RFLD's re-granting facility for feminist civil society across the 9 Ouagadougou Partnership countries. Rapid response, core operational funding, advocacy grants, and LBT+ inclusion support where institutional donors most struggle to reach.
Feminist movements in francophone Africa face mounting political instability, rising anti-rights and anti-gender ideologies, and the severe effects of climate change — with limited institutional funding to match. WAFFF operates where larger funding streams most struggle to reach: the nine countries of the Ouagadougou Partnership — Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo.
Time is a luxury our grantees do not have. While many global funds operate on 3–6 month cycles, WAFFF Urgent Action grants commit to decisions within 5 business days for legal defence, medical emergencies, and digital threats facing women human rights defenders.
Applications in French, reporting in French, grant management teams who understand the legal systems and civil society landscapes across the Ouagadougou Partnership. We remove the language and administrative barriers that often exclude grassroots groups from institutional funding.
WAFFF sub-grants are processed through RFLD's audited financial systems. RFLD assumes the compliance burden, enabling international donors to reach grassroots groups through a vetted intermediary.
We support a comprehensive, intersectional range of issues. Applicants may select multiple themes.
If you represent a feminist civil society organisation, women-led group, or LBT+ organisation in the Ouagadougou Partnership, this section is for you.
Francophone West Africa remains among the most underfunded regions globally for gender justice. Linguistic isolation from anglophone funder ecosystems, complex legal environments, and limited digital infrastructure create what practitioners often describe as a "funding desert."
Francophone feminist organisations are disproportionately excluded from the unrestricted funding and long-term organisational support that flow more easily to anglophone African movements. The result is a cycle of short-term, one-off grants that undermines long-term planning and leaves organisations vulnerable to shifting donor priorities.
The consequence: when funding fails to arrive, movements fracture. Activists facing prosecution for their work cannot afford legal counsel. Digital attacks silence advocacy platforms.
WAFFF's response: a dedicated francophone intermediary that speaks the language, understands the legal contexts, and moves money quickly when it is needed most.
Of global funding for women's rights organisations reaches francophone West Africa.
Per AWID tracking
Language and administrative complexity is among the most commonly cited barriers by grassroots francophone CSOs.
Across the region, rising anti-gender and anti-rights movements weaponise "tradition" to reverse hard-won legal and social progress. In this environment, the francophone feminist organisations most equipped to push back are precisely those least likely to receive adequate, timely, unrestricted resources. WAFFF exists to close that gap.
For Urgent Action grants, we use a streamlined, encrypted verification process designed for high-risk environments.
Activist submits encrypted request via Signal or ProtonMail using our PGP key.
Country focal point verifies threat credibility within 6-12 hours via local networks.
Grant Committee reaches decision via secure vote; funds disbursed within 5 business days.
Rapid response for legal defence fees, medical costs for injured activists, and secure emergency relocation.
Core funding for organisational development, salary support, financial systems, and strategic planning.
Support for evidence-based campaigns, legislative engagement, policy research, and coalition building.
Dedicated envelope for LBT+ organisations often excluded from traditional funding streams due to stigma.
Common questions about our process.
WAFFF funds feminist civil society organisations, women-led organisations, and LBT+ groups based in the 9 Ouagadougou Partnership countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.
For immediate threats (legal defence, digital attacks, emergency relocation), please download the application form above and submit it via the secure email listed in the document. Our verification process begins immediately, with decisions typically made within 5 business days.
While legal registration is preferred, we understand the restrictive environments in the region. We support unregistered grassroots movements through fiscal sponsorship arrangements on a case-by-case basis.
We prioritise light-touch reporting. For Urgent Action grants, we require a simple one-page impact summary and proof of expenditure. Oral reporting options are available for groups with limited administrative capacity.
If you represent an institutional funder, foundation, donor-advised fund, or corporate giving programme considering a compliance-ready francophone West African intermediary, this section is for you.
If we provide flexible resources directly to those on the frontlines, we build the resilient civil society infrastructure capable of withstanding political and climate shocks.
Unrestricted core support and rapid response grants tailored to local realities.
Organisations gain operational stability, digital security, and financial health.
Coordinated advocacy, legal defence, and policy engagement at national and regional levels.
Reformed laws, protected human rights, and a resilient francophone feminist civil society.
We minimise risk for our donors while maximising access for our grantees through a three-tiered protocol.
RFLD serves as the primary compliance layer — fully registered, audited, and vetted by institutional donors including GIZ/BMZ, Sida, Packard Foundation, AmplifyChange, FJS, and Expertise France.
Every sub-grant undergoes screening against international sanctions lists to ensure adherence to Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing standards.
For grantees in hostile environments, we apply data minimisation. Public reporting is aggregated to prevent identification of vulnerable recipients.
WAFFF does not just fund survival — it invests in longevity. Every grantee enters a mentorship ecosystem designed to reduce donor dependency over time.
Every WAFFF grant is paired with technical assistance — governance support, financial systems coaching, safeguarding guidance, and strategic planning — at no additional cost to the grantee.
WAFFF exists to give institutional donors, DAFs, and corporate giving programmes a vetted, audited pathway to francophone West African grassroots civil society — in a region where most funders lack direct operational capacity.
US 501(c)(3) Public Charity Equivalent certified 2026 — enabling tax-deductible giving from US foundations, DAFs, and corporate donors with no fiscal sponsorship required.
Current institutional donor base: GIZ/BMZ (SEA-T cohort, 2026 Council Presidency), Sida (NAFASI Consortium lead), Packard Foundation, AmplifyChange, FJS, and Expertise France.
Offices in Cotonou (Benin), Dakar (Senegal), Accra (Ghana), and Banjul (The Gambia), with country focal points across the Ouagadougou Partnership for rapid verification and grantee support.
Discussions begin with a 25-minute introductory call. Full institutional due diligence package available on request.
Whether you are a grassroots feminist organisation seeking support, or an institutional donor looking for a compliance-ready francophone intermediary — WAFFF has a way to work with you.