Empowering Women.
Transforming Africa.
Uniting over 450 organizations across 55 countries to dismantle systemic barriers and build a future of equal partnership.
Economic Justice
From subsistence to sovereignty: Redefining women's role in the African economy.
The Challenge
Despite being the backbone of agricultural production and the informal economy in Africa, women face systemic exclusion from financial systems. Discriminatory inheritance laws, lack of collateral, and the gender pay gap trap millions in poverty.
Our Interventions
- Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurship: Training programs that move women from informal trading to structured businesses.
- Land Rights Advocacy: Working with traditional leaders to secure land tenure for female farmers.
- Market Access: Creating digital and physical corridors for women to sell goods at fair prices.
The RFLD Cycle of Empowerment
Access to Resources
Providing seed grants and tools.
Capacity Building
Training in management & negotiation.
Policy Reform
Changing laws to protect earnings.
Economic Sovereignty
Women control their futures.
WAFFF
Resourcing the Revolution
The West Africa Francophone Feminist Fund (WAFFF) is our specialized mechanism to channel resources directly to grassroots feminist organizations in Francophone Africa—a region historically underfunded by global philanthropy.
8
Countries Served
Flexible
Core Funding Model
Why We Fund
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Sustainability: We provide multi-year grants that allow organizations to plan long-term rather than chase short-term projects.
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Crisis Response: Rapid response funds for activists facing immediate threats or security risks.
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Institutional Strengthening: Grants specifically for rent, staff salaries, and operational costs that others won't cover.
Ending Harmful Practices
Replacing harmful traditions with empowering rites of passage.
We address Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Child Marriage, and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) not by imposing external values, but by engaging communities to realize that these practices hinder their own development.
End FGM
FGM is a violation of human rights. We provide survivor support and medical care while working with "cutters" to find alternative livelihoods.
Child Marriage
We advocate for the end of child marriage by keeping girls in school and enforcing legal age limits through community by-laws.
Combat GBV
Comprehensive survivor support services including legal aid, psychosocial counseling, and emergency shelters.
Strategic Litigation & Legal Reform
We don't just protect individuals; we change the system. RFLD utilizes strategic litigation to set legal precedents that protect millions of women at once.
Testing the Law
Taking high-impact cases to regional courts (like the ECOWAS Court of Justice) to challenge discriminatory national laws.
Domestication
Working with parliaments to ensure international treaties like the Maputo Protocol are written into local law.
Legal Aid Statistics
"Justice delayed is justice denied. We accelerate the process."
Rights & Representation
We believe that bodily autonomy and political power are two sides of the same coin. When a woman controls her body (SRHR), she can control her future and lead her nation.
Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRHR)
Advocating for the Maputo Protocol, access to contraceptives, and safe maternal health services.
Political Participation
Training women candidates, monitoring elections for violence (VAWIP), and pushing for gender quotas.
The Leadership Pipeline
"Building the bench of future presidents"
The Dònuèsè Data Center
We don't guess; we know. Our proprietary data center tracks legislative progress and human rights violations across the continent.
Legislative Tracker
Real-time monitoring of gender laws in 55 countries, identifying gaps in protection.
Digital Violence Monitor
Tracking Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) and online harassment trends.
Policy Briefs
Converting complex data into actionable policy papers for African Union stakeholders.
Climate Justice
Women are the first to feel the drought, and the first to plant the solution.
Gendered Impacts
Addressing why climate change hurts women more due to roles in water collection and farming.
Agro-Ecology
Training women farmers in drought-resistant crops and sustainable soil management.
Green Advocacy
Ensuring women have a seat at COP negotiations and national climate planning tables.
Movement Building
We are more than an NGO; we are a movement. RFLD connects isolated activists into a powerful continental force.
Intergenerational Dialogue
Creating spaces where veteran feminists mentor young activists, ensuring the torch is passed effectively.
Cross-Border Solidarity
When rights are threatened in one country, our network mobilizes across 55 nations to apply diplomatic pressure.
Human Rights Protection
Defending the defenders. In an era of shrinking civic space, we protect those who speak truth to power.
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Civic Space Defense
Monitoring legislation that restricts freedom of assembly and association for NGOs.
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Marginalized Groups
Specific legal aid for LGBTQ+ individuals, women with disabilities, and indigenous women.
Peace & Security
Operationalizing UNSCR 1325. Women are not just victims of war; they are the architects of peace.
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Conflict Mediation
Deploying trained women mediators to de-escalate community conflicts before they turn violent.
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Countering Extremism (P/CVE)
Building community resilience against radicalization by empowering mothers and youth leaders.
Theory of Change
1. Build Collective Power
We organize women into a unified force. By raising consciousness and nurturing solidarity, we create a base capable of demanding change.
2. Influence Power Holders
We don't work in isolation. We align CSOs, media, and leaders to exert pressure on institutions and decision-makers.
3. Transform Structures
Our ultimate goal is structural transformation. We rewrite laws, policies, and norms to dismantle patriarchy.
Join the Movement
Stand with us. Fill out the form below to connect with our team.
