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INTERVIEW WITH DR MUSIMBI KANYORO
WOMEN LEADING AFRICA: A BRIEF UPDATE
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Issue: 5 October 2008
AWDF's Executive Director
 
Greetings!
 
AWDF in partnership with OSISA, Global Fund for Women and women's rights activists from Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Guinea recently visited the Democratic Republic of Congo to show solidarity with women's rights activists who are working in an extremely difficult and volatile environment. The purpose of our visit is also an initial step to work more closely with partner funds in supporting women within conflict stricken areas. With this recent background, it is with extreme sadness that we have seen the resurgence of conflict in Goma and other parts of Eastern DRC. The most affected groups in times of conflict are disproportionately women and children. It is for this reason that AWDF in association with our partners is issuing a statement to the AU and SADC demanding urgent action to broker a political solution to the long standing conflict in the DRC. We also aim to intensify our support to women's groups in the DRC. Keep reading our blog at www.awdf.org/blog for regular updates.
 
In this edition of our e-newsletter, Nana (AWDF's Programme Officer for Fundraising & Communications) interviews Dr Musimbi Kanyoro, a long standing friend and supporter of AWDF. I am also really pleased to report that we have fulfilled one of our goals for our endowment and recently purchased our first property investment (see picture below). Our new offices can be located at Plot No 78, Ambassadorial Enclave, East Legon, Accra, Ghana.
 
I look forward to catching up with you at the forthcoming International AWID forum. Please see our listings in this newsletter for events coordinated by AWDF and the African Feminist Forum.  
 
 
Sincerely,
 
Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi
Executive Director

 

 
INTERVIEW WITH DR MUSIMBI KANYORO

Leymah Gbowee's Picture 
 
Picture: Dr Musimbi Kanyoro 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

At the 2nd African Feminist Forum in Kampala, Uganda, Nana Sekyiamah (Programme Officer for Fundraising & Communications) sat down with Dr Musimbi Kanyoro (Director of the Population Program, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation) to chat about the 13 Campaign, Feminism and issues that African women need to organize around


 
NS: For those who don't know you, how will you describe Musimbi Kanyaro?
 
MK: Musimbi Kanyaro is an African woman who is completely committed to issues of justice for women and children. I was born in Kenya and have lived in Africa, Europe and the US. I have a 23 year old who is strictly a feminist to the bone (laughs) and a 25 year old son who is semi-feminist; you can see some patriarchal traits in him (more laughter). I have a husband who is a feminist but respects feminist space. I protect feminist space.
 
NS: Where do you sit on the issue of whether men can be feminist and part of the African women's movement?
 
MK: When it comes to making sure that other people buy into our ideology to see what we are doing, I will want to continue dialogue with men but when it comes to the female space...
'Continue reading Interview with Dr Musimbi Kanyoro'.

WOMEN LEADING AFRICA: A BRIEF UPDATE FROM THE AWDF

 
13 Campaign Logo
 Picture: AWDF's New  Property Investment 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
2008 has been a phenomenal year for the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) and the year is not even over yet! Some of the highlights include:
 
 

AWDF NEWS

 
AFRICAN WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT FUND (AWDF) AND AFRICAN FEMINIST FORUM (AFF) AT 11TH AWID INTERNATIONAL FORUM

The African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) and representatives of the African Feminist Forum will be attending the 11th AWID International Forum in Cape Town, 14th-17th November, 2008.  
 
The full schedules of events including pre AWID activities are...'Continue reading AWDF and AFF at the 11th International AWID forum'

AWDF SECURES 'MDG 3 FUND: INVESTING IN EQUALITY'

The African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) is pleased to announce that it has been successful in securing a grant from the 'MDG 3 Fund', an initiative spearheaded by the Dutch Government. Receipt of this new funding stream will enable AWDF to accelerate its efforts in supporting African Women's organizations to work towards 'Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women', the third Millennium Development Goal...'Continue reading AWDF secures MDG 3 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. AWDF through institutional capacity building and programme 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 mobilise financial resources to support local, national and regional initiatives led by women, which will lead to the achievement of this vision.  AWDF funds women's groups across Africa working in the areas of Women's Human Rights, Political Participation, Peace Building, Health and Reproductive Rights, HIV/AIDS and Economic Empowerment.
 
AWDF has funded over 600 women's organisations in 41 African countries. AWDF's grants range from U$1,000- U$50,000, and multi-year grants of up to $120,000 can be made to grantees engaged in strategic work.