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Reporting, analysis and field notes from a pan-African network for gender equality and development — across women's rights, SRHR, civic space, climate justice, peace and security.

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RFLD to Award US$582,000 in Regranting Capital to Twenty African Civil Society Organisations Human Rights
May 4, 2026 Africa

RFLD to Award US$582,000 in Regranting Capital to Twenty African Civil Society Organisations

The Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) will distribute US$582,000 in grants to twenty African civil society organizations through two key initiatives: NAFASI and AIHRDFWA. NAFASI focuses on digital civic space, while AIHRDFWA emphasizes human rights development in Francophone West Africa. The selection process will prioritize organizations’ alignment with strategic goals, operational capacity, and commitment to supporting women and vulnerable groups. RFLD aims to streamline funding flows from European donors directly to grassroots organizations, ensuring accountability and impactful action. This initiative reflects a shift towards localized, African-led development and enhances the resilience of civil society in challenging environments.

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RFLD Bulletin · May 2026 Human Rights
May 2, 2026 Africa

RFLD Bulletin · May 2026

The NAFASI Project, funded by Sida, aims to uphold Africa’s digital civic space from repression and related threats from January 2026 to December 2028. It is led by Magamba Network with partners like DefendDefenders and RFLD, focusing on policy reform and digital resilience. Concurrently, RFLD is orchestrating a major initiative in May 2026 to bolster women’s political participation in West Africa, supported by BMZ and GIZ. Beyond this, RFLD will engage at the 87th African Commission session to advocate for human rights defenders, emphasizing issues like gender-based violence and civic space protection in the region, while hosting a meeting on civic space early warning systems.

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Oped : The Shift from Bureaucracy to Impact Diplomacy by Mr John Gbenagnon – RFLD Regional Development Director DEVELOPMENT
April 2, 2026 Africa

Oped : The Shift from Bureaucracy to Impact Diplomacy by Mr John Gbenagnon – RFLD Regional Development Director

In the evolving landscape of philanthropy, significant shifts are evident, particularly in direct, trust-based partnerships. MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving has donated $26 billion to 2,700 NGOs without proposal calls, emphasizing trust rather than bureaucracy. Similarly, Sweden’s Sida has distributed over one billion euros to about 100 organizations, focusing on long-term relationships. Major U.S. foundations have moved away from rigid models, contributing billions to international development, which grew by 17.7% recently. This transformation highlights the importance of human capital, networking, and visibility, showing that success now relies on personal relationships and influence rather than traditional application processes.

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RFLD 2025 Annual Report : Building Collective Power Women's Rights
March 10, 2026 Africa

RFLD 2025 Annual Report : Building Collective Power

The Network of Women Leaders for Development (RFLD) has published its 2025 Annual Report, which highlights the organization’s growth as a key advocate for gender equity, human rights, and digital innovation in Africa. RFLD, headquartered in West Africa with Regional Hubs in Ghana, Benin, and The Gambia, works across 55 African Member States to promote gender justice and human rights. This report signifies a pivotal moment in the organization’s journey toward becoming a continental powerhouse in these critical areas. For more information, the press and general inquiries can be directed through the provided contacts.

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RFLD Assumes the Presidency of the GIZ Africa SEA-T Advisory Council for 2026 – A Historic Milestone for Francophone African Feminism Human Rights
March 4, 2026 Africa

RFLD Assumes the Presidency of the GIZ Africa SEA-T Advisory Council for 2026 – A Historic Milestone for Francophone African Feminism

The Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) has been appointed to lead the SEA-T Advisory Council in 2026, marking a pivotal development in the governance of African feminist organizations. Founded in 2013, RFLD reaches over 2.9 million women and girls yearly and seeks to address systemic funding challenges that predominantly affect Francophone feminist groups. The SEA-T program aims to empower civil society and promote gender equality across Africa through a collaborative model. RFLD’s presidency will focus on closing funding gaps, enhancing protections for women human rights defenders, generating crucial data, amplifying marginalized voices, and fostering collective advocacy efforts.

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RFLD Joins the Support Group for the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders of the ACHPR (African Union) Human Rights
November 30, 2024 Africa

RFLD Joins the Support Group for the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders of the ACHPR (African Union)

The Network of Women Leaders for Development (RFLD) has officially joined the Support Group for the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders during the 81st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. This collaboration aims to amplify RFLD’s commitment to defending youth and women’s rights, focusing on capacity building, awareness raising, and advocacy for legislative reforms. The Support Group includes key human rights organizations and plays a pivotal role in ensuring protection for human rights defenders across Africa. RFLD aims to enhance civic space and freedom of expression while encouraging collective action towards these objectives.

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Supporting the Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) 2023-2028 Strategic Plan Women's Rights
July 20, 2024 Africa

Supporting the Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) 2023-2028 Strategic Plan

The Women Leaders Network for Development (RFLD) is a women-led organization dedicated to eradicating discrimination and violence against women and girls while promoting gender equality across Africa.

With a strategic plan for 2023-2028, RFLD aims to amplify women’s voices and empower them through advocacy, civil liberties, economic justice, and participatory governance.

Facing significant challenges like poverty and gender-based violence, RFLD seeks a $10 million fundraising target to strengthen women’s rights, increase their representation, and support women-led organizations. The organization encourages support for its transformative initiatives to create a just future for women and girls in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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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

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