About RFLD
Our Impact
Key Projects
Insights & Data
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The Network of Women Leaders
for Development (RFLD)
An African Feminist organization headquartered in Africa, with Regional Offices in Ghana, Benin, Senegal, and The Gambia to advance gender justice and human rights.
Africa Feminist Fund (WAFF)
RFLD provides grants to feminist civil society specifically designed to bridge the funding gap for women-led movements and grassroots organizations across Africa. We offer:
- Rapid Response Grants
- Core Funding
- Capacity Building
- Fiscal Sponsorship
Women are not just victims of the climate crisis—
they are its most powerful solution.
Discover how we are empowering grassroots feminist leadership across Africa. From securing land rights to financing green jobs and agroecology, true climate justice requires systemic change.
Explore our 10 Strategic Pillars and see how RFLD is bridging the gap from local communities to global policy.
10 Strategic Pillars
For Systemic Climate Justice
Announcing the RFLD
2025 Annual Report
The Network of Women Leaders for Development (RFLD) today announces the publication of its 2025 Annual Report, marking a defining milestone in our organization's evolution into a continental powerhouse for gender equity, human rights, and digital innovation across Africa.
Financial Impact
In 2025, RFLD managed a total funding capital of $1,768,026 USD, with an exceptional 85% of all funds directed directly into field activities — a testament to our commitment to frontline impact.
The Landscape of Crisis
Systemic Barriers &
The Urgency of Now
RFLD operates as Africa’s intermediary for feminist infrastructure. We are uniquely focused on the underserved Francophone and Lusophone corridors, where 72% of organizations lack access to institutional funding due to language barriers.
In the diverse landscape of the African continent, the struggle for gender justice is a battle against entrenched, interlocking systems of oppression. Patriarchal traditions, colonial legacies, and neoliberal economic policies converge to systematically marginalize women.
The rising tide of religious fundamentalism and conservative nationalism across the region further complicates this landscape, weaponizing "culture" to roll back hard-won rights. This backlash is evident in the shrinking civic space, where feminist organizing is increasingly criminalized, and women human rights defenders (WHRDs) face state-sanctioned harassment.
Economic Dispossession
Economic violence remains a defining feature. Despite being the backbone of agricultural production and the informal economy, women are systematically denied the fruits of their labor through discriminatory inheritance laws.
RFLD DƆNÙESÈ Data Center
Africa's only continental infrastructure producing gender-disaggregated data in real time across 55 countries — covering human rights, health, budget allocations, and service access rates.
Digital Safety Compendium
Combating Digital Violence
Gender-Responsive Budgeting
Ecojustice in Africa
Francophone Regional Hub
Human Rights Mechanisms
Maternal Health Data
MNCH Tracking
Ending Malaria
Health & MNCH
My Health, My Right
Francophone SRHR
Legislative Platform
West Africa
Legislative Database
Law & Policy Archive
Maputo Protocol Hub
Treaty Enforcement
From Ratification to
Grassroots Reality
The Maputo Protocol Hub
RFLD has the most comprehensive resource center dedicated to the Maputo Protocol. We are bridging the gap between international treaties and local enforcement. Access our real-time ratification tracker, download the Maputo Barometer policy assessments, and utilize our localized audio and visual translations in Yoruba, Haoussa, Zarma, and Goun.
The African Union Hub & Repository is Live!
As we celebrate #AfricaDay2026, RFLD is proud to present a major innovation for continental accountability. Designed to demystify the AU's complex architecture, this is a Repository of Power for Civil Society, providing CSOs with the tools necessary to transform protocols into lived rights.
Explore AU MechanismsExplore the Pillars of our Hub:
AU Structure & Commission
Dive into institutional reforms, the 6 Commission departments, and the African Governance Architecture (AGA).
Peace & Security
From APSA to the Peace and Security Council, explore the Climate-Security nexus and the Youth agenda.
APRM
Learn how to use targeted reviews to directly influence national budgets.
AFRIPOL
Police cooperation, cybersecurity, and the protection of civic space against AI threats.
RECs
Master the role of Regional Economic Communities, from free movement to "Smart Sanctions."
ECOSOCC
How civil society can legitimately occupy national chapters to influence continental policy.
ACERWC & African Court
Navigate justice for children and challenges of Article 34(6) for direct Court access.
Regional Courts
Utilize ECOWAS or EAC tribunals as safety valves when national courts are compromised.
The Infrastructure Multiplier
We do not fund isolated projects. We capitalize the machinery that creates exponential returns.
In RFLD Platform
Data, Legal & WAFFF
Equipped & Funded
In Grassroots Value
From Beneficiaries to Leaders
Awa, Senegal
Political Leadership
Equipped with policy advocacy tools through RFLD. Now serves as Deputy Mayor.
ROI Metric
Redirects municipal health budgets toward maternal care.
Amina, Nigeria
Strategic Litigation
Started as a paralegal trainee receiving a $500 micro-grant from the WAFFF.
ROI Metric
Leads a collective successfully challenging discriminatory inheritance laws.
Grace, Ghana
Policy Architecture
Organization kept afloat by an emergency resilience grant during a civic crackdown.
ROI Metric
Officially advises the African Union on SRHR policy guidelines.
Trusted by Global Leaders
Ecosystems We Equip
African CSO Platform
Rated as a verified and trusted civil society organization driving development.
World Bank Partner
Strategic partner in the World Bank Group's Gender Strategy Consultations.
Packard Foundation
Selected among top African organizations receiving core institutional support.
Oral Statement: ACHPR 85th Session
RFLD, as a recognized Member of the ACHPR Working Group on Human Rights Defenders, addressed the commission on critical protection mechanisms.
Read Full Statement →
March 9th - 19th, 2026
United Nations Headquarters
Building the Permanent Machinery for Gender Justice
The global stage is set. As a leading Pan-African intermediary with ACHPR Observer Status, RFLD will be at CSW70 to ensure the voices of African women aren't just heard, but are empowered through systemic change.
High-Impact Investment Packages
Strategic opportunities to capitalize key infrastructure pillars. We do not seek donations; we seek systems partners.
Data Infrastructure Investor
Your $500,000 investment powers the Dònuèsè Data Center for 24 months, enabling:
- Real-time monitoring of technology-facilitated GBV across 15 new countries.
- 8 Policy Briefs generated and cited by governments in UN human rights reporting.
- Public API access for 200+ local civil society organizations.
Est. Downstream Impact:
Policy reforms affecting 8M+ women.
Movement Multiplier
Expands the WAFFF Fund to provide multi-year core operational grants to unbanked organizations:
- Scale to 200 grassroots organizations across Francophone Africa.
- Legal Defense Shield activated for 500+ Women Human Rights Defenders at high risk.
- Financial compliance training ensuring organizations meet global audit standards.
Est. Downstream Impact:
Unlocks $10M in locally delivered community resilience programs.
Systems Transformation
Full execution of the 2026-2028 Strategic Plan across all 55 African nations:
- Endows permanent legal defense and rapid response fund for WHRDs.
- Scales digital compendium to cover 100% of AU member states.
- Builds 3 physical regional advocacy hubs for direct AU/ECOWAS lobbying.
Est. Downstream Impact:
Systemic law reform fundamentally improving the lives of 50M women.
Africa Grant Portfolio
"Shifting Power to the Grassroots"
Building the "Permanent Machinery"
Launch Date: September 2026. Target Groups: Women & Girls, LGBTQI+ Communities, People with Disabilities.
Explore Portfolio Details →Strategic Objectives 2023-2028
Strategic Downloads
For Institutional Funders & Philanthropic Partners
Ready to discuss investment opportunities?
For Due Diligence Inquiries
Major Gogo Ashifie
Regional Finance Lead
finance@rflgd.org
Request standard due diligence:
- Investment Prospectus
- Audited Financials
- NGOsource Equivalency Determination
- Briefing Call with Executive Leadership
"RFLD's sub-granting model is the most efficient we've seen. Their ability to reach grassroots organizations in fragile contexts while maintaining rigorous compliance is exceptional."Dr. Delia Nicoue
Advisor, GIZ
For funders and partnersPour les bailleurs et les partenaires
Fund the women who defend rights in Africa, nowFinancez maintenant les femmes qui défendent les droits en Afrique
Aid to women’s organisations is falling. RFLD moves funding fast to women-led organisations and defenders, in French and English, through a network of 1,143 member organisations in more than 35 African countries.L’aide aux organisations de femmes recule. Le RFLD achemine vite les financements vers les organisations de femmes et les défenseures, en français et en anglais, grâce à un réseau de 1 143 organisations membres dans plus de 35 pays africains.
RFLD currently serves as Co-Chair of the SEA-T Programme Advisory Council, mandated to ensure the programme’s direction, priorities, and resources are meaningfully aligned with the visions of African women-led civil society. The SEA-T Programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.Le RFLD assure actuellement la coprésidence du Conseil consultatif du programme SEA-T, chargé de veiller à ce que l’orientation, les priorités et les ressources du programme soient réellement alignées sur les visions de la société civile africaine portée par les femmes. Le programme SEA-T est financé par le ministère fédéral allemand de la Coopération économique et du Développement (BMZ) et mis en œuvre par la Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. See the partnershipVoir le partenariat
- 1,143member organisationsorganisations membres
- 35+African countriespays africains
- N°553ACHPR observer statusstatut d’observateur CADHP
- CandidSeal of Transparency 2025Sceau de transparence 2025
DonateFaire un don Partner with RFLDDevenir partenaire See our financialsVoir nos états financiers