Afrofeminist Initiative for Human Rights Development
Francophone West Africa (AIHRDFWA)
8 Countries
Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
30 Months
Duration: 2025 - 2028
Implementation
By RFLD, Funded by BMZ with support from GIZ
Implemented by the Women Leaders for Development Network (RFLD) and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
"SEA-T fosters change driven by Africa, sustainable precisely because it emanates from local communities rather than being imposed on them."
Project Activities
Updates from the field: Dakar, Benin, Togo, and the Digital Sphere.
Launch of The Africa Francophone Hub
January 20, 2026
Hub Launch Webinar
The Africa Francophone Hub was officially launched on January 20, 2026, marking a historic moment for the feminist movement in West Africa. This new regional platform is specifically designed to strengthen protection, learning, and collective influence for women and young human rights defenders across 29 Francophone African countries. Created by the Network of Women Leaders for Development (RFLD) and supported through the BMZ–GIZ partnership under the Society. Equality. Africa – Transformation (SEA-T) program, the Hub was presented as a practical, structural response to the barriers faced by Francophone civil society.
The launch webinar was not merely a presentation but a demonstration of the Hub's capability to unify isolated struggles into a shared regional agenda. Mme Bella Zevounou, President of WOLSI, opened the session by framing the Hub as a "collective tool" meant to be owned by the defenders themselves. The platform's architecture, introduced by Advocacy & Gender Analyst Emmanuelle Vlavonou, is built around three pillars: The Connector, The Shield, and The Amplifier. The educational Student Portal offers MOOC certifications in critical areas such as the Maputo Protocol, CEDAW, Peace & Security (UNSCR 1325), and Climate Justice.
A key highlight of the Hub is its Observatory & Data Center, which Prof. Rémy Ngoy Lumbu (ACHPR Special Rapporteur) described as vital for the protection of defenders. This system tracks threats—particularly digital surveillance, legal restrictions, and gender-based violence—providing real-time data that can be used to file communications with the African Commission. By documenting these violations systematically, the Hub moves beyond anecdotal evidence to actionable data, holding perpetrators accountable.
Gloria Agueh Dossi Sekonnou, Director of RFLD Africa, emphasized that this infrastructure connects local realities to regional policy change. By aggregating data and voices from the grassroots level, the Hub empowers RFLD to push for policy reforms at the African Union and other supranational bodies. Dr. Delia Nicoué of GIZ reinforced this by positioning the SEA-T partnership as a model of "structural support," where solutions are co-built with African experts rather than imported.
Voices of Impact
"This Hub is the missing infrastructure that connects our local realities to regional policy change."
- Gloria Agueh Dossi Sekonnou (RFLD)
"Today we don’t just present a platform—we celebrate a collective tool that will protect, train, and amplify defenders."
- Mme Bella Zevounou (WOLSI)
"A single place to learn, access tools, and act with confidence for Francophone defenders."
- Emmanuelle Vlavonou (Analyst)
"Strengthens protection where it is most needed, and gives defenders credible regional pathways."
- Prof. Rémy Ngoy Lumbu (ACHPR)
"SEA-T is positioned as a strategic partnership that combines structural support with African expertise."
- Dr. Delia Nicoué (GIZ)
"This platform embodies the kind of structured regional approach that effective partnerships are built for."
- Laurence Ahissou (SID)
National Capacity Building for Advocacy
Porto-Novo (Benin) & Lomé (Togo) | Dec 15-16, 2025
This pivotal activity involved simultaneous national capacity-building workshops held in Porto-Novo, Benin, and Lomé, Togo, targeting 60 local LBTQI+ activists and organizational leaders. In a region where civic space is shrinking and LBTQI+ individuals often face compounded marginalization, this dual-location initiative was strategically designed to foster resilience and professionalize advocacy efforts. The training modules were meticulously crafted to address the intersectional realities of the participants, recognizing that their identities as women and sexual minorities expose them to unique forms of discrimination that require specialized responses.
The curriculum placed a heavy emphasis on legal literacy, guiding participants through the complexities of national legal frameworks and their interaction with regional human rights instruments like the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. Legal experts facilitated sessions on how to document human rights violations safely, distinguishing between evidence that can be used for public advocacy and that which is suitable for strategic litigation. This knowledge is crucial for moving from reactive defense to proactive demand for rights.
Digital security was another cornerstone of the intervention. With the rise of cyber-surveillance and online harassment targeting feminist and queer organizations, RFLD provided practical training on digital hygiene—from securing communication channels to managing online footprints. Participants learned to navigate the digital sphere safely, ensuring that their online advocacy does not compromise their physical safety. The workshops also covered "Strategic Communication," teaching organizations how to frame their narratives to counter disinformation and build public support without exposing their communities to unnecessary risk.
Perhaps the most significant outcome was the strengthening of cross-border solidarity. By running the workshops simultaneously in Benin and Togo, RFLD facilitated a sense of shared purpose and regional momentum. Participants developed preliminary action plans that identify key advocacy priorities for the coming year, laying the groundwork for a coordinated response to anti-rights movements in West Africa. This activity was not just a training; it was an act of community building, creating a "rapid response" informal network that can mobilize quickly when members are threatened.
Privacy & Protection Notice
Due to security protocols and the protection of the LBTQI+ community in the region, photographs and video footage of this activity are not publicly displayed. RFLD adheres to a strict "Do No Harm" policy.
Activity Launch - Dakar, Senegal
November 10-12, 2025
Event Highlights (Video Gallery)
The AIHRDFWA initiative was officially inaugurated in Dakar, Senegal, during a high-level regional consultation that gathered over 40 prominent civil society organizations, media actors, and state representatives from across Francophone West Africa.
The agenda was packed with critical sessions designed to equip participants with the tools needed to navigate the African and UN human rights systems. Hon. Prof. Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, Chairperson of the ACHPR, led a foundational session on the African Commission, demystifying the process of obtaining observer status and filing communications.
A significant portion of the consultation was dedicated to the Maputo Protocol and CEDAW, led by Hon. Litha Musyimi Ogana. She highlighted the Maputo Protocol as the "world's most progressive legal instrument for women's rights," urging participants to demand its full domestication and implementation.
The consultation concluded with the "Women in Action" session, celebrating the transformative power of collective action. Participants committed to a unified advocacy strategy, identifying specific thematic areas such as the protection of women human rights defenders, the rights of refugees, and economic justice.
Panelist Perspectives: Voices from Dakar
"This ceremony marks the beginning of a new era for Afrofeminist leadership in our region."
- Ms. Dossi Sekonnou Gloria (RFLD)
"We are here to accelerate the impact of African women's leadership through strategic dialogue."
- Dr. Eyole Monono (ECOSOCC)
"The ACHPR is open to civil society; we must use these mechanisms to amplify our causes."
- Hon. Prof. Rémy Ngoy Lumbu (ACHPR)
"Understanding regional mechanisms is the key to effective advocacy for all CSOs."
- Prof. Mabassa Fall (FIDH)
"We must master UN instruments to exert influence at the international level."
- Prof. Anne-Marie Nsaka N'ghov
"The Maputo Protocol is the world's most progressive legal instrument for women."
- Hon. Litha Musyimi Ogana