Organisations

ABANTU
ABANTU for Development is a registered NGO established in 1991 by African women based in Europe. It is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. ABANTU exists to build the capacity of women to participate in decision-making at all levels, to influence policies from a gender perspective and to address inequalities and injustices in social relations. It is a network of people who believe that gender disparity is an injustice, contributes to poverty and is a major hindrance to development. Although ABANTU is an independent network, it forges strategic alliances with others in order to advance its cause.

AFRICA FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS
Africa for women's rights is a campaign launched by regional and international human rights and women's rights organisations present throughout Africa. The campaign's aim is to call on African states to RATIFY international and regional women's human rights protection instruments and to RESPECT them in law and practice.

African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD)
The African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) is a South African-based civil society organisation working throughout Africa to bring creative African solutions to the challenges posed by conflict on the continent.ACCORD’s primary aim is to influence political developments by bringing conflict resolution, dialogue and institutional development to the forefront as an alternative to armed violence and protracted conflict.

The African Women's Rights Observatory
The African Women’s Rights Observatory (AWRO) aspires to be the most comprehensive and up-to-date source of information about African women’s rights. Its objective is to create a knowledge base that will enable various stakeholders to monitor the progress in and challenges of advancing women’s rights in Africa. In particular, AWRO aims to monitor the implementation and enforcement of regional and international instruments, including but not limited to the African Women’s Protocol and CEDAW, as well as resolutions and declarations adopted by various regional and international bodies

The African Woman and Child Features Service (AWC)
AWC is a media-focused, non-governmental organisation with a regional outlook and a vision of a media that enhances acceptance of diversity and gender equality for equitable development.Established in 1994, we are pioneers in the field of engendering the media within Eastern Africa. We focus on the interface between gender, media and development; working within and outside the media and at national, regional and international levels. As champions of development communication, we uncover and share quality information on the gender issues affecting women, children and the rest of society. In this way, we ensure that voices and issues of women and children are better represented in mainstream media.

The East African Center
The East African Center for the Empowerment of Women and Children (EAC) is a non-profit organization that helps communities achieve empowerment by increasing literacy for women and children, improving health status, and eradicating poverty.

The African Center for Gender and Development (ACGD)
The African Center for Gender and Development (ACGD), previously known as the African Center for Women (ACW) is a division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Established in 1975, the ACGD is the regional structure that deals with gender issues and the advancement of women within the United Nations system in Africa. In this capacity, it works in conjunction with national, sub-regional and regional structures engaged in the advancement of women and gender equality. The gender perspective is taken into account in the strategic orientation of the ECA as a cross-departmental issue which must appear in the 5 priority areas of the Commission:

African Gender Institute
The African Gender Institute (AGI)'s vision is of Africa as a continent liberated from the legacies of colonial and patriarchal domination, and transformed into a powerful and united region in which women and men are respected as equal, and social justice is a reality for all its people. AGI's mission is to contribute to the realization of this vision by building intellectual capacity and establishing an African resource dedicated to strengthening and advancing the work of intellectuals, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners committed to the attainment of gender equity.

African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET)
The objectives of FEMNET are (1) to strengthen the role and contribution of African NGOs concerned with women's development; (2) to create a channel through which these NGOs can reach each other and share ideas, knowledge and experiences geared towards improving the condition of African Women; (3) to maintain close working relationships and foster partnership directly or indirectly with governments, UN agencies, the OAU and other bodies with objectives similar to those of the Network; and (4) to publicize the Network's activities and services through publications, awards, exhibitions and the mass media.

African Women's Development Fund
The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is a grant-making foundation which supports local, national and regional organisations in Africa working towards women’s empowerment. Through institutional capacity building and programme development, AWDF 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 mobilise financial resources to support local, national and regional initiatives led by women, which will lead to the achievement of this vision.

African Women's Media Center
The African Women's Media Center (AWMC) is a project of the International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF). The IWMF was founded in 1990 with a mission of strengthening the role of women in the news media worldwide, based on the belief that no press is truly free unless women share an equal voice. The IWMF launched the AWMC in 1997 to provide African women journalists the training, resources and tools they need to compete equally with their male colleagues.

African Women's Economic Policy Network (AWEPON)
AWEPON seeks to strengthen the capacity of women especially at the grass root and national levels to influence the shape of economic policy. AWEPON owes its beginnings to the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) Women’s Desk that initiated faith-based consultations on the impact of economic policies on women. In October 1993, 11 representatives of African women’s organizations that worked on gender issues as they related to economic policy met in Washington D.C to bring together their diverse experiences and strategies on how women could play a direct and pro-active role in increasing awareness among policy makers of the effects of their decisions on women. As a network though, AWEPON was first mooted at the 1994 United Nation’s NGO regional preparatory conference that was held in Dakar, Senegal.

Akina Mama wa Afrika
Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA) is an international, pan-African, non-governmental development organisation for African women based in the UK with an Africa regional office in Kampala, Uganda. AMwA was set up in 1985 by women from different parts of Africa resident in the United Kingdom. Translated from Swahili, the name means `solidarity among African women', signifying African sisterhood. AMwA coordinates local, regional and international initiatives, and builds the individual and organisational leadership capacities of African women through leadership development programs, networking, information and advocacy.

Alliances for Africa (AFA)
Alliances for Africa (AfA) is an African-led international non-governmental human rights, peace and sustainable development organisation with offices in the United Kingdom and Lagos, Nigeria. AfA works with partners in, around and beyond the continent of Africa. AfA was created to enhance and reconstruct the interface between human rights and development with a vision to contributing innovatively to the task of tackling causes of endemic poverty and exclusion in Africa.

All Africa Women for Peace
All Africa Women for Peace (AAWP)'s mission is to advance the participation of women in peace making and development in Africa through research, training, networking and counselling.

The Association of African Women for Research and Development (AAWORD)
The Association of African Women for Research and Development (AAWORD) was created in December 1977 in Dakar by a group of African women researchers who, aware of the low level of the presence of women in research, and convinced that research is a crucial factor for the success of any development programme, have decided to undertake any activity relating to research, advocacy and training with a view to improving the status of women and transforming gender relations in African societies.

Association for Professional African Women in Communication (APAC)
APAC is a forum for reflection, study and action on gender and media issue. A framework of action for new means of practicing communication and for reflecting on the best image of women through media and of communication for the promotion of women and development in Africa.

Association for Support to Women Entrepreneurs (ASAFE)
ASAFE is the French acronym for Association for Support to Women Entrepreneurs. ASAFE is a non-profit NGO for development whose primary aim is the promotion and development of entrepreneurship. ASAFE's focus lies with small enterprises in general and with small scale production initiatives that generate income and employment in all sectors. ASAFE ensures that all projects and initiatives are both environmentally and financially sustainable. This year, in partnership with the CISCO Networking Academy, ASAFE will set up a Gender Networking Academy.

APC-Africa-Women
The Africa regional programme of APC's Women's Networking Support Programme (APC WNSP), APC-Africa-Women gathers and works together with women and women's organizations in Africa and all over the world, focusing on African women's empowerment through Information Facilitation, Regional Support, Policy and Advocacy, Training and Research in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

African Regional Younth Initiative (ARYI)
Registered in 2004, the African Regional Youth Initiative (ARYI) acts as an “organizing network” having over 500 youth and community-based organizations in Africa as members. In its capacity, ARYI brings people and groups together to develop joint projects, distributes relevant resources to members, provides financial grants, develops long-term relationships with local groups, and assists with fundraising and general development.

AZUR Development
AZUR Developmentis a women’s organization which started activities in early 2003 in the Republic of Congo on the initiative of a group of young women motivated to improve the status of women and children. AZUR Development has since extended its activities in the country with regional actions initiated in Francophone Africa. We have offices in Brazzaville, Nkayi, Sibiti and Pointe-Noire.

Canal Side women small-scale farmers association (CAWOSFA)
Based in Lagos State, Nigeria, CAWOSFA's mission is to enhance the quality of lives of grassroots women farmers through the use of Information Communication Technology. The group meets every Tuesdays and Thursdays on a weekly basis before members go in to their farms and on a general monthly meeting every last Saturday of the month. During the weekly meetings members discuss issues affecting them personally and in respects to their farms/crops. Members are taught basic computer skills and internet surfing skills and encouraged to surf the net for information on agriculture and health.

Carrefour Emploi Développement (CED-TOGO)
Based in Togo, West Africa, CED-Togo's mission is eradication of poverty and creation of jobs. The issues addressed include literacy, women's education, human rights, agriculture and women's economic empowerment.

Desert Flower Foundation
For over 12 years, Waris Dirie has fought against female genital mutilation (FGM) worldwide. At least 150 million women and girls are affected by this cruel practice, which continues to be performed in Africa, but also in Asia, Europe, America and Australia.The Desert Flower Foundation seeks to end this crime by raising public awareness, creating networks, organizing events and educational programmes. The foundation also supports victims of FGM.

East African Media Women Association
In the past, women's media associations from Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles, Somalia, Kenya, Comoros, Eritrea, Rwanda, Burundi and Malawi have used seminars, advocacy and lobbying to raise awareness on issues that affect women in the region such as poverty, peace, education and HIV/Aids. However, limited reach and cost of technology have however hampered their efforts and it is believed that New Information and Communication Technologies (NICTs) can help to overcome these constraints.

The Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI)
EASSI was formed in 1996 as a mechanism to facilitate systematic follow up of the implementation of the platforms for action emanating from the Fourth World Conference on women held in Beijing China in 1995. The development of the BPFA was preceded by the African Platfom for action which was developed in Dakar, Senegal in 1994. EASSI is a collaboration between individuals, NGOs, coalitions and networks in the Eastern Africa sub region committed to the advancement of women. EASSI covers eight countries of: Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda.

Emunyak Women Group (EWG)
Based in Kenya, EWG's mission is for the social and economic empowerment of women by addressing women's education, economic status, and human rights. EWG is also involved in conservation activities, for example, the group has ceased the practice of cutting and burning charcoal.

Famafrique
Famafrique is an online resource and information space on sustainable development for African francophonewomen. (In French).

Femmes Africa Solidarity

Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1996, created by African women leaders, without racial or religious agenda using international instruments such as the UN Resolution 1325 as its main conceptual framework for guiding its programmes. FAS promotes the role of women in the resolution of conflicts and peacebuilding. Works for institutional change in international (African Union, UN) regional & national bodies. Based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Femme De Demain (FDD)
Femme De Demain (FDD) est une organisation de développement pour la promotion de la femme. Elle prône le Développement Humain Durable par l'autopromotion à la base. Elle est convaincue que c'est l'Homme qui doit être au début, au centre et à la fin de toute action de développement.

Feminist Africa
Feminist Africaprovides a forum for progressive, cutting-edge gender research and feminist dialogue focused on the continent. By prioritising intellectual rigor, the journal seeks to challenge the technocratic fragmentation resulting from donor-driven and narrowly developmentalist work on gender in Africa. It also encourages innovation in terms of style and subject-matter as well as design and lay-out. It promotes dialogue by stimulating experimentation as well as new ways of engaging with text for readers.

Flame/Flamme
Flame is a network of African sisters online committed to strengthening the capacity of women through the use of ICTs to lobby, advocate and participate in the Beijing +5 process regionally and globally.

Fontaine d'Espoir pour Filles et Femmes (formerly Centre d'Espoir pour Filles et Femmes)
Based in the Democratic Republic of Congo, FEFF advocates for the rights and liberties of women, women's protection, women's sexual independence and her self-sufficiency for her future. To educate a woman is to educate the whole Nation!

Forum for African Women Educationalist (FAWE)
FAWE is a pan-African Non-Governmental Organisation working in 32 African countries to empower girls and women through gender-responsive education. Our Mission is to promote gender equity and equality in education in Africa by fostering positive policies, practices and attitudes towards girls’ education.

Forward
FORWARD (Foundation for Women's Health Research and Development) is an African Diaspora women led UK-registered campaign and support charity dedicated to advancing and safeguarding the sexual and reproductive health and rights of African girls and women. We work in UK, Europe and Africa to help change practices and policies that affect access, dignity and wellbeing. We tackle female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage and related rights of girls and young women.

Gender Links
Gender Links (GL) is a Southern African NGO founded in 2001 that is committed to a region in which women and men are able to participate equally in all aspects of public and private life in accordance with the provisions of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development.

Gender Based Violence Prevention Network
The GBV Prevention Network is a dynamic group of activists and practitioners committed to preventing gender- based violence in the Horn, East and Southern Africa. We are over 220 members strong – coming from 24 different countries – all of us committed to and working toward a world free of gender-based violence.

Great Lakes African Women's Network (GLAWN)
GLAWN's mission is to provide culturally appropriate assistance to African Women and children in the UK and Africa, who are affected by circumstances of bereavement, so as to improve their quality of life and promote African traditional responses that are relevant to their needs.

Justice, Development and Peace Movement (J.D.P.M)
Based in Nigeria, J.D.P.M was established in 1994 with a mission to empower the rural dwellers to improve their livelihood.

Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA)
The Kenyan Women Parliamentary group, now known as the Kenyan Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) was formed in May 2001 by the nine women parliamentarians in the eighth parliament. KEWOPA is a network of women parliamentarians who believe in the equal rights of women citizens to participate in all aspects of the governance of their country. KEWOPA was founded to transform these and other inequities that imperiled women's access, participation and achievement in Parliament and other political institutions and processes.

MsAfropolitan
MsAfropolitan (miss Afropolitan) is a culture-analytical lifestyle blog containing observations from a cosmopolitan African woman's perspective. 

Moremi Initiative
Established in 2004 as Women’s Initiative for Empowerment and Leadership Development (WIELD) Foundation, Moremi Initiative grew from a Ghana-based leadership development program to a pan-African wide program. Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa is a non-profit organization that operates throughout Africa. To achieve its mission, Moremi Initiative pursues proactive strategies to develop and empower young women and girls to take on leadership roles in their communities.

RAINBO
RAINBO is an international not-for-profit organization working on issues within the intersection between health and human rights of women. Starting with the issue of female circumcision/female genital mutilation, we explore means of preventing this and other forms of gender based violence. Our ultimate goal is to promote and protect women's reproductive and sexual health and rights. We provide technical assistance to international and donor agencies and work in partnership with local organizations to develop and advance effective policies and programs to deal with these crucial issues.

Raising Voices
Raising Voices is a results-oriented organization based in Kampala, Uganda. It is recognized regionally and internationally as a pioneer in preventative approaches with proven capacity for creative and practical programs. We are regularly sought out by a variety of international organizations and decision-makers to consult on program design and development, provide technical support and capacity building on violence against women and children, and human rights.

Ruma Women's Group
Based in Kenya, the driving force behind the formation of Ruma Women's Group in 1981 was to mobilise the women in Ruma village to contribute to their own development. The group has a variety of programs in health, education and economic empowerment.

Solidarity for African Women's Rights (SOAWR)
Solidarity for African Women's Rights is a coalition of 36 civil society organizations across the continent working to ensure that the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa remains on the agenda of policy makers and to urge all African leaders to safeguard the rights of women through ratification and implementation of the Protocol.

Sonke Gender Justice Network
Sonke Gender Justice Network works across Africa to strengthen government, civil society and citizen capacity to support men and boys to take action to promote gender equality, prevent domestic and sexual violence, and reduce the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS. In this way the organisation contributes to the development of societies in which men, women, youth and children can enjoy equitable, healthy and happy relationships that contribute to the development of just and democratic societies.

Tam Tam Femme
Tam Tam Femme is a Women's International Association. It is apolitical, nonprofit, open to all women, with no distinction of race, belief, or nationality. TAM TAM FEMME helps all women travelling to Africa to live a rich, positive and informed experience. Our network of women can provide practical information before the travel and support upon arrival in Africa. Tam Tam Femme also promotes the exchange of ideas, suggestions and information on experiences in Africa and spreads information about associations, projects, activities and initiatives of local women.

Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS)
Launched in 1993, Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS) is an independent, non-profit and non-governmental body based at the offices of the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in Trieste, Italy. TWOWS is the first international forum to unite eminent women scientists from the South with the objective of strengthening their role in the development process and promoting their representation in scientific and technological leadership. Full Membership is open to women scientists and scientific institutions in the South.

Women and Law in South Africa
Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Educational is an action-oriented research organization founded in 1998.
The main objective of WLSA is to conduct research that supports action to improve the socio-legal position of women. WLSA has offices in seven countries of Southern Africa: Malawi, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe, with a regional office in Lusaka, Zambia.

Women, Law & Development in Africa WiLDAF/FeDDAF
Created in 1990, WiLDAF/FeDDAF is a network which goal is to promote and strengthen strategies that link law and development for the emergence of a culture for the exercise and respect of women’s rights in Africa. It is the only pan-African regional network dedicated to the promotion of women’s rights as an integral part of development. It brings together 500 organizations and 1200 individuals who, spread in 27 countries, are sharing the aims of the network and fighting for their fulfillment at local, national and regional levels.

Women Connect!
Women Connect! is a participatory development project working to strengthen the communication, technology, and advocacy skills of women's rights organizations around the world. The current focus is on women's health issues in Africa.

Women'sNet
Women'sNet is a vibrant and innovative networking support program designed to enable South African women to use the Internet to find the people, issues, resources and tools needed for women's social activties.

WomenFirst
WomenFirst is a non-profit organisation, which provides business management training and start up funds to women and groups, at accessible locations throughout Uganda and Kenya. In helping women improve their entrepreneurial abilities, we equip them with the skills to create there own enterprise, which in turn gives the women the capability to feed and send their children to school. Women have been marginalized in Africa and we believe this is one of the contributing factors which keep Africa in poverty. WomenFirst seeks to address much of the imbalance of the resource distribution in Uganda and Kenya by empowering women to support their families and communities.

The Women Peace and SecurityNetwork Africa (WIPSEN-Africa)
The Women Peace and SecurityNetwork Africawas established on 8th May, 2006 under the lawsof the Republic of Ghana as a women-focused, women-led Pan-AfricanNon-Governmental Organization with the core mandate to promote women'sstrategic participation and leadership in peace and security governance inAfrica. Over the last two decades and especially since the adoption of theUnited Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security inOctober 2000, women the world over have been engaged in activities that aim at(re)building particularly war-torn societies, restoring relationships andpromoting social cohesion