Organizations and networks committed to promoting women’s rights in Africa

In Africa, several organizations and networks are working to promote women’s rights, to highlight women’s inspiring journeys in various fields or to support them in developing their potential. Focus on five pan-African organizations and networks committed to promoting women’s rights in Africa. 

Women in Africa Initiative (WIA)

Women in Africa Initiative (WIA) is one of the most active women’s networks in promoting women’s rights in Africa. Founded in 2017 by the French businesswoman Aude de Thuin, it is an international platform for economic development and support for African women leaders and high-potential women. Currently led by the Nigerian human rights activist Hafsat Abiola, WIA’s mission is to reveal the potential of African women at all levels of responsibility in civil society and states and to network African and international women leaders. Its programs, summits and its digital platform WIA Link aim to promote a new generation of African women with inspiring leadership who impact the future of the continent. Through its WIA Philanthropy Foundation, the network also contributes to empowering women through various programs on education, entrepreneurship, mentoring and agriculture. In 2019, it launched the Project 54, through which 54 women entrepreneurs from Africa benefited from support and media coverage. Each year, WIA holds its annual summit in Marrakesh and publishes a survey on women entrepreneurship in Africa in partnership with Roland Berger firm. 

African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF)

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is a pan-African organization that has been working for more than two decades. Founded in 2000 by the Nigerian businesswoman Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, the Ugandan women’s rights activist Hilda Tadria and the Ghanaian British lawyer Joana Foster, AWDF provides grants to African women’s organizations. It brings financial and material support to women’s initiatives which may not have access to traditional funding due to their geographical location, marginalization, etc. to enable them to promote and realize women’s rights in Africa. It focuses its grants on three main areas, namely health’s rights, women’s economic security and justice, leadership, participation and peace.In 2019, the organization financed 91 women’s initiatives in 19 African countries for $8.1 million. Since its launch, it has provided $49.9 million to more than 1,300 women’s rights organizations in nearly fifty countries in Africa and the Middle East. 

African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD)

African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) is a career development program for African women agronomists and researchers founded in 2008. Led by the Kenyan Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, AWARD aims to promote inclusive agriculture by strengthening the production and dissemination of more gender-responsive agricultural research and innovation. The organization works to increase the number of competent and influential African women scientists in agricultural research and development and help them access leadership positions. It also works to increase the visibility of African women scientists and leaders. As part of its missions, the program annually awards 2-year career development scholarships to African women agronomists and researchers to enable them to contribute more effectively to poverty reduction and improvement of food security in Africa. 

Women Peace and Security Network in Africa (WIPSEN-Africa)

Founded in 2006, the pan-African organization promotes women’s strategic participation and leadership in the governance of peace and security in Africa. In light of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security adopted in 2000, the network works to ensure that women in Africa actively participate in rebuilding societies that have been particularly torn apart by war and in restoring social cohesion. The network works through strengthening women and girls’ leadership skills to engage in peace and security processes in Africa. It also promotes gender mainstreaming in security sector institutions and policies. It also provides a platform for African women and girls to exchange, share and harmonize strategies for women’s leadership and to build coalitions to promote peace and security on the continent. It is run by the Liberian peace activist Leymah Roberta Gbowee, winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.

The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN)

The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) is an initiative of African women leaders in various sectors. Launched in 2017 at the United Nations headquarters in New York under the auspices of the African Union Commission (AUC) and the UN, it now has more than 500 women of different sectors and ages. Its major objective is to strengthen the leadership of African women in the transformation of Africa in accordance with Agenda 2063 for Africa. Its actions focus on governance and political participation, peace and security, finance and entrepreneurship, youth leadership, agriculture and social mobilization. It supports, among others things, the promotion of African women leaders through peer learning, experience sharing, intergenerational dialogues to strengthen women’s contribution to building and maintaining peace, sustainable economies and social transformation. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia, is the Honorary President of the network.