Leadership, gender equality and solidarity: strengthening women’s rights defenders

This course from RFLD’s Francophone Academy is intended for women’s rights defenders, community leaders and women activists in Francophone Africa. It draws on the MOOC “Leadership, Afro-feminism and Innovation” developed by RFLD with support from BMZ and GIZ.

In six lessons, you explore styles of women’s leadership, self-confidence and mentoring, the key concepts of Afrofeminism and intersectionality, and then the practical tools of sisterhood: support networks, mediation and a solidarity charter. A final quiz validates what you have learned and gives access to the certificate.

Why this course

Many women active in associations in Francophone Africa already lead, often without a title or training. They run groups and negotiate with local authorities. This course starts from that experience. It helps each participant put words to her way of leading and strengthen it.

The module on Afrofeminism places African women’s struggles within their own history. It shows how intersectionality helps us understand discriminations that build on each other, for example for a young woman living in a rural area. The last module is the most practical: it offers tools to build a support network between organisations and to manage conflicts within a collective.

How to take the course

The course is free and open to all. You can follow it at your own pace, on a computer or on a phone. The full material is also available as a PDF for those with limited connectivity. After the final quiz, you receive a certificate from RFLD’s Francophone Academy that you can attach to your applications or activity reports.

To go further, discover all the courses of RFLD’s Francophone Academy. If you are aiming for elected office, the PAWELE programme supports women’s political leadership.

Full course material: download the PDF (in French).