West African
Feminist Fund
RFLD's re-granting facility for feminist civil society across 15 West African countries. Rapid response, core operational funding, advocacy grants, and vulnerable groups inclusion support where institutional donors most struggle to reach.
Why WAFF? Addressing the West African Funding Gap
Feminist movements in West 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. WAFF operates where larger funding streams most struggle to reach: the 15 countries of West Africa, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
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5 Business Days Decision for Urgent Action
Time is a luxury our grantees do not have. While many global funds operate on 3–6 month cycles, WAFF Urgent Action grants commit to decisions within 5 business days for legal defence, medical emergencies, and digital threats facing women human rights defenders.
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Multilingual & Regionally Anchored
Applications and reporting in French or English, with grant management teams who understand the legal systems and civil society landscapes across West Africa. We remove the language and administrative barriers that often exclude grassroots groups from institutional funding.
Compliance-Ready Infrastructure
WAFF 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.
What WAFF Moved Last Year
Eligible Thematic Areas
We support a comprehensive, intersectional range of issues. Applicants may select multiple themes.
Apply to WAFF
If you represent a feminist civil society organisation, women-led group, or organisation supporting vulnerable groups in West Africa, this section is for you.
The West African Funding Gap
West Africa remains among the most underfunded regions globally for gender justice. Complex legal environments, linguistic and administrative barriers, and limited digital infrastructure create what practitioners often describe as a "funding desert."
West African feminist organisations are disproportionately excluded from the unrestricted funding and long-term organisational support that larger movements access more easily. 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.
WAFF's response: a dedicated regional intermediary that understands the legal and civil society contexts and moves money quickly when it is needed most.
Of global funding for women's rights organisations reaches West Africa.
Per AWID tracking
Language and administrative complexity is among the most commonly cited barriers by grassroots CSOs across the region.
Across the region, rising anti-gender and anti-rights movements weaponise "tradition" to reverse hard-won legal and social progress. In this environment, the West African feminist organisations most equipped to push back are precisely those least likely to receive adequate, timely, unrestricted resources. WAFF exists to close that gap.
How We Deliver in 5 Days
For Urgent Action grants, we use a streamlined, encrypted verification process designed for high-risk environments.
Secure Signal
Activist submits encrypted request via Signal or ProtonMail using our PGP key.
Verification
Country focal point verifies threat credibility within 6-12 hours via local networks.
Decision
Grant Committee reaches decision via secure vote; funds disbursed within 5 business days.
WAFF Funding Windows
Urgent Action: Open Year-Round
Thematic Calls: Next window September to October 2026 · rflgd.org/tender-grants
Urgent Action
Rapid response for legal defence fees, medical costs for injured activists, and secure emergency relocation.
- Bail and legal costs
- Digital security response
Capacity Building
Core funding for organisational development, salary support, financial systems, and strategic planning.
- Staff salaries
- Office operations
Advocacy
Support for evidence-based campaigns, legislative engagement, policy research, and coalition building.
- Feminist research
- Media campaigns
Vulnerable Groups Inclusion
Dedicated envelope for organisations supporting vulnerable groups often excluded from traditional funding streams due to stigma or marginalisation.
- Safe spaces
- Psychosocial support
Applicant FAQ
Common questions about our process.
Who is eligible to apply?
WAFF funds feminist civil society organisations, women-led organisations, and groups supporting vulnerable populations based in 15 West African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
How do I submit an Urgent Action request?
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.
Do we need to be legally registered?
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.
What are the reporting requirements?
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.
Partner with WAFF
If you represent an institutional funder, foundation, donor-advised fund, or corporate giving programme considering a compliance-ready West African intermediary, this section is for you.
Our Theory of Change
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.
Flexible Funding
Unrestricted core support and rapid response grants tailored to local realities.
Resilient CSOs
Organisations gain operational stability, digital security, and financial health.
Strategic Action
Coordinated advocacy, legal defence, and policy engagement at national and regional levels.
Systemic Change
Reformed laws, protected human rights, and a resilient West African feminist civil society.
Risk Management & Due Diligence
We minimise risk for our donors while maximising access for our grantees through a three-tiered protocol.
Vetted Intermediary
RFLD serves as the primary compliance layer — fully registered, audited, and vetted by major institutional donors.
AML/CTF Screening
Every sub-grant undergoes screening against international sanctions lists to ensure adherence to Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing standards.
Grantee Protection
For grantees in hostile environments, we apply data minimisation. Public reporting is aggregated to prevent identification of vulnerable recipients.
Beyond the Grant: Building Sustainability
WAFF does not just fund survival — it invests in longevity. Every grantee enters a mentorship ecosystem designed to reduce donor dependency over time.
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Financial Management Training Helping grassroots groups build audit-ready financial systems.
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Resource Mobilisation Coaching Teaching CSOs how to diversify their own funding base.
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Integrated Security Assessments Digital and physical security reviews for every grantee.
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The WAFF Alumni Network Access to a regional coalition of past grantees for knowledge-sharing.
Grant + Accompaniment
Every WAFF grant is paired with technical assistance — governance support, financial systems coaching, safeguarding guidance, and strategic planning — at no additional cost to the grantee.
A Compliance-Ready West African Intermediary
WAFF exists to give institutional donors, DAFs, and corporate giving programmes a vetted, audited pathway to West African grassroots civil society, in a region where most funders lack direct operational capacity.
NGOsource Equivalency Determination
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.
Operational Reach
Offices in Cotonou (Benin), Dakar (Senegal), Accra (Ghana), and Banjul (The Gambia), with country focal points across West Africa for rapid verification and grantee support.
Discussions begin with a 25-minute introductory call. Full institutional due diligence package available on request.
Partner for West African Feminist Power
Whether you are a grassroots feminist organisation seeking support, or an institutional donor looking for a compliance-ready West African intermediary, WAFF has a way to work with you.