The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) will be closed between the 19th of December, 2009 and the 3rd of January, 2010. Normal working hours will re-commence on Monday, the 4th of January, 2010.

The Executive Board & Staff of AWDF wish to express their profound gratitude to all our donors, partners and service providers who have worked so tirelessly to make 2009 a success for AWDF.

We look forward to an even more successful 2010, the year in which we celebrate our 10th Anniversary.
Happy Holidays!

Statement from the Africa Women’s NGO Consultative Meeting

Beijing +15 Review

November 16, 2009, Banjul, The Gambia

We, the representatives of civil society organisations addressing women’s and human rights issues across Africa, meeting in the margins of the 8^th Africa Regional Conference on Women (Beijing +15) on November 15 and 16, 2009 in Banjul, The Gambia;

Having assembled to deliberate on the progress in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in Africa since the last review (Beijing +10), to validate the Africa Regional NGO Shadow Report on Beijing +15 which incorporates national and sub-regional reviews from women’s civil society organisations and networks;

Recognizing that the Beijing +15 Review process is taking place at a time of both great opportunities and challenges for African women in the realization of their civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights;

Considering WITH GREAT CONCERN that although the process of implementation of Beijing Platform for Action over the last 15 years has utilized significant resources, progress remains minimal, slow and fragmented, and has not resulted in fundamental changes in the lives of the majority of women in Africa;

Noting that the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and human rights instruments that reinforce its provisions such as Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Protocol on the Rights of women in Africa involves a range of stakeholders, the primary responsibility rests with member states of the African Union;

Further noting that the Beijing commitments have been repeatedly articulated as human rights guarantees which states parties are obligated to protect, promote and fulfil to the fullest extent possible, and that this requires visible and consistent political will and resources in order to deliver on this agenda;

We therefore highlight the following actions among others, specified in the Beijing +15 Africa NGO Shadow Report as an urgent Call on African Governments to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action over the next 5 years;

1. Ensure universal ratification of the African Union Protocol on Women’s Rights, CEDAW and its Optional Protocol, as an indication of their political commitment to the human rights standards and urgently domesticate in full the instruments on women’s rights to provide a legal basis for protecting, fulfilling and enforcing provisions on women’s social and economic rights in particular;

2. Accelerate implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and all women’s rights commitments through a multi – sectoral approach, that States committed to in Beijing in 1995, by the end of the first three years of the Africa Women’s Decade;

3. Ensure that structures established to lead the gender equality and women’s empowerment agenda have adequate resources as an indication of member states’ political commitment to women’s advancement;

4. Ratify the African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, harmonize the electoral laws and democratic structures with its provisions and consistently implement the African Union gender parity commitments at national and local governance levels by 2015;

5. Ensure that electoral and policy reforms are fully implemented to guarantee women’s full and effective participation in leadership and decision-making in terms of equal representation, participation in political parties and as key stakeholders in the democratic processes of their countries;

6. Allocate funds from the African Union Women’s Fund for training and education programmes for women politicians aspiring for elected positions as a priority to enhance their capacities to effectively participate in and influence decision making processes.

7. Enact Freedom of Information legislation in line with internationally accepted human rights principles and standards in order to guarantee citizens’ access to critical information particularly to African women, to facilitate their full and effective participation in governance, democratic processes and development.

8. Urgently implement their commitments to change attitudes and practices that negatively impact on the protection, promotion and fulfilment of women’s rights by using the media among others, as a powerful tool for building public and targeted awareness and education on women’s rights and advancement.

9. Meet their reporting requirements on progress made towards gender equality in Africa and where there is non compliance we call upon the African Union to institute additional mechanisms for ensuring accountability under the Protocol on the Rights of women (2003) and the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (2004).

10. Address the burning issue of impunity in Africa with regard to violations of human rights of African citizens, particularly violence against women and children in conflict situations, and ensure fulfilments of commitments to the protection of women and children from all forms of violence;

11. Ensure that member states prioritise women’s health as a human rights issue, particularly maternal, sexual and reproductive health, as a critical component of sustainable development in Africa, and intensify actions to reduce the feminisation of HIV/AIDS;

12. Take deliberate efforts to nominate female candidates for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission as a sign of equal sharing of leadership and responsibilities for delivering on the development agenda in Africa;

13. Invest in women’s education with particular attention to science and technology training, to ensure that African women benefit from the changing global technology framework;

14. Build the capacity of rural women in agriculture and strengthen women’s land rights as part of the process of implementing the New Partnership for Africa’s Development Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) and the AU Land Policy Framework and Guidelines;

15. Invest in research on climate change in Africa and its implications for women, and address gender dimensions with respect to mitigation, adaptability, response and compensation mechanisms. Invest in research and technology on clean and renewable energy sources ensuring gender analysis is integrated;

16. Desist from engaging in bilateral and international trade and economic agreements that undermine the regional integration process and impact negatively on women’s rights and advancement;

17. Invest in women’s entrepreneurship for effective economic empowerment and eliminate barriers to women starting businesses and small/medium enterprises and commit sufficient resources to infrastructural development that facilitates trade within countries and across borders in the region; and

18. Ensure that gender equality is incorporated in all planning and budgeting processes at different levels, and the deliberate development of sex disaggregated data and gender sensitive indicators, as one of the ways to guarantee effective implementation of all the Beijing commitments and as a strategy for promoting, protecting and fulfilling African women’s right to development.

Civil society organisations meeting at the Africa Women’s NGO Consultative Meeting in the margins of the Eighth Africa Regional Conference on Women (Beijing+15) in Banjul, The Gambia, are calling on African Governments to urgently accelerate implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in Africa and the international and regional human rights instruments that reinforce its provisions in form of human rights guarantees.

Making her opening remarks at the opening session of the two days meeting the Executive Director of FEMNET, Ms. Norah Matovu Winyi mentioned that women’s creativity, perseverance, productivity and commitment which sustain life in African societies is a resource that government cannot to leave untapped if Africa is to develop. “The loss of life by many young girls, women and children in Africa due to preventable causes like malaria, poor medical services, comes at a very high cost to the continent and must be prevented by every action possible. We therefore owe it to the women who are not in Banjul to make our voices clearly heard so that the leaders in Africa know that they have an obligation to promote, protect and fulfil all the human rights of women. Things must change for the better in the lives of majority of women in Africa” said Ms. Winyi. She ended her remarks by appreciating the hospitality of the government of The Gambia and its people who have used every resource possible to ensure that the civil society experts coming from all parts of Africa have a fruitful meeting.

The Vice President and Secretary of State for women’s Affairs Hon. Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy, was the chief guest at the opening of the Consultative meeting. She appreciated the women of Africa who braved the long journeys to be present at this historical meeting reviewing the 15 years’ progress since the Beijing Conference on Women held in 1995. “I am excited on the one hand that a lot is happening to change the status and the situation of women in Africa in terms of their power, leadership, education, access to health services and information, access to land, credit and employment opportunities, and having more freedom to participate in public affairs. On the other hand it is truly challenging that the progress is so slow. We have to do more. We have to remain committed. We cannot afford to remain complacent. Sustainable change is our goal” said the Vice President. She recognised the need for government to strengthen its partnerships with civil society and the private sector in the development process so that our more coherent and well coordinated efforts lead to the change we desired to see in the realities of the lives of the African woman and girl child.

The 100 African women at the meeting, drawn from 15 countries in the region, expressed their great concern that 15 years after the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, progress by Governments in implementing the agreed Platform for Action has been slow and fragmented, and has failed to result in fundamental changes in the lives of many African women.

The women assembled urged African Governments to ensure implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action over the next 5 years with urgency as the next five years are the last in the block of 20 years which were envisioned within which to move the commitments to transformative actions. It will be in the same year 2015 within which the Millennium Development Goals and their various targets must have been realized or surpassed. The civil society experts on gender issues emphasized the urgent need for governments in Africa to take actions including the following to accelerate progress in the promotion, protection and fulfilment of women’s rights:

• Ensure that structures established to lead the gender equality and women’s empowerment agenda have adequate resources as an indication of African states’ political commitment to women’s advancement;

• Aim to achieve universal ratification of the African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance by end of 2011 and harmonize the electoral laws and democratic structures with its provisions;

• Consistently implement the African Union gender parity commitments at national and local governance levels by 2015.

• Take urgent measures at the African Union, Regional economic blocs and national levels to address the burning issue of impunity in Africa with regard to violations of human rights of African citizens, particularly violence against women and children in conflict situations; and

• Ensure that member states prioritise women’s health as a human rights issue, particularly maternal, sexual and reproductive health, as a critical component of sustainable development in Africa, and intensify actions to reduce the feminisation of HIV/AIDS;

Civil society also called on African governments to meet their reporting requirements on progress made towards gender equality in Africa and where there is non compliance further called upon the African Union to institute additional mechanisms for ensuring accountability under the Protocol on the Rights of women (2003) and the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (2004).

Note to Editors

The key messages are based on the draft Beijing +15 Africa NGO Shadow Report deliberated by representatives of civil society organisations addressing women’s and human rights issues across Africa, meeting in the margins of the 8th Africa Regional Conference on Women (Beijing +15) from November 16-20, 2009 in Banjul, Gambia to deliberate on the progress in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in Africa since the last review (Beijing +10). The Africa Regional NGO Shadow Report on Beijing +15 incorporates national and sub-regional reviews from women’s civil society organisations and networks. For Background information on the Beijing Platform for Action visit the FEMNET Website: www.femnet.or.ke

For more information, please contact: Carlyn Hambuba FEMNET Communications Officer or Tel 254 20 2712971/2 Email: communication@femnet.or.ke or Naisola Likimani Advocacy Officer advocacy@femnet.or.ke Tel: +220 9024650 in Banjul, The Gambia.

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
13th November, 2009
AWDF AT REGIONAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION IN AFRICA (BEIJING+ 15)

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) will be participating in the Fifteen Year Review of the Beijing Platform for Action in Africa, to be held in Banjul, the Gambia between the 16th and 20th of November, 2009. The African governments and civil society organisations will meet to assess progress made on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action 15 years after it was adopted. AWDF is committed to ensuring the full participation of African women’s rights organisations at key regional and international policy as decision making fora. As part of this commitment, AWDF is supporting the participation of 10 African women’s rights organizations, namely:

• Africa Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET)

• Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA)

• Alliances for Africa (AfA)

• International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) – Cameroun

• Isis-Women’s International Cross Cultural Exchange (ISIS WICCE)

• Swaziland Positive Living (SWAPOL)

• Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET)

• Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF/FEDDAF) -  West Africa

• Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF) – Ghana

• Women’s Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE)

• Zimbabwe Women’s Resource Centre and Network (ZWRCN)

On the 18th of November 2009, AWDF in conjunction with UNIFEM will hosta side event on “The Economic Meltdown and its Impact on Women and the Achievement of the Gender Equality Targets in Twelve Critical Areas of the Beijing Platform for Action”. This event will be attended by Ministers for Gender/Women Affairs and their technical as well as representatives of civil society organizations. This will be followed by the launch of a coffee table book produced by AWDF entitled, “Voice, Power and Soul: Portraits of African Feminists”.

In her preface to the book, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, co-editor and Executive Director of AWDF states: “Some of the faces in Voices, Power and Soul are well known in the international women’s movement and development circles. Many are not. The voices are rich and varied, and while some might carry messages of anger, rage, frustration, and pain, they also talk about hopes, dreams, aspirations and inspiration. The amazing insights and experiences highlighted in this production are reflective of the challenges facing women active in social change movements in Africa today”.

About AWDF

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is a grant-making foundation, which supports local, national and regional organizations in Africa working towards women’s empowerment. AWDF through institutional capacity building and program development seeks to build a culture of learning and partnerships within the African women’s movement.
The vision of AWDF is for African women to live in a world in which there is social justice, equality and respect for women’s human rights.  To this end, our mission is to mobilize financial resources to support local, national and regional initiatives led by women, which will lead to the achievement of this vision.
Press Enquiries

Nana Sekyiamah – Programme Officer (Fundraising & Communications)
African Women’s Development Fund
Plot 78, Ambassadorial Enclave, East Legon, Accra
Tel: + 233 21 521257
Email: nana@awdf.org
Website: www.awdf.org

Young Women Campaign Against AIDS (YWCAA) is a registered Non Governmental Organization in Kenya founded by a group of young female University graduates. The group that began as a merry-go-round in 2000 had an objective of economic empowerment through member contribution and loaning facility for members to start up businesses for economic empowerment. It was later registered in November 2002 as a Community Based Organization; and as a Non Governmental Organization in Nairobi, Kenya in 2004 to address the devastation caused by HIV/AIDS.

YWCAA is a female run organization. Its’ governance and operations are done by a group of dedicated women. The Board is the policy making organ of the organization. The management committee is headed by the Executive Director (ED) and is involved in ensuring management and project implementation is carried out effectively by a team of staff comprising of the Project Coordinator, Project Assistant/Field Officer and Administrative/Finance Officer. Other personnel involved include 2 Team leaders, 4 Community liaison persons and 6 Volunteers who are called upon when need arises.

Please Download  this document about Tribute from YWCAA

Book Launch: “Gender Budgeting as a Tool for Poverty Reduction”

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) in partnership with the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) is pleased to announce the launch of a research book “Gender Budgeting As A Tool For Poverty Reduction” – Concepts, Practices & Capacity Implications.  The launch will be at the premises of the African Women’s Development Fund, Plot 78, Ambassadorial Enclave, East Legon, Accra.

In this current economic climate it is even more pressing that budgets work to alleviate poverty and towards socio-economic equity. This book highlights the centrality of gender budgeting as a tool for improved transparency and accountability in the fight against inequity and poverty. Using the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) framework, it showcases national and sectoral gender budgeting experiences in three African countries – South Africa, Rwanda and Uganda – to serve as best-practice models for other African countries.

Research findings from “Gender Budgeting As A Tool For Poverty Reduction – Concepts, Practices & Capacity Implications” indicate that:

“Budgets are not gender neutral. They affect women and men in different ways, reflecting the uneven distribution of power within society as economic disparities, different living conditions, and ascribed social roles. Despite being signatories to the major international agreements that call for gender equality, most African countries have fallen short of their promises as their gender initiatives are facing a host of challenges relating to policy implementation, program design, management and tracking, and capacity building issues.”

About AWDF
The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is a grant-making foundation which supports local, national and regional organizations in Africa working towards women’s empowerment. AWDF through institutional capacity building and program development seeks to build a culture of learning and partnerships within the African women’s movement.

The vision of AWDF is for African women to live in a world in which there is social justice, equality and respect for women’s human rights.  To this end, our mission is to mobilize financial resources to support local, national and regional initiatives led by women, which will lead to the achievement of this vision.

About ACBF

The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), continental Africa’s premier capacity building institution, was established on 9 February 1991 as a response to the severity of Africa’s capacity needs and the challenge of investing in indigenous human capital and institutions in sub-Saharan Africa. The current member.ship comprises the three sponsoring multi-lateral agencies – the African Development Bank(AfDB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank – the International Monetary Fund(IMF) and 41 African and non-African countries and institutions.

The Foundation’s mission is to build sustainable human and institutional capacity for growth, poverty reduction, and good governance in Africa.

Press Enquiries

Nana Sekyiamah – Programme Officer (Fundraising & Communications)
Thelma Owusu-Boakye – Programme Assistant (Fundraising & Communications)
Tel: + 233 21 521257
Fax: +233 21 521257
Email: nana@awdf.org or thelma@awdf.org
Websites: www.awdf.org