RFLD COUNTRIES IMPACT

DISCOVER SOME OF OUR ACTIVITIES

COUNTRIES OF INTERVENTION

Angola l Benin l Burkina Faso l Congo – Brazzaville l Ivory Coast l Gabon l Guinea – Conakry l Mali l Niger l Democratic Republic of Congo l Senegal l Togo l Gambia l Sierra Leone l Liberia l Ghana l Nigeria l Cameroon l Mauritania l Central African Republic l Chad l Cape Verde l Guinea-Bissau l Mozambique l São Tomé and Príncipe l Madagascar l Mauritius

RFLD’s Comprehensive Regional Initiatives:

Beyond its impactful country-specific programs, RFLD also tackles critical regional issues through comprehensive initiatives in:

1. Environmental Protection:

Empowering women as environmental change agents: RFLD trains women in sustainable land management and climate-smart agriculture, fostering a responsible relationship with the environment.
Promoting women’s participation in decision-making: RFLD ensures women’s voices are heard in environmental protection and natural resource management, leading to more equitable and effective solutions.
Supporting women-led conservation initiatives: RFLD empowers women to lead projects in conservation and promote responsible waste management practices, contributing to a cleaner and healthier region.

2. Climate Change Adaptation:

Equipping women with resilience: RFLD provides women with knowledge and skills to adapt to climate change impacts like droughts and floods, strengthening their communities and livelihoods.
Promoting sustainable livelihoods: RFLD supports women in developing sustainable practices and income generation strategies that are resilient to climate change.
Advocating for climate-smart policies: RFLD raises awareness about women’s vulnerabilities to climate change and advocates for policies that address their needs and empower them to be leaders in climate action.

3. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR):

Promoting comprehensive sexuality education: RFLD ensures young people have access to accurate information about sexuality and reproductive health, empowering them to make informed decisions.
Expanding access to essential SRHR services: RFLD advocates for and facilitates equitable access to contraception, prenatal care, safe abortion, and other critical SRHR services for all women and girls.
Combating harmful practices: RFLD raises awareness about and actively works to eliminate harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and gender-based violence, protecting women’s health and well-being.

4. Education:

Empowering girls through education: RFLD promotes equal access to quality education for girls, providing scholarships and training programs to support their academic success.
Breaking down barriers to education: RFLD addresses challenges that prevent girls from reaching their full potential, such as gender stereotypes and financial constraints.
Advocating for gender equality in education: RFLD works with policymakers and educators to create a more inclusive and equitable learning environment for girls and boys alike.

5. Economic Development:

Supporting women entrepreneurs: RFLD empowers women to start and grow their businesses by providing financial resources, training programs, and access to markets.
Promoting women’s participation in the formal economy: RFLD advocates for policies that break down barriers and enable women to participate fully in the workforce and contribute to economic growth.
Building economic resilience: RFLD supports women in developing sustainable livelihoods and financial independence, contributing to the overall economic stability of the region.

6. Peace and Security:

Promoting women’s participation in peacebuilding: RFLD advocates for the inclusion of women in peace negotiations, conflict resolution processes, and post-conflict reconstruction efforts. They believe that women’s unique perspectives and experiences are essential to building sustainable peace.
Supporting women peacebuilders: RFLD provides training and resources to women peacebuilders, enabling them to effectively mediate conflicts, address the root causes of violence, and promote reconciliation.
Combating gender-based violence: RFLD works to raise awareness about gender-based violence and provide support services to survivors. They also advocate for stronger laws and policies to address this pervasive issue.
Promoting conflict prevention: RFLD collaborates with communities to address the underlying causes of conflict, such as poverty, inequality, and discrimination. They believe that preventing conflict is more effective than responding to it after it has erupted.

7. Human Rights:

Promoting and protecting human rights: RFLD advocates for the respect and protection of all human rights, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. They work to hold governments accountable for human rights violations and promote a culture of human rights throughout the region.
Empowering women to defend their rights: RFLD provides training and resources to women human rights defenders, enabling them to effectively advocate for their rights and the rights of others.
Combating discrimination and inequality: RFLD works to address all forms of discrimination and inequality, including gender discrimination, racial discrimination, and discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Promoting access to justice: RFLD advocates for reforms to the justice system to ensure that everyone has access to fair and impartial justice.

8. Civic Space:

Promoting the right to freedom of expression and assembly: RFLD advocates for the protection of the right to freedom of expression and assembly, which are essential for a healthy democracy. They work to hold governments accountable for violations of these rights and to create an environment where people can freely express their opinions and assemble peacefully.
Strengthening civil society organizations: RFLD supports the work of civil society organizations, which play a vital role in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance. They provide training and resources to civil society organizations and advocate for their right to operate freely without fear of reprisal.
Promoting civic engagement: RFLD encourages citizens to participate in the democratic process and hold their governments accountable. They believe that a strong and engaged citizenry is essential for a sustainable democracy.
Combating hate speech and disinformation: RFLD works to combat hate speech and disinformation, which can fuel conflict and undermine democracy. They promote media literacy and critical thinking skills to help people identify and challenge harmful narratives.

RFLD’s Work at Country level

Benin:

Promoting CSE: RFLD partnered with local authorities to develop and implement a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum for primary and secondary schools.
Supporting women-led peacebuilding initiatives and providing humanitarian assistance to displaced communities.
Promoting women’s participation in local governance and advocating for increased access to education for girls.
Supporting women peacemakers in conflict resolution processes and advocating for the inclusion of women in post-conflict reconstruction efforts.
Working with communities to address the root causes of conflict and promoting peaceful coexistence.
Promoting access to education for girls and advocating for the protection of children from armed conflict.
Empowering women entrepreneurs: RFLD provided microloans and business training to women in rural communities to start their own businesses and become financially independent.
Combating FGM: RFLD partnered with community leaders and religious authorities to raise awareness about the harmful effects of female genital mutilation and use applies our strategy through advocacy and support to survivors

Burkina Faso:

Providing legal assistance to victims of GBV: RFLD established a network of legal aid clinics to provide free legal representation and support to survivors of gender-based violence.
Improving access to SRHR services: RFLD worked with health authorities to increase the availability of contraceptives and other essential SRHR services in rural areas.
Advocating for political participation: RFLD trained women candidates and campaigned for increased representation of women in local and national government.

Congo – Brazzaville:

Supporting adolescent mothers: RFLD established a safe haven for pregnant teenagers and young mothers, offering them education, healthcare, and vocational training opportunities.
Combating child marriage: RFLD partnered with traditional leaders and religious authorities to discourage early marriage and promote girls’ education.
Raising awareness about HIV/AIDS: RFLD conducted educational campaigns and provided testing and counseling services to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

Ivory Coast:

Empowering women farmers: RFLD provided agricultural training and resources to women farmers to improve their yields and increase their income.
Promoting women’s land rights: RFLD advocated for legal reforms and community awareness campaigns to secure women’s land rights and prevent land dispossession.
Combating human trafficking: RFLD worked with law enforcement agencies and NGOs to rescue victims of human trafficking and provide them with rehabilitation and reintegration services.

Gabon:

Improving access to maternal healthcare: RFLD partnered with health authorities to equip rural health clinics with essential equipment and train healthcare workers to provide quality maternal healthcare services.
Promoting breastfeeding: RFLD conducted public awareness campaigns and provided support groups for mothers to encourage breastfeeding and improve infant health.
Combating sexual exploitation of children: RFLD worked with tourism operators and law enforcement agencies to prevent child sex tourism and support victims of exploitation.

Guinea – Conakry:

Strengthening civil society organizations: RFLD provided capacity building training and resources to women-led civil society organizations to enhance their advocacy and program implementation skills.
Promoting peacebuilding: RFLD facilitated dialogue and reconciliation workshops between different communities to promote peace and prevent conflict.
Supporting female journalists: RFLD provided training and mentorship opportunities to female journalists to promote gender equality in the media and improve reporting on women’s issues.

Mali:

Providing psycho-social support to survivors of armed conflict: RFLD established a network of community-based counselors to provide psycho-social support to women and girls affected by armed conflict and sexual violence.
Promoting peace education: RFLD integrated peace education into school curricula to promote tolerance and conflict resolution skills among young people.
Supporting women-led peacebuilding initiatives: RFLD provided funding and technical assistance to women-led organizations working on peacebuilding and reconciliation in conflict-affected areas.

Niger:

Combating desertification: RFLD implemented sustainable land management practices to combat desertification and improve food security for vulnerable communities.
Promoting climate-smart agriculture: RFLD trained women farmers in climate-smart agricultural techniques to adapt to the impacts of climate change and increase their resilience.
Empowering women in natural resource management: RFLD provided training and leadership development opportunities for women to participate in decision-making processes related to natural resource management.

Democratic Republic of Congo:

Supporting internally displaced persons: RFLD provided food, shelter, and essential supplies to families displaced by conflict and facilitated their safe return to their communities.
Promoting access to education in conflict zones: RFLD established temporary learning spaces and provided educational materials to children in conflict-affected areas.
Combating sexual violence in conflict: RFLD advocated for the prosecution of perpetrators of sexual violence and provided medical and psycho-social support to survivors.

Senegal:

Promoting digital literacy: RFLD trained women in rural areas on digital literacy skills to enable them to access information and resources online.
Supporting women entrepreneurs in the digital economy: RFLD facilitated access to funding and technical assistance for women to start and grow their businesses in the digital economy.
Combating online harassment: RFLD conducted awareness campaigns and provided support services to empower women to combat online harassment and abuse.

Gambia:

Empowering female refugees: RFLD provided skills training and income-generating activities for female refugees to support their economic empowerment and integration into Gambian society.
Promoting girls’ education: RFLD built and equipped girls’ schools in rural areas to improve access to education for girls and reduce gender disparities in education.
Combating child labor: RFLD worked with communities and government agencies to prevent and address child labor, particularly among girls.

Sierra Leone:

Supporting survivors of the Ebola outbreak: RFLD provided psycho-social support and economic reintegration assistance to women and girls who were affected by the Ebola outbreak.
Promoting mental health awareness: RFLD conducted mental health awareness campaigns and trained community health workers to identify and address mental health issues among women and girls.
Combating sexual exploitation of children: RFLD worked with law enforcement agencies and NGOs to strengthen child protection systems and prevent sexual exploitation of children in the tourism industry.

Liberia:

Empowering women peacebuilders: RFLD supported women-led civil society organizations working on peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts in post-conflict Liberia.
Promoting economic opportunities for women: RFLD provided vocational training and business development services to women to help them start their own businesses and become financially independent.
Combating domestic violence: RFLD established a national hotline and safe houses to provide support and assistance to survivors of domestic violence.

Ghana:

Promoting gender equality in cocoa farming: RFLD worked with cocoa cooperatives to improve women’s access to land, resources, and training opportunities in the cocoa industry.
Combating child labor in cocoa production: RFLD collaborated with cocoa farmers and government agencies to prevent child labor and promote fair labor practices in cocoa production.
Empowering women in traditional leadership roles: RFLD supported women aspiring to traditional leadership positions and advocated for their inclusion in decision-making processes.

Nigeria:

Advocating for girls’ education: RFLD campaigned for increased government funding for girls’ education and challenged harmful traditional practices that limit girls’ access to education.
Supporting women entrepreneurs in the informal sector: RFLD provided microloans and business training to women working in the informal sector to help them formalize their businesses and access larger markets.
Promoting peacebuilding in conflict-affected areas: RFLD facilitated dialogue and reconciliation workshops between different communities to address the root causes of conflict and promote sustainable peace.

Cameroon:

Supporting internally displaced persons: RFLD provided food, shelter, and essential supplies to families displaced by conflict in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon.
Promoting access to education in conflict zones: RFLD established temporary learning spaces and provided educational materials to children in conflict-affected areas.
Combating sexual violence in conflict: RFLD advocated for the prosecution of perpetrators of sexual violence and provided medical and psycho-social support to survivors.

Mauritania:

Supporting women in the fishing industry: RFLD provided training and resources to women fish processors to improve their skills, increase their incomes, and gain greater representation in the fishing industry.
Combating slavery and its legacy: RFLD advocated for the abolition of slavery and supported survivors of slavery with rehabilitation and reintegration services.
Promoting girls’ education in nomadic communities: RFLD established mobile schools and provided scholarships to improve access to education for girls in nomadic communities.

Central African Republic:

Providing humanitarian assistance: RFLD distributed food, shelter, and essential supplies to families affected by conflict and displacement in the Central African Republic.
Promoting peacebuilding through interfaith dialogue: RFLD facilitated dialogue and reconciliation workshops between different religious communities to promote tolerance and prevent conflict.
Supporting women-led peacebuilding initiatives: RFLD provided funding and technical assistance to women-led organizations working on peacebuilding and reconciliation in conflict-affected areas.

Chad:

Combating food insecurity: RFLD supported small-scale farmers, particularly women, with agricultural training and resources to improve their yields and increase food security in vulnerable communities.
Promoting access to clean water and sanitation: RFLD constructed water wells and sanitation facilities in rural areas to improve access to clean water and sanitation for women and girls.
Combating early marriage: RFLD conducted awareness campaigns and provided alternative education and vocational training opportunities to discourage early marriage and empower girls.

Angola:

Supporting women entrepreneurs in the oil and gas sector: RFLD provided training and mentorship opportunities to women entrepreneurs to help them participate in the oil and gas industry and access lucrative business opportunities.
Promoting gender equality in the workplace: RFLD worked with private companies and government agencies to promote gender equality in the workplace and address issues such as discrimination and sexual harassment.
Combating human trafficking

Cape Verde:

Promoting sustainable tourism: RFLD supported women entrepreneurs in the tourism industry to develop eco-friendly tourism initiatives and promote sustainable tourism practices.
Combating sexual harassment in the tourism industry: RFLD conducted awareness campaigns and trained tourism workers on how to prevent and respond to sexual harassment in the workplace.
Empowering women in local governance: RFLD provided training and leadership development programs to women aspiring to political positions and advocated for increased women’s representation in local government.

Guinea-Bissau:

Promoting maternal health: RFLD provided training to traditional birth attendants and equipped health clinics with essential supplies to improve access to quality maternal healthcare services.
Combating female genital mutilation: RFLD conducted awareness campaigns and worked with community leaders to promote alternative rites of passage and discourage the practice of FGM.
Supporting women in the cashew industry: RFLD provided training and resources to women cashew farmers to improve their yields, increase their incomes, and gain greater bargaining power in the cashew market.

Mozambique:

Supporting survivors of natural disasters: RFLD provided emergency relief assistance and long-term support to communities affected by natural disasters, including cyclones and floods.
Promoting climate-resilient agriculture: RFLD trained women farmers in climate-smart agricultural techniques to adapt to the impacts of climate change and improve food security.
Empowering women in fisheries management: RFLD worked with women fishers to improve their skills and access to resources and supported their participation in decision-making processes related to fisheries management.

São Tomé and Príncipe:

Promoting biodiversity conservation: RFLD supported women-led initiatives in environmental conservation and sustainable resource management, particularly in protected areas.
Developing eco-tourism projects: RFLD provided training and resources to women entrepreneurs to develop and manage eco-tourism projects that benefit local communities and contribute to environmental protection.
Combating gender-based violence in the tourism industry: RFLD conducted awareness campaigns and provided training to tourism workers on how to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in the workplace.

Madagascar:

Promoting community-based natural resource management: RFLD supported women’s groups in managing natural resources such as forests and fisheries in a sustainable manner.
Combating deforestation: RFLD conducted awareness campaigns and provided alternative income-generating activities to discourage deforestation and promote sustainable land management practices.
Empowering women in renewable energy: RFLD trained women entrepreneurs in the installation and maintenance of solar energy systems, providing them with skills and opportunities in the renewable energy sector.

Mauritius:

Promoting women’s entrepreneurship in the technology sector: RFLD provided training and mentorship opportunities to women entrepreneurs to help them start and grow their businesses in the technology sector.
Combating gender stereotypes in STEM education: RFLD conducted awareness campaigns and organized workshops to encourage girls’ participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.
Promoting work-life balance for women: RFLD advocated for policies and initiatives that promote work-life balance for women and enable them to participate more fully in the workforce.

Promoting Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM):

RFLD distributed reusable menstrual hygiene kits to adolescent girls in rural areas.
Conducted educational workshops and awareness campaigns on MHM in schools and communities.
Advocated for the government to provide free or subsidized menstrual hygiene products in schools.

Empowering Women in Agriculture:

Provided training and resources to women farmers to improve their agricultural practices and increase their yields.
Supported women’s access to land and credit, enabling them to become more independent and financially secure.
Advocated for policies that promote gender equality in agriculture and address the specific needs of women farmers.

Combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV):

Established a hotline and safe houses for survivors of GBV.
Provided legal assistance and counseling services to survivors.
Conducted awareness campaigns on GBV prevention and response.
Advocated for the government to strengthen laws and policies on GBV and ensure their effective implementation.

Promoting Civic Engagement and Political Participation:

Provided training and leadership development programs to women aspiring to political positions.
Supported women’s participation in electoral processes and decision-making bodies.
Advocated for increased women’s representation in government and other public institutions.

Strengthening Civil Society Organizations (CSOs):

Provided capacity building training and resources to women-led CSOs.
Supported the creation and development of networks and platforms for women’s organizations.
Advocated for the government to create an enabling environment for CSOs to operate effectively.

Promoting Peace and Security:

Supported women’s peacebuilding initiatives in communities affected by conflict.
Conducted dialogue and reconciliation workshops between different groups.
Advocated for the inclusion of women in peacebuilding and security processes.