to work together rather than duplicate efforts. The AMwA Board agreed to host the Fund as a project of AMwA on a temporary basis till the Fund could finish its feasibility and planning, and be able to mobilise its own funding to become an autonomous institution. Between 1998 and 2000, the three co-founders quietly discussed their plans with a range of stakeholders ir Africa, Europe and North America. Match International Centre, a women’s fund in Canada, and the Global Fund for Women, were the first institutional donors to support the AWDF. Both of these funds provided grants for I planning, networking, learning, and setting up initial infrastructure. On June 8th 2000, AMwA sponsored a launch for the AWDF during the Beijing Plus 5 conference in New York. It was a very successful event and was attended by over 200 people most of whom were African women delegates to the conference. Up to $13,000 was raised in cash and pledges, and there was overwhelming support for the Fund and its objectives. On June 12th 2000, Carnegie Corporation of New York helped the AWDF convene a donor roundtable in New York. This roundtable generated pledges of support from Carnegie Corporation of New York, Ford Foundation, Global Fund for Women and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Other donors who have supported the AWDF include Match International Centre (Canada), Comic Relief (UK), United Methodist Church, and Mama Cash (The Netherlands). The AWDF office is based in Accra, Ghana. Joana Foster was appointed Chair of the AWDF Board in May 2001, and Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi left AMwA and moved to Accra in May 2001 to start work as the Fund’s Executive Director. The AWDF has an Executive Board, a Regional Advisory Committee (to assist with grant-reviews and thematic issues,) and an International Advisory Committee (to assist with fundraising and technical assistance). ~ African Women’s Development Fund awarded its first grants in October 2001.

Message from the

Chair I

t is with great excitement that I write this letter for our first annual report. The establishment of AWDF is a dream come true that has even surpassed our own aspirations;* as we developed the idea in 1994 during the 5th African Regional Conference On Women Tn Dakar.

It was a vision that emerged out of the need for African women to have access to resources to do the important work that they needed to effect social, economic and cultural change in Africa. The dream has become a venture conceived as a solution to obstacles facing African Women and for the exploration of opportunities on the continent and elsewhere. The long development period served to expand the vision, to assess better the needs of our would-be constituents, which informed the themes that we identified and to create the basis for a wider network of individuals for inclusiveness. Our achievements in our first year of operations are due to the enthusiasm and commitment of everyone involved in the process particularly the staff, board members, international advisers, regional advisers, funders who believed in our cause and largely due to our Executive Director whose energy, enthusiasm and ability are guiding the fund to higher achievements. To sustain and increase the momentum created in our first year, we are launching our endowment campaign earlier than planned, in the knowledge that an endowment will provide greater independence, allow for long-term planning as well as providing access to new and untapped resources. We believe that with the help of our donors, friends everywhere, our sisters on the continent and in the Diaspora, we can create a sustainable income to tackle the problems on the continent for a better tomorrow for all.

Joana Foster Chairperson

4

L e tte r from the

Executive Directo F

rom January 1991 - April 2001, I was the Director of Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA) an international NGO for African women based in London. AMwA’s work focused on leadership development for African women at various levels. One spring day in 1997, I was walking down Kingsway, Holborn, in London, with my good friend, colleague and sister Joana Foster, who had stopped over in London. We were both travelling to a conference together the following day and were exchanging notes about our recent experiences with donors, some good, some exasperating. I told her about a rather difficult funder who I had been trying to convince that providing leadership development training for professional women in Africa was a worthwhile strategy. In frustration, I said, It is time I startfM taking my plans fo ra women’s fund in Africa more seriously. We need a fund for women’. Joana stopped in the middle of the road and beamed, Well, why don’t you join us, we have already been planning for one’. This marked the beginning of the wonderful collaboration between Joana Foster, Hilda Tacjia and I, which resulted in the birth of the African Women’s Development Fund. In May 2001, I left AMwA in th l UK and moved to the beautiful city of Accra, Ghana to start work with the AWDF. These days, I describe myself A a 'Ghabriterian’ - I was born in England and lived half of my life there, I am of Nigerian origin and have lived the other half there, and now I live in Ghana. Globalisation has indeed created citizens of the world. Like most new initiatives, it is not possible to write the history of the AWDF in two pages, so th lt will have to be some other time. It should be enough to say at this point, that the Fund grew out of a dream we have shared together for a while. We have planned, consulted, brainstormed, strategised and agonised to j® ie r for six years. There have been some challenges and setbacks, but we have always managed to pull throjBh. Now, we are proud to say that we have started to build what we hope will be a critical contribution to the fie ll of philanthropy in Africa. The timing of this initiative is right because there is a formidable, even though diverse, women's movement on the continent, there is an appreciation of the importance of developing a new generation of leadership in Africa, there is some good-will in the international community towards helping Africa deal w in the negative consequences of globalisation, and most importantly the Fund’s leadership has the necessary experience, commitment and determination to make the Fund's vision a reality. I am pleased to report that during the period under review, we achieved the key objective! we set out for ourselves eighteen months ago. Our five priorities have been: •

To establish the AWDF secretariat in Accra, Ghana, which includes the identification of suitable premises, equipping the office and recruitment of core staff.

•

To draw up and begin implementing a fundraising plan which will enable the fund mobilise resources for the first year of operations and seek commitments towards the second and third years. We raised over U$1 m in 2001.

•

To start awarding grants - we gave out $344,000 to 38 women’s organisations in 19 African countr es

•

To design and begin implementing an effective communications and outreach plan.

•

To develop a framework for the effective governance of the Fund.

The year 2001 has been one of the most fulfiling years of my professional life. It would not haile been possible without the support of a wide range of donors, friends, partner organisations, sister funds, granBe organisations, regional advisers and policy makers in many African countries, Europe, and North America. I would particularly like to thank our friends within the various donor organisations who supported the AWDF. They had tremendous faith in what we were about to do, and without their help, it would have been almost im possnB To you all I say a big thank you. And don’t forget - Put your money where your heart is. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi Executive Director

5

■;

\ ■I ■

Profiles of AW DF

Board Members Ms Judith Aidoo

Ms Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi

’ Chief Executive of The Aidoo Group Ltd ‘ Managing Director of Capital Alliance Co. Ltd ‘ Registered broker-dealer and investment advisor ‘ Expert in African telecommunications and financial services 'Former investment banker, Goldman, Sachs & Co. 'Advisor on transactions in wireless and satellite telecommunications; internet and new media; and financial services ‘ Honoured for her professional achievements by the Urban Bankers Association in 1995 as Business Person of the Year 'Received Sylvester Williams Award in Trinidad in 1999 for Achievement in Finance 'Received a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude from Rutgers College in Business Administration and French.

'Co-Founder, African Women’s Development Fund & Executive Director 'Former Director of Akina Mama wa Afrika, an international development organisation for African women 'Journalist 'Fundraiser 'Organisational development specialist. 'Founder, African Women’s Leadership Institute 'Former Member, Board of Trustees, Comic Relief, UK 'Currently Board Member, Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) Advisor, Global Fund for Women *Dame Nita Barrow Distinguished Visitor in Women and Development and Community Transformation at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Canada.

Prof Abena P.A. Busia 'Associate Professor, Literatures in English and Women’s Studies, at The State 'University of New Jersey, Rutgers Acclaimed writer 'Poet 'Feminist activist 'Scholar 'Currently the Project Co-Director for Women Writing Africa, a major literary project aimed at collecting and documenting writings by generations of African women 'Co-editor ‘Theorising Black Feminisms’.

Ms Thelma Awori 'Until recently, Assistant Secretary General and Director Regional Bureau for Africa, UNDP, New York 'Former Deputy Assistant Administrator Bureau for Policy and Programme Support UNDP New York. 'United Nations Resident Co-ordinator & Resident Representative, UNDP, Zimbabwe 'Deputy Director, United Nations Development Fund for Women 'Chief, Africa Section, UNIFEM. 'Economic and social development expert. Ms Joana Foster 'Co-Founder, African Women’s Development Fund. 'Social activist for over thirty years. 'Lawyer 'Campaigner for Civil and Political Rights in Ghana 'Legal advocacy on Immigration and Women’s Rights in the UK 'Pro Bono service to various women’s centres and black organisations in the UK 'Ghana Country Director of CUSO, a Canadian Non-Profit Organisation 'Former Regional Coordinator of Women in law and Development in Africa. 'Co-Founder Gender and Human Rights Documentation Centre, Accra, Ghana.

6

Profiles of A W D F

Board Members

c o n t.

Ms Susie M. Johnson 'Executive Secretary for the Public Policy Section, Women’s Division, General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church 'Former Director of Projects for the Africa Fund, New York 'Director of Business Development for New York’s Bronx Borough 'Legislative staff in the California State Legislature 'Private sector experience with American Express and the Port authority of New York and New Jersey *Co - author of ‘How to Write a Winning Business Plan’ and editor of Social Venture Networks Minority Business Vendor Directory 'Listed in Who’s Who Among American Women 'Named one of the Outstanding Young Women in America.

'Senior Vice President of Africare, Washington DC. 'Former Program Officer Carnegie Corporation of New York 'Board member, Association of Black Foundation Executives 'Former Corporate Attorney for Wall Street law firm, Cahill Gordon & Reindel 'Admitted to the New York State Bar 'Member of the American Bar Association (ABA) and the National Bar Association (NBA).

Dr Hilda M. Tadria

'Currently Executive Director of Match International, an international fundraising and grant-making organisation based in Toronto, Canada 'Journalist 'Feminist activist 'Writer 'She has many years of experience promoting women’s rights issues in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the United States 'One of the most high profile black women in Canada 'Has travelled extensively and given lectures in various parts of the world on social development issues, human rights and philanthropy.

'Co-Founder, African Women’s Development Fund 'Consultant on a variety of specialist areas for the World Bank, UNDP, UNIFEM 'Former Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Makerere University, Uganda. 'Private Consultant 'Currently Special Advisor on Gender to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 'Founder member, Action for Development (ACFODE) Uganda.

Ms Joyce Mends-Cole 'Lawyer 'Gender specialist 'Human rights advocate 'Former Program Officer, Human Rights Watch 'Former Senior Gender Advisor for the Regional Bureau for Africa, UNDP 'UNIFEM Gender Advisor 'Currently Senior Program Manager, UNHCR, Geneva.

Ms Yolonda C. Richardson

Ms Madona Larbi

Ms Jacqueline Williams 'Accountant with many years of experience working with firms such as PricewaterhouseCoopers 'Compliance Manager and Group Senior Auditor with United Assurance Group 'Audit Senior with Touche Ross Chartered Accountants 'Lawyer 'Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants 'Served as a member of the management examination panel of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants for five years 'Currently lectures at Greenwich University, UK 'Independent management consultant and trainer.

Profiles of AW D F

Staff Executive Director Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi Finance and Administration Manager ’ Nigerian/British 'Co-Founder, African Women’s Development Fund & Executive Director 'Former Director of AMwA "Journalist ’ Fundraiser 'Organisational development specialist 'Founder, African Women's Leadership Institute M.A (History) M.A (Gender Studies). Program Officer Abigail Burgesson BA in English from the University of

Susan A. Andah !, 'Ten years experience in financial | management and management consulting 'Previous employment with KPMG and PriceWaterhouse, Ghana 'Experience in the operations of various business environments including non-profit organisations 'M BA in Finance 'Qualified [ member of the Ghana Institute of Taxation. Communications Officer

Relations from Naa-Lamle Viana-Owoo Boston University 'Training in ■ 'British/Ghanaian Film-Maker 'Graduated from the Rose international Bruford College of Speech and negotiations from the , Drama, UK, as a Theatre Centre for Applied ■ ^ In-Education specialist * Studied film Studies in W at the London College of Printing In ternational Film School ‘ Studied Journalism at Negotiations (CASIN) in Geneva, Goldsmiths College school of Switzerland 'Previously Legislative Program . Journalism in London, England. Officer for the National Democratic Institute V fla P J A Workecl for manY years in the for International Affairs (NDI) 'Gender & V voluntary sector in UK as a Development Programs Officer, Africa ■ community worker 'Has made Leadership Forum 'Program Officer for " several short dramas and Economic and Parliamentary programs at documentaries that have been the Institute of Economic Affairs, Ghana. broadcast internationally and I screened at prestigious film festivals throughout the world Administrative Assistant H "Has worked in Europe, North America, the Caribbean and ■ Africa, both as a film-maker and a Theatre-ln-Education Sarah Kyei ■ practitioner.

.

Grants Administrator / Executive Assistant

•Administrative Assistant, Third World Network, Africa, a research and advocacy institution.

Ndey Jobarteh *MBA University Gdansk, Poland 'Msc Development Studies from South Bank University, London. 'Many years of experience administration, the use of ICTs, and coordinating events. 'International Programs Officer, AMwA (UK) 'Program Coordinator for the African Women’s Leadership Institute (AWLI) 'Management of the Small Grants Program for AWLI alumni.

&

Africa Regional

AWDF Core

Values

A d v is o r y C o m m itte e Ms Aissata De (Senegal)

Ms Catherine Mabobori (Burundi)

Ms Meaza Ashenafi (Ethiopia) Our fundraising, grant-making and communications strategies are based on the following values and principles:

Ms Kafui Johnson (Togo)

•

Ms Becas Mateus (Mozambique)

We believe in the personhood of African women, and that their rights are an inalienable, indivisible and integral part of universal human rights.

Ms Jessica Nkuuhe (Uganda)

Ms Angela Dwamena Aboagye (Ghana) Ms Jeannette Eno (Sierra Leone/UK) Ms Rose Mensa-Kutin (Ghana)

Dr Bene Madunagu (Nigeria) Ms Irene Ovonji-Odida (Uganda) Ms Muthoni Wanyeki (Kenya)

•

We believe in acknowledging, valuing and rewarding women’s paid and unpaid labour in the private and public sectors.

•

We believe in solidarity, partnerships, networking, a commitment to young women’s leadership, and an inter-generational transfer of skills and knowledge.

•

We believe in nurturing feminist principles and promoting feminist leadership.

•

We believe in our own diversity and recognise the benefit of working with diverse institutions and individuals.

•

We believe in, and encourage partnerships and alliances with men who are deeply committed to the empowerment of women.

•

We believe in the growth and long-term sustainability of organisations led and managed by women in a democratic, transparent and progressive manner.

•

We believe that the African Women’s Movement is part of a broader Movement within and outside Africa, aimed at creating an enabling environment for good governance, social justice, and equality, and which tries to counter the negative consequences of globalisation.

•

Ms Ndey Sow (Senegal/UK) Dr Patricia McFadden (Zimbabwe)

Dr Rahmat Mohammad (Nigeria)

In te rnational A d v is o ry C o m m itte e Ms Maggie Baxter (Executive Director, Womankind, UK) Ms Rita Thapa (Founder, TEWA, Nepal) Ms Marjan Sax (Founder and Chair, Mama Cash, The Netherlands)

Ms Kavita Ramdas (President, Global Fund for Women) Ms Roxanna Carrillo (Women’s Human Rights Advisor, UNIFEM)

We believe that our work is linked to that of a Global Women's Movement which has worked hard for gains for women, and which is sustained by the voices, hands and work of women from all over the Ms Tracy Gary (Changemakers, USA) Ms Margaret Touborg (University of Cape Town Fund)

Highlights of AWDF Activities

Fundraising On June 8th 2000, there was a US launch of the AWDF in New York during the United Nations General Assembly Special Session, to review progress made since the 1995 UN World Conference on Women in Beijing. This event was not billed as a fundraiser, but it attracted over 250 women and men, most of them African delegates to the conference. They gave donations and pledges of up to $13,000 that night. The message we got from the African women who participated in the New York event was 'we need an initiative like this and we will support you’.

“We should never have to say We are sorry we cannot protect you from the violence in your lives We are sorry we cannot protect you from your fear o f abuse We are sorry we cannot protect you from living as second-class citizens throughout your life We tried our best but We didn’t have enough money For the flyers The computers The skills

The information On June 12th 2000, Carnegie The access to those who could have made things Corporation of New York helped the better AWDF convene a donor round table in New York. The meeting was attended We tried but we couldn't go on because by senior program officers from We didn’t have enough money." Carnegie Corporation of New York, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and the Global Fund for Bisi A deleye-Fayem i Women. This marked the beginning of a funding partnership with the donors who attended this meeting, most of them have awarded grants towards the establishment of the Fund and for grant - making. We have also received support from other donors

•

•

On December 8th 2001, we organised an event to formally launch the AWDF in Africa. This very colourful event took place in Accra, Ghana, and was attended by dignitaries from within and outside Ghana, members of AWDF’s Executive Board, Patrons, Regional Advisers, grantees, the local corporate sector and representatives from the local and international NGO community. Special guests of Honour included the Vice President of Ghana, Alhaji Aliu Mahama who performed the launch, Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs) Stella Obasanjo, First Lady of Nigeria, and Her Excellency, Mme Chantal Campaore, First Lady of Burkina Faso. We raised up to $30,000 in donations and pledges during the event.

AWDFreceiving a donation from the Burkina Faso Ambassador to Ghana, December 2001

The AWDF has developed a fundraising strategy which is being implemented in two phases. The first phase (2000-2001) has involved working with a core group of institutional donors who have shown a willingness to support the establishment of a philanthropic institution in Africa for women. The funding we have raised from these donors and individual contributors enabled us to start formal operations in April 2001 and grant-making.

For the second phase of the fundraising strategy which will be implemented as from 2002 onwards, the AWDF will focus on the following: • • • • • •

Bi-lateral funding agencies Private foundations in North America and Europe Philanthropists within and outside Africa African governments The corporate sector in North America, Europe and Africa Africans in the Diaspora

“The A W DF has emerged out o f the sweat and hard work of three African women with no resources of their own other than their commitment to the women’s movement. We see the Fund as one of the future leaders in the field o f philanthropy in Africa. It is not going to answer all the problems o f the women’s movement, but it will be a partner to other Funds and donor agencies, and it will do all it can to help shape a progressive agenda for social movements in Africa." Joana Foster.

11

Grant - Making

etween October 2000 and June 2001, we disseminated information on our grant - making procedures to at least 600 women’s organisations in various parts of Africa. We also organised briefings for clusters of women’s organisations in Western, Eastern and Southern Africa, covering English, French and Portuguese speaking countries. We received 85 applications from 23 African countries. In October 2001, the AWDF awarded its first grants to 32 women’s organisations from 19 African countries. Some of the awards were multi-year grants. In addition, we gave donations to six rural women’s groups in Ghana. The total amount of grants awarded was $344,000 to 38 women’s organisations.

B

awdf presenting power tillers to some women’s groups

Decisions on grants are made by AWDF program Staff, and the programs committee, often with the help of regional advisers. We have identified 14 women to serve on the AWDF’s Africa Regional Advisory Committee. They are leaders involved in key women’s organisations representative of various geographic and linguistic regions in Africa. We convened a two-day workshop for our regional advisers, December 7th-8th in Accra, on ‘Sustainability of African Women’s NGOs’. At this seminar, we analysed the current challenges around sustainability and resource mobilisation facing African women's NGOs, discussed our regional grant - making strategy, and worked through roles and responsibilities. in Bawku, Northen Ghana, to enhance farming activities

Small Grants Program (Ghana) In addition to our main grants program, we have a Small Grants Program for Ghana. This is because many potential supporters and donors of the AWDF in Ghana are concerned about the Fund’s willingness to support initiatives led by poor, non-literate women in isolated communities. This is an important concern that needs to be addressed while we are trying to promote organised giving in Africa. Beneficiaries of the Small Grants Program have to meet the following criteria:

• •

•

•

They should be women's groups led by women. They should be organisations who otherwise, would not be able to access the AWDF’s main funding program. The groups have to be recommended by the leadership of a larger organisation, i.e. one of AWDF’s grantees, or a respected member of the community such as a Member of Parliament. The award is for a specific project or item that the groups need.

The AWDF might set up a small grants scheme in other African countries as a strategy to encourage local giving, and for support from the African Diaspora.

Institutional Development

W

e have made very good progress with setting up the AWDF office in Accra, Ghana. The office is easily accessible and is in a prime location in Accra. We have four full-time members of staff and two project consultants.

Communications and Public Relations

AWDF has developed a communications plan, which is aimed at the various audiences and stakeholders of the Fund. Specific achievements in the implementation of the plan include the following: •

Developing promotional materials to provide general information on the AWDF and highlight grant-making priorities.

•

Creation of a website.

•

Cultivating relationships with local and international media.

•

Publication of a newsletter, AWDF News.

Recruitment of several patrons who will work with the Board and Executive Director to raise the AWDF’s profile. In May 2001, a reception was organised by AWDF Patron, performance artiste and social activist, Ms Miatta Fahnbulleh. This provided us with an opportunity to meet with individuals and representatives of African women’s community groups in the New York/Washington/Maryland

•

In August, we co-hosted a reception with the Global Fund for Women, Mama Cash (The Netherlands) and Urgent Action Fund, at the NGO Forum at the UN World Conference on Racism, Xenophobia and all Forms of Related Intolerance, Durban, South Africa. The reception attracted many friends and grantees of the International Network of Women’s Funds.

In November 2001, we hosted a lunch meeting with women in the Ghanaian parliament, which was attended by eleven out of the eighteen women in parliament.

“Millions of African women dream of a day when the life o f a girl-child in Africa will mean as much as the life of a boy-child. We hope for a time when no woman will be forced to marry someone she does not know or want. We want women to live their lives free of fear, degradation and brutalisation. We dream of a time, when African women will not have to suffer from the effects of poverty, war, and disease. We do not want mothers and fathers to have to bury their own children, cut down in their prime by AIDS. We want to live lives free of violence in the home and in public." Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi

13

1

in Ghana, November 2001

Outreach, Networking and Learning

W

e have promoted the existence and the work of the Fund in various fora, as guest speakers and resource persons. We have also been able to develop new relationships to strengthen our fundraising and program development. Activities we have participated in include:

•

The launch of Angela Borba, a Brazilian Women’s Fund in Brazil, August 2000

•

Learning visit to the Global Fund For Women in San Francisco, August 2000. This learning exercise also included visits to the Tides Foundation, the San Francisco Women’s Fund and Changemakers, all in San Francisco.

•

The Resource Alliance workshop on ‘Local Resource Mobilisation', Nairobi, Kenya, November 2000.

•

The 2nd annual meeting of the International Network of Women’s Funds, Oaxaca, Mexico, March 2001

•

The Women’s Funding Network conference, Philadelphia, April 2001

•

Council on Foundations annual conference, May 2001.

•

CIDA conference on ‘International Corporation Days’, in Ottawa, June 2001

•

CIVICUS Biennial Congress, Vancouver, Canada, August 17th - 23rd. 2001

•

NGO Forum of the World Conference Against Racism, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance Durban, South Africa, August 2001

•

In October, the AWDF co-sponsored an international conference called ‘Beyond Aid II: Mobilising Local Resources,’ which was organised by Charities Aid Foundation, West Africa. The objective of the two-day conference was to discuss the state of indigenous philanthropy in Africa, with a particular focus on West Africa. We were interested in working with CAF on this conference because it provided us with an opportunity to promote ourselves as an emerging philanthropic institution in the region. AWDF will build on this experience and develop partnerships and collaborations with other African philanthropic institutions in the future.

• Our membership of strategic networks for philanthropy has provided us with good learningopportunities in the field. AWDF is a member of the following international philanthropic networks - International Network of Women's Funds, Grant-Makers Without Borders, The Women’s Funding Network and The Africa Grant-Makers Affinity Group of the Council on Foundations.

Future Priorities ver the next year, our organisational priorities will focus on the following objectives: •

Awarding grants to at least 30 women’s organisations in 2002.

•

Developing projects to provide technical assistance to AWDF grantees, for example the publication of a resource mobilisation booklet.

•

Implementing aspects of AWDF’s comprehensive fundraising plan, with an emphasison the following: - Setting up a liaison office in the United States - Putting AWDF’s fundraising structures to use - Promotional receptions within and outside Africa

•

Communications work to feature the work of AWDF grantees. This will be done through redesigning AWDF s website, publications, and work on a documentary.

•

Strengthening the AWDF office with increased personnel and the necessary institutional capacity.

14

The African Women’s Development Fund Grant - making Program 2001

REAL M EN

DON T ABUSE

W O M EN

T

he African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is an institutional capacity-building and programme development fund, which aims to help build a culture of learning and partnerships within the African Women’s Movement. The AWDF funds work in five thematic

The AWDF prioritises programs, which develop and promote women’s leadership and advocacy across all these themes. These thematic areas have been chosen because they feature very highly on the agenda of the African Women’s Movement.

• • • •

Women’s Human Rights Political Participation Peace Building Health, Reproductive Rights and HIV/AIDS • Economic Empowerment.

he entrenchment of patriarchy in customs, traditions, attitudes towards women have led to an intensification of discrimination against women at all levels of society. In many African countries, women are still regarded as second class citizens, minors and/or property of their husbands. Even in countries where there is progressive legislation, the Executive and/or Judiciary take actions and make rulings which discriminate against women. In many countries, societal attitudes and behaviours remain entrenched and the rights that have been gained are being eroded by the rise of conservatism and fundamentalism. There are now universal standards in place, which provide a framework for human rights among the international community. Several African governments have made commitments to these standards of best practice through international conventions and agreements. The African Women's Movement is trying to hold States accountable to their obligations under regional and international covenants aimed at guaranteeing women's human rights.

T

In order to maximise impact and add value to existing initiatives, AWDF funds the work of organisations which prioritise the following areas: •

Eradication of discrimination and violations of women's human rights through legal and policy reform.

•

Protecting and promoting women's human rights.

•

Mobilisation of support for women's rights at grassroots level through networking and empowerment of community based organisations (CBOs).

•

Research on harmful traditional practices and forms of violence against women, which infringe their basic human rights.

•

Monitoring policies and legislation which infringe upon women's human rights.

•

Harmonisation of national laws and constitutions in line with regional and international commitments and standards.

•

Training in leadership and advocacy for public advocates on women's human rights.

•

Establishing national and regional networks to promote and advocate for women's human rights.

Grants Awarded

n the links between poverty

Established in 1S95, the Ark Foundation advocates for the promotion and protection of women’s and children’s human rights by advocating for the dismantling of all systems, traditions, laws and practices which negatively affect the well-being of women, children and disadvantaged people. The foundation also provides shelter, legal aid counselling and rehabilitation of victims of intra-family and gender-based violence.

__ _______ _ _ _ - - s figt . ______ . _ Eastern Cape, and serves the town of Cathcart, the surrounding 88 farms and several neighbouring townships. Grant Awarded: $6,000 for general support

Project Alert is a national women’s rights _ _ _ six geo-political regions of Nigeria. The organisation's focus is addressing the issue of violent against women in Nigeria. o drama series on

Founded in 1992, the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers’ Association provides tree legal aid to !I poor women and children, educates women about their rights, and propose changes to hwc u/hir'h HicrriminatP anainst wnmpn Grant Awarded: S10.000 for a strategic planning retreat.

MWODET was started in 1989 by district women leaders. It is a membership organisation and district wide forum for grassroots women in Mpigi District, and operates in Mpigi and Wakiso districts of Uganda. Grant Awarded: $10,000 for the implementation of Legal Aid Services.

Country: Tanzania Organisation: Women in Law and Development in Africa (Tanzania)

—

■»

mmm—m

--

WILDAF-Tanzania has ten organisational members and 80 individual members. Their activities include activism against gender violence, lobbying and advocacy for legal rights and changes in laws, communications work and capacity building. Grant Awarded: $10,000 for a campaign for a non-discriminatory law of inheritance. Country: Tanzania Organisation: Women’s Legal Aid Centre (WLAC)

i k

WLAC was started in 1989 by a group of activists and women lawyers. They realised that there were large numbers of women in the country facing legal problems without recourse to legal aid services, counselling, legal rights awareness and court representation. WLAC is a national organisation and it primarily benefits women and children. The Centre’s main goals are to raise legal and human rights awareness among the general public and in particular women through legal aid services, human rights education, paralegal training, legal research, publications and the media. ver two years to strengthen 3 paralegal units in Mbeya, Kigoma and Mwanza, ; in Tanzania. Law and Development in Africa (Ghana) elopment in Africa (WILDAF) is a pan African women’s rights network dedicated to lening strategies which link law and development to increase women’s participation community, national and international levels. The network has members in 26 Africa, including Ghana. 2,000 for general support for the WILDAF office in Accra. isociation pour le Progress et la Defence des Femmes Maliennes (APDF) )4, the organisation's goals are to mobilise and organise women for effective their own development. The organisation deals with the issues of human rights of iris, violence against women and children, harmful traditional practices. FGM, good leadership and citizenship for women. irded: $10,000 to conduct seminars and workshops for the purpose of creating about FGM, to mobilise against the practice and to lobby for the enactment of laws 3M. i: Africa-wide sation: African Women's Caucus at the World Conference Against Racism, ihobia and Related Intolerance, Durban. World Conference Against Racism, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance took place (urban, South Africa, August 2001. An African Women’s Caucus was organised and :ilitated by Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA), Women in Law and Development in Africa VILDAF) and the African Women’s Development and Communications Network FEMNET). u

Grantr Awarded: $10,000 uran 5>w,uuu to sponsor an African Women's women s Caucus caucus at ai me the WCAR in Durban. South Africa. The grant will also help translate and disseminate a regional report on Racism, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Eastern and Southern Africa.

T

he low level of participation of women in politics and public policy decision-making processes has led to the marginalisation of gender issues and increased discrimination against women in African countries. It is widely acknowledged that comprehensive development can only happen when women achieve better social, economic, and political status and take an active part in the management of public affairs. Itis imperative that women should participate in policy-making, particularly at a time when a fresh vision of gender sensitive development is needed in African countries. More emphasis needs to be laid on representation of women by women in positions of decision-making. AWDF funds organisations which prioritise the following: •

Programmes that create an enabling environment that will allow women to participate more in public policy, enhance the capacities of women leaders and achieve social justice.

•

Media and communications strategies which support gender equity and women's participation in political processes.

•

Dissemination of information, including research findings on women's participation in political leadership.

•

Capacity building for providing the necessary conceptual, analytical and practical tools for leadership skills and training for women.

•

Leadership development training which emphasises awareness raising, self - esteem, inter-generational and capacity building programs.

•

Promoting equal gender representation in decision-making bodies in the public and private sectors, the legislature and political parties, and in international organisations.

•

Research on women's leadership in Africa.

Country: Ghana Organisation: Abantu for Development Abantu is a non-governmental development organisation, led by women, which was established in 1991. It has offices in the UK, Eastern Africa (Kenya) and West Africa (Ghana and Nigeria). Their main objective is to enhance the capacity of African people, in particular women, to participate in the development of political structures of African countries. Grant Awarded: $18,000 over two years for a weekly radio program that discusses gender and development Country: Gambia Organisation: SIMMA Vocational Training Created in 1991 as a result of high demand for services for young women and girls, SIMMA is a local women's organisation operating in Kombo St. Mary's area, Banjul, The Gambia. SIMMA’s mandate is to create educational opportunities for girls and young women, empower girls and young women for equal participation in national development and advocate for the recognition of women's rights Grant Awarded: $8,000 for political awareness activities such as workshops for youth representatives, development of materials, and establishment of a meeting place. Country: Nigeria Organisation: Foundation for Women’s Health, Research, and Development (FORWARD) Registered in 1998, FORWARD aims to empower women through involvement in community development projects which address women’s needs in a holistic sense. Grant Awarded: $10,000 to organise a series of civic education projects for rural women in preparation for the year 2003 elections.

18

Country: Nigeria Organisation: Gender and Development Association (GADA) Created in 1994, GADA is a national non-governmental, non-profit organisation. GADA is committed to gender equality, to participation of women in politics and to the pursuit of sustainable development of women in Nigeria. GADA has affiliations across Nigeria and linkages with groups outside Nigeria. In 1996, GADA organised the first political summit of Nigerian women that resulted in what is known as A Political Agenda for Nigerian Women.

Grant Awarded: $10,000 to purchase equipment to set up a liaison office in Abuja, the administrative capital of Nigeria.

Organisation:

African

Women’s

Development

and

Communication Network (FEMNET) Regional Office: Kenya FEMNET was set up in 1998 to share information experiences, ideas and strategies among African women’s non-governmental organisations through communications, networking, training and advocacy in order to advance women’s development, equality and other women’s human rights in Africa. FEMNET aims to strengthen the role and contribution of African NGOs focusing on women’s development. It also aims to provide an infrastructure for and a channel through which these NGOs can reach one another and share information and strategies, so as to improve the effectiveness of their work.

Grant Awarded: $20,000 to enhance the capacity of African women to participate effectively at the Commission on the Status of Women meetings, particularly around the outcomes of the Beijing Plus 5 Review Process.

“Sudan National Women's Convention is the first ever convention organised by Sudanese that aims to bring Sudanese women from the different regions o f Sudan together to discuss their rights. The convention aims to bring these marginalised women together to discuss women's rights and I em power them through this discussion to be able to empower themselves and stand for their rights. The convention will create a sort of cooperation between these Sudanese women to network and develop their abilities in the different areas they work in. Our convention will be attended by different categories o f women coming from different levels and walks o f life and their attendance to the convention means a lot to them as they will be able to go back to their base and brief others about the convention. We applied for a grant from AWDF, because this is a women’s programme, because it aims to help women to develop their abilities and awareness and to be empowered. A W D F has really helped our programme” Mouna Kugali, Justice Africa.

19

iolent conflict is endemic in many African countries, and the number of internal conflicts is on the increase. While there have been many regional initiatives for peace and conflict resolution, some of the initiatives have lacked credibility and legitimacy. Peace building initiatives continue to be largely male dominated and women are often absent from conflict resolution processes. At the level of civil society however, there has been a broad-based mobilisation of women for peace throughout the continent at all levels. Women have taken advantage of their enhanced roles during conflict situations and used this as leverage to campaign and advocate for peace. Women in collaboration with other allies, have been actively engaged in promoting mediation, peace and dialogue often under extremely difficult circumstances. This has led to the creation of many women led national and regional networks for peace.

V

There is a need to increase women's participation in key decision-making positions at national and regional levels, and include women's participation in conflict resolution at the highest strategic levels, on peace missions and negotiations.

•

Development of early warning mechanisms and post-conflict reconstruction mechanisms.

•

Building partnerships for information sharing, advocacy and campaigning on conflict prevention and conflict resolution.

•

Education and awareness raising on the role of women in peace-building and conflict resolution.

•

Monitoring women's participation in conflict prevention and peace - building.

•

Support for processes and policy reform to stop the manufacture, importation and usage of small arms in order to facilitate the promotion of a culture of peace.

•

Exchange and mentoring programmes for women leaders working on conflict Issues.

•

Capacity building for conflict resolution and training on conflict management skills.

•

Information sharing and partnership development for research on women's role in conflict mediation and resolution.

•

Research and documentation of women's role in conflict resolution.

AWDF supports organisations which prioritise the following:

Country: Sudan Organisation: Justice Africa

Country: Somalia Organisation: Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC)

Justice Africa is based in London, and is a human rights SSWC is a national humanitarian organisation founded and capacity building NGO. Following the 1999 Kampala Conference on ‘Human in 1992 by a group of Somali women from a Rights in Transition in Sudan', Justice Africa was asked cross-section of communities. SSWC has branches by the Sudanese National Democratic Alliance to and affiliated bodies in strategic areas across the organise a Sudanese National Women’s Convention. In country. SSWC aims to facilitate the advancement of order to facilitate the convening of the conference, a women, child welfare and peace promotion. ^Sudanese Nation^ Women's Convention Organising Jpommittee was set up. The Committee has Grant Awarded: $10,000 for leadership development ''.representation from various countries where Sudanese activities aimed at maintaining the involvement of 'jwomen m the peace building and conflict management Rvom'en are living in exile or as refugees. process m Somalia. Grant Awarded: $10,000 to convene the first ever Country: Sienra Leone ^Sudanese National Women’s Convention. Organisation: Sierra Leone Women's Forum (SLWF) Country: Liberia Establish- d in 1993. SWLF is a nationwide network of Organisation: Community Empowerment PrograiW women's organisations and focuses on enhancing the The organisation was set up in August 2000, to Work status of women and promotion of Child Rights with women in rural Montserrado County in the eastern region of Liberia. This was in response to the felt needs Grant Awarded: $12,000 to support the participation of of the communities whose social structures were women in resettlement programs in three regions of destroyed during the Liberian civil war between 1989 Sierra Leone. The funding will be used to establish a and 1997. The organisation is committed to the gender-disaggregated database on returnees and empowerment of families and communities for peace, refugees, training workshops, and advocacy on behalf growth, equality and sustainable development. o f refugee/returnee women. Grant Awarded: S6.000 for leadership training for women community leaders from three rural communities in Montserrado, Liberia.

Health. Reproductive Riahts and HIV/AIDS P \ ecreased health spending by governments, the privatisation of health services, and the lack of universal access to affordable health care have negatively impacted on the health of women and girls in many African countries. The HIV / AIDS virus has had a devastating impact on the African continent, and women are extremely vulnerable. Although most countries reported having had effective awareness campaigns on prevention of HIV / AIDS, the pandemic has posed serious challenges to the implementation of initiatives aimed at promoting women's health, as awareness campaigns failed to capture the gender aspects of the crisis.

U

AWDF funds organisations, which prioritise the following areas of women's health: •

Provision for training local, regional and national officials, as well as leaders of co-operatives, associations and NGOs, so that they can oversee and support community health programmes.

•

Programs to combat harmful traditional practices.

•

Monitoring health care provision and delivery systems for women especially primary care.

•

Advocacy and campaigning for gender sensitive health care delivery systems.

•

Partnerships with health care providers for awareness raising and education about gender sensitive health care provision.

•

Institutional support and capacity building for community based health care providers.

Country: Ghana Organisation: Maata-N-Tudu Association Maata-N-Tudu Association is a women’s NGO which was established in 1993 to bring women from the Northern Region of Ghana together to improve their situation. It is comprised primarily of rural women who work together to meet their various needs through meetings, regular savings, training for enhanced capacity to implement the association’s programs, to improve basic business skills and for mutual self help. Grant Awarded: $7,500 for capacity building workshops for village level trainers and for members, including member couples. The training programs will cover reproductive health, family planning and HIV/AIDS. Country: Nigeria Organisation: Society for Women and AIDS in Africa, Nigeria (SWAAN) Society for Women and AIDS in Africa is a regional organisation, and the Nigeria chapter operates in 21 States in the country. SWAAN’s main goals are to increase the awareness of the problems of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, especially among women and youths, and to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS/STDs, and unwanted pregnancies through prevention programs. SWAAN focuses on prevention, education and reduction of the spread of HIV/AIDS, and on providing psychosocial support to people living with HIV/AIDS. Grant Awarded: $8,000 for a strategic planning workshop that will produce a 5 - year plan and develop a fundraising strategy for the organisation.

Economic Empowerment omen constitute the majority of the poor in Training for women in ms Africa, lacking access to resources such as entrepreneurship and negotiating skills. land, capital, technology, water and adequate nutritious food. In rural areas where the majority of women Establishment of information infrastructure, depend on land for their income and livelihood, their including databases and business centres. inability to own land seriously affects their access to cash incomes. The situation is compounded by Advocacy activities which target international patri-focal inheritance customs, which gives ownership financial institutions, African governments, the and control over land to men. The feminisation of private sector, sub-regional and regional poverty in Africa is also affected by difficult legal and organisations. fiscal environments, rigid rules, restrictive administrative procedures, patriarchal systems of inheritance which discriminate against women, and barriers to trade. “Maata-N-Tudu applied for a grant

W

Micro-financing schemes are helping women to address the problem of access to resources and participation in the economy. However, micro - and small-scale enterprises in Africa, particularly those belonging to women, are often in precarious situations, and struggle to survive in a constantly changing environment. Most small businesses owned by women are in services, trade, production and processing sectors. Women's participation in regional trade is hampered by poor infrastructure, particularly transport and communication systems; insufficient knowledge of treaties, laws, policies, protocol, tariffs and border barriers. AWDF supports organisations which prioritise the following: •

Address information gaps and develop training programmes for women entrepreneurs.

•

Community based income-generating schemes for women with a holistic approach.

•

Monitoring of legal and financial frameworks which discriminate against women’s economic empowerment.

Provision of accessible technology to enable women to access finance and markets. Capacity building and training for community based finance providers. Co-ordination and capacity building of women's finance organisations.

from the A W D F because we needed funding to run our Village Level Trainer Program and most importantly, the HIV/AIDS section o f this program. The project was designed to assist Maata-N-Tudu to run its extremely large village level training program. We currently have about 50 00 members throughout the Upper l/Vesf, Upper East and Northern Regions. We run local training programs for our m em ber groups on subjects like business management, literacy, numeracy, etc. We wanted to expand this program and train our local village level trainers to run workshops/trainings for our members on more health related topics such as family planning, nutrition, child care and HIV/AIDS. Through this sharing of information, Maata-N-Tudu members who are mostly rural, poor, illiterate women will understand better how to change their poverty stricken situations a little more. Knowledge is the key to empowerment. ” Mary-Rita Dakorah-Boaior Maata-N-Tudu

Grants Awarded “The Ark Foundation, Ghana, applied for an A W D F grant under the thematic area o f Women's Human Rights. It is to enable us conduct a "Women's Leadership, Advocacy and Human Rights Training of Trainers Program". Under this grant, our, Women's Law and Human Rights Institute Program (WLHRI) will organise the Training of Trainers Program, comprising a series o f two five-day residential training workshops and one two-day evaluation workshop over the course o f a year. Under this project we hope to: • • •

•

Provide participants with general training and facilitation skills. Equip participants with methods for developing and revising training materials and tools. Deepen participants' understanding o f gender theory and analysis and current issues in the human rights o f women and children in Ghana. Provide participants with opportunities for networking and ongoing support of training activities.

For this support, we are truly grateful to the A W D F for the grant made to us. ” Angela Dwamena-Aboagye The Ark Foundation, Ghana

Country: Togo Organisation: Femme de Demain (FDD) Femme De Demain is a national organisation established in 1997 by women and girls in the southern region of Togo. The organisation's objective is to work for the improvement of living conditions of women, in rural and semi-urban areas through education and self-development activities. Grant Awarded: $5,000 to support FDD's micro credit programs, training and purchase of equipment. Country: Rwanda Organisation: Benishyaka Association

Created in September 1994 after the war and genocide in Rwanda, Benishyaka Association is a local NGO operating in five provinces of Rwanda. It was started by 18 women who felt concerned about the fate of widows and orphans after the genocide. The organisation works in five regions of Rwanda, and their main beneficiaries have been widows, orphans and the elderly. The use of milling services by women allows them to avoid long distance travelling, save time and achieve greater production and income generation. Grant Awarded: $8,000 for purchase of machinery to expand and improve the already existing grain milling project for 210 widows in the Bugesera region of Rwanda. Country: South Africa Organisation: Masisukumeni Women's Crisis Centre Masisukumeni Women’s Crisis Centre is a local organisation, which works at grass roots level to provide services to women in local communities. These services include counselling, support and medico-legal information to survivors of sexual violence, and through public education and campaigns against gender violence. Grant Awarded: $5,000 for equipment and operation of a small confectionery that will supply pastries to the largest bakery in the area. Country: Kenya Organisation: Kangemi Women Empowerment Centre Established in 1997 as a joint project of five national Kenyan NGOs, Kangemi works for the economic and legal empowerment of women. The collaborating members share common values and beliefs in women's empowerment and take a holistic approach to empowering women as equal members within an entire community. Their aims are to strengthen the interactions of the five NGOs with their constituencies and grass roots organisations, ensure visibility of their activities to mobilise public opinion, and to participate in the implementation of population and development programs. Grant Awarded: $10,000 for a strategic planning review and to

Country: Uganda Organisation: Soroti Women Entrepreneurs Association The main goal of Soroti Women Entrepreneurs Association (SWEAR) is to empower women economically. The organisation was formed in 1998, by women of Soroti District after undergoingbasic business skills training. SWEAR works in the Soroti District in the Eastern region of Uganda. Grant Awarded: $10,000 over two years towards the organisation’s economic empowerment projects. Regional Office: Nigeria Organisation: Development Alternatives for Women in a New Era (DAWN) Anglophone Africa. Founded in 1985, DAWN is an international network of feminist scholars and activists from the economic South working for equitable sustainable and gender-just development. DAWN’s vision of feminism has at its core a process of economic and social development geared towards human needs through a wider control over and access to economic and political power. Grant Awarded: $15,000 to enable DAWN (Anglophone Africa) work with feminist researchers in the region on the intersections of globalisation, sustainable livelihoods and sexual and reproductive rights with gender, religion, culture and women's agency. Regional Office: Senegal Organisation: Development Alternatives for Women in a New Era (DAWN) Francophone Africa. Founded in 1985, DAWN is an international network of feminist scholars and activists from the economic South working for equitable sustainable and gender-just development. Through its research, DAWN seeks to generate a process that will support women’s mobilisation within civil society to change inequitable social, economic and a political relations at global, regional and national levels. Grant Awarded: $15,000 to enable DAWN (Francophone Africa) work with feminist researchers in the region on the intersections of globalisation, sustainable livelihoods and sexual and reproductive rights, with gender, religion, culture and women's agency.

"We have just received a grant from A W D F for Institutional Support o f our secretariat, leadership training, capacity building and educational activities. Women in our constituency include market women, professionals, grass root communities, politicians, internally displaced persons, returnees i.e. women farmers and gardeners, adult educators, refugees from neighbouring countries, victims o f sexual and gender violence and female ex-combatants. All these women are committed to maximising all the resources at their disposal to achieve sustainable peace through the removal o f all forms o f discrimination against women and children, promoting healing and reconciliation between victims o f war and the perpetrators; as well as restructuring the socio-economic landscape o f our shattered country. Our strategies for accomplishing all this include sensitisation, awareness raising, training and capacity building, functional literacy and income generation, experience sharing, advocacy and lobbying. We wish to register our sincere thanks to A W D F for coming to the assistance o f our organisation at this crucial time in the lives o f Sierra Leonean women. Long Live African Women's Development Fund!” Bola Parker Sierra Leone Women’s Forum

Financial Information Report of the A uditors to the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF)

PRCn/fflEMOUsPQOPERS 0 PricewaterHouseCoopers Chartered Accountants Gulf House, 4th Floor Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout Legon Road PMB CT 42, Cantonments Accra, Ghana We have audited the financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies.

Respective Responsibilities of Directors and Auditors The directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an independent opinion on those financial statements based on our audit.

Basis of Opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing. Those Standards require that we plan and perform our audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatements. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates and judgments made by the directors of the Fund as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

Opinion In our opinion, proper books of account have been kept and the financial statements which are in agreement therewith give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Fund as at 31 December 2001 and of its excess of income over expenditure and cash flows for the twenty month period then ended in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and the Ghana Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179).

Chartered"Accountants

17 April 2002

27

African Women’s Development Fund Financial Statem ents For the twenty-m onth period ended 31 December 2001

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT (All amounts are expressed in US$)

BALANCE SHEET (All amounts are expressed in US$) Period ended 31 December 2001

At 31 December 2001

CURRENT ASSETS

INCOME Contributions: Foundations Individuals & Corporations Other Income

1,078,598 5,011 136

Total Income

1,083,745

GRANTS AWARDED

344,000

Debtors Cash and Bank Balances

CURRENT LIABILITIES Creditors Grants Payable

EXPENDITURE Management & Institutional Development Fundraising and Communications Grants Management

NET ASSETS

TOTAL EXPENDITURE

Excess of income over expenditure transferred to accumulated fund

321,694

>a summary of information extracted from theauditedaccounts. its may not contain sufficient information to allow for a full andingof the financial affairs of AWDF. For further information on theaudited S, the Auditor's report on thoseaccounts and the Director's report should be

Accumulated Fund

African W omen’s Development Fund Financial Statem ents For the twentv-m onth period ended 31 December 2001

Accounting policies The principal accounting policies adopted in the presentation of these financial statements are: -

1. Basis of accounting The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with and comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

2. Income Income comprises: i) Grants which represent cash remittances from donors ii) Donations iii) Other income e.g. income from fundraising. Income is recognised when funds are transmitted and received

3. Expenditure Fund expenditure is stated on an accrual basis.

4. Grants Grants awarded are recognised in the income and expenditure account in the year of award. Grants awarded but not disbursed to grantees are recognise as a liability in the balance sheet.

5. Capital Expenditure Capital expenditure is expensed on acquisition.

6. Debtors Debtors are stated net of any provision for bad and doubtful debts.

7. Functional Currency The functional currency is the United States of America dollar.

8. Foreign Currency Transactions Transactions in foreign currencies are converted at the rate ruling at the date on which transaction took place. Current assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Gains or losses arising on foreign currency transactions are credited to or charged against income in the period in which they arise.

29

AWDF Patrons A Message From Miatta Fahnbulleh Patron, African Women’s Development Fund My life as the daughter of a political prisoner and my career as a songwriter, vocalist and activist have exposed me to the daily needs of the ordinary people on our continent in a way few people have experienced. I have become aware that the needs of our societies are formidable, often identical, and, were these humanitarian needs not met by these organisations and NGO's, there would be a colossus vacuum and intensified suffering in our communities. Every scholarship, every school, every institute for the disabled, every orphanage and health clinic, every women's group concerned with gender specific issues has enhanced and empowered those who have been recipients of such philanthropy. During my father's incarceration as a political prisoner, my younger sister was the recipient of a Rotary scholarship in high school. This is an example of how positive intervention functions in a stable society. Within a war-torn society, or in the aftermath of widespread violence and anarchy as we saw throughout my homeland Liberia and neighbouring Sierra Leone, and indeed across most of the continent, horrendous is an understatement to describe existing conditions. Powerless communities under siege must fend for themselves against the armed and ruthless for day-to-day survival. Women and children particularly are disproportionately affected by the tragedies of war. In Liberia, women mobilised in this Kind of environment as only mothers can do, to address and try to heal the scars of a traumatised society at large. Worrying about the education of their children, how to go about returning to disrupted traditional family values based on respect and decency, dealing with teenage delinquencies and early pregnancies, the emotional consequences suffered by rape victims, the psychological trauma of child soldiers, educating about the dangers of sexual diseases, especially HIV AIDS, coping with all this with no resources, outside intervention or aid except the desire to survive and a refusal to succumb to despair. When an entire middle-class finds itself with nothing but the clothes on their backs they were able to run and escape in, when the poor lose what few possessions they have managed to accumulate over a lifetime through hard labour and sweat, when millions are left with only their lives hanging by a slender thread as they face the barrel of a gun, a wretched existence and a bleak future, we realise it is only by sheer faith, determination and an unbreakable spirit that our people have the will to survive. It is our duty and responsibility to help in any way we can. It was for these reasons that I welcomed the African Women's Development Fund’s initiative: a grant-making organisation that will help to sustain our mothers, sisters and daughters as they work towards overcoming life altering experiences through the help of grants and technical assistance. The men who make the wars are our fathers, sons, brothers, nephews, uncles and cousins. The children they use as fodder for their wars are our sons and daughters-our collective future. The women they rape and denigrate are our mothers, aunts, sisters, daughters and nieces. It is therefore imperative that we the women with means and abilities must endeavour at all costs to work towards the upliftment and empowerment of all women, for a better society. Through my medium of music and the stage, I am committed to putting my talent to where my heart is: Africa and her women. I join hands to work with all of those concerned with accomplishing this noble goal. Peace. Miatta Fahnbulleh. Patron, AWDF Ms Miatta Fahnbulleh is from Liberia, and has been based in the United States for many years She is a performance artiste, social activist and community organiser.

A Message From Dr Kwabena Appenteng Patron, African W omen’s Development Fund

P\

I agreed to become a Patron of the AWDF because I firmly believe that the aims of the Fund are aims that all caring people throughout the world share. Therefore when I was asked I felt I had no choice but to do the right thing. You may ask what a man is doing being Patron of a Women’s Fund. My answer is that the goals of the AWDF are goals that apply to all people. I strongly urge other people, particularly men, to support this initiative. And when we support a Fund like this, we should not think that we are doing it for our mothers, sisters, wives or daughters’ sake. We are doing it for our own sake too. I never believed that I could be such an ardent advocate for women’s rights until I became a Patron, but it is something that I value so much now, and I feel quite privileged to have been asked to help. As a businessman I know a thing or two about investments. I have therefore come to appreciate the necessity of investing in women. The other day I was socialising with some business associates, and I was talking about the AWDF and how great the organisation is. One of them made a remark about 'women these days are always complaining about something’. I then told him that at least some of them are doing something. What are you doing? I asked him. I felt so good! Dr Kwabena Appenteng is a Physiologist and Telecommunications Entrepreneur. He is the General Manager of Transaction Management Services Limited, Ghana.

AWDF Supporters Where does the AWDF get its money from? We get our money from international institutional donors, private foundations, sister funds, corporate sponsorship and individual donors. The AWDF's International Fundraising Campaign is raising money from the following sources: Philanthropists Private Foundations Governments The Corporate Sector Africans in the Diaspora The General Public Sales of AWDF merchandise. Sponsorship and in-kind support The AWDF is also planning to launch an endowment campaign in 2005. This will serve as a legacy to pass on to future generations of African Women Activists for them to carry on the work and realise the vision of the African Women's Movement. So far, the following categories of donors have supported our work:

Institutional

Corporate

Donors

Sponsors

Carnegie Corporation of New York The Ford Foundation Comic Relief (UK) The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Global Fund for Women United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Global Board of Methodist Ministries Mama Cash (The Netherlands) Match International Centre(Canada) Tet Ansam Fund Action-Aid (Ghana Country Office)

The fo llow ing institu tion s in th e private and governmental sector have supported our work with financial and in-kind assistance.

Organisational Supporters Baobab for Women's Human Rights WORDEC (Nigeria) Federation of Women Lawyers, Anambra State, Nigeria Eastern Africa Strategic Support Initiative

32

Individual Donors MS OLABISI ADELEYE-FAYEMI

MS ZEEDAH MEIERHOFER-MANCELI MS JOYCE MENDS-COLE MS CHARITY TATAH MENTAN

HON CECELIA GYAN AM UAH MS JANE MURAGO-MUNERE

MRS & MR MARY & MATTHEW NKANSAH MR RICHARD NOTTINGHAM MS ANNA BANNERMAN-RITCHTER

MS JEANNINE NGOUA NYLABEME MS RUTH OJLAMBO OCHIENG

MS ETWEDA A COOPER MR ALU ADEKUNLE OLUGBADE MS THERESA OPPONG-BEEKO MS NGOZIKA ROSEMARY ORJI

ENTOURAGE OF THE FIRST LADY OF NIGERIA

MS SHIRLEY YEMA GBUJAMA MRS & DR ELNORA & GEORGE MELVILLE MS D A GORDON DR GUENET GUEBRE-SELASSIE MS UCHWEIWUH MSASMA’UJODA MS KAFUI JOHNSON MS NANCY KAIRO

MRS & MR HACKMAN OWUSU-AGYEMAN (HACKMAN FOUNDATION) MS PIERRETTE OYANE

MS EUNICE QUANSAH MS KAVITA N RAMDAS

MS BROOKS ANNE ROBINSON MRS & MR LEE & JOHN ROPER-BATKER MS MAINE LOUISE SECKE-POUKA MS MAIMA SIRLEAF-KARNEH

MRS SARAH & EMMANUEL KYEI

CHIEF MUYIWA MAJEKODUNMI

MS YETUNDE TERIBA MS STEPHANIE A URDANG MS MARIE WASHINGTON MS TONI EH A WILES MRS & DR AFUA & MICHAEL WILLIAMS

How You Can Help the AWDF You can support the work of the AWDF in several ways, contact us if you are interested in any of the following: Make a cash donation for general support. Cheques should be made payable to the African Women's Development Fund. Make a donation to celebrate the life of a loved woman such as a mother, friend, Godmother, sister or in their memory if they have passed away. If you are an African living in the Diaspora, become a part of our African Diaspora Project, and make a regular contribution.

Organise a house party for the AWDF. Gifts of equipment, i.e. computers, photocopiers.

Help us with the International Fundraising Campaign. Offer your services as a volunteer.

Make a one-off or ongoing donation toward a specific issue close to your heart, i.e. violence against women, ending harmful traditional practices, combating HIV/AIDS, the Girl-Child, women living in poverty, rural development, etc. Provide information on possible sources of funding

How to Apply Who can apply?

Local women's organisations should send in the names of two re a women's organisation that operates nationally.

What types of grants do we support?

Frequency of grant making

Size of grants Organisations can apply for grants ranging from $1,000 - $25,000. Kindly note that most grants w than the maximum. Grants over $20,000 win only be made to organisations which operate o n a « f

Criteria for the review of grant applications: •

Applying organisations should preferably have been in existence for at least three years.

•

Women’s organisations have to be led and managed by women.

■

National or regional civil society organisations may apply for a women-specific project, but will have to demonstrate that there are women involved in their governance, and that the project will be managed by a senior woman in the organisation.

•

Potential grantees should show how the project proposal fits into the organisation’s overall strategy for the area of work or community in which it is located.

•

Organisations have to demonstrate how their work fits into either a local, national or regional strategy for the empowerment of African women.

•

Applying organisations should have basic organisational systems and structures in place. We will look for evidence of effective leadership, planning and networking.

•

The organisation should have a clear evaluation plan for the project

•

The potential to raise additional funding.

•

Ability to manage funds and account for them in a transparent manner.

The AWDF will not support the following projects: •

Organisations that aim to convert people to any religious belief.

•

Political parties or women’s wings of political parties.

•

Individuals.

•

Government departments.

•

Scholarships and fellowships for academic studies.

•

Women’s organisations which are not led by women.

Application Process Interested organisations should send in their proposals to the AWDF secretariat in Accra, Ghana, using the grant application guidelines. Applications can be sent in English, French, or Portuguese, by email, fax or post. Please note that whilst we will accept applications by email and fax, we still expect a hard copy.

Grant Application Guidelines In order to consider your request, we need basic and specific information about your organisation, its composition, and its purposes. We need to know how your organisation believes its work can be supported with a grant of $1,000- $25,000 from the African Women’s Development Fund. Please write your project proposal using the following guidelines:

Contact Information 1. Name of organisation. 2. Address. 3. Telephone and FAX number. 4. E-mail address, and World Wide Web site address (if any). 5. Contact person's name and title . 6. Who completed this proposal? Please sign and date. 7. How did you learn about the African Women’s Development Fund?

What is your organisation's purpose? a. b. c. d. e. f. g.

What are your organisation's main goals? When was your organisation formed? Who started your organisation and why? Is your organisation local, national, sub-regional or regional? In which region(s) does your organisation work? Who are the main beneficiaries of your organisation's activities? How would you assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of your organisation?

Activities and/or Programs a. What would you describe as the key areas of work for your organisation, i.e. women’s human rights issues, economic empowerment, etc. b. What are the key challenges your organisation faces in this area of work? c. Describe your organisation's past activities and/or programs. d. Describe your organisation's present activities and/or programs. e. What are your organisation's plans for the future? f. How does this project you are applying for fit into those plans?

Financial Situation a. Please include your budget for your current financial year. b. What sources of funds does your organisation have for the next twelve months? (Please list sources and amounts). c. Enclose a set of audited accounts for your last financial year. If these are not available, a financial statement signed by your Treasurer and one other officer or member. The audited accounts/financial statement should include sources of funds for your activities and details of income and expenditure.

Grant Request Information 1. How much money are you applying for? 2. For what purpose are you seeking a grant from the African Women’s Development Fund? Please tell us specifically how this grant will be used, and include a monitoring plan. 3. Please list the specific outputs from this project. 4. Provide a detailed budget for the project. If you have prepared the budget using your local currency, please include the US dollar or Pounds Sterling equivalent. 5. How will this grant enable your organisation to achieve its strategic objectives? Please include the following a. b. c.

A copy of your most recent annual report and financial statement. Brochures/leaflets describing the work you do. Relevant photographs, press clippings, posters, videos (if available).

Kindly note that these will not be returned to you, so you should only send information which you are willing to part with. Whilst we will accept applications by email and fax, we still expect a hard copy by post. We receive a lot o f applications, so we will prioritise those proposals which arrive complete with all the information we have asked for. All applications should be sent to:

H

^