ADVOCACY & ALLIANCE BUILDING

UAF-Africa is committed to enhancing African women’s leadership in order that they bring about social justice, equality, equity and peace. Working across Africa, the Fund builds broader alliances with partners at national, regional and international levels. UAF-Africa leverages her convening capacity  and to catalyze debates on topical and emerging issues while playing a critical role in bringing women at the margins to the centre of debates on women’s rights.

The Advocacy & Alliance Building Program (AAB) supports women in Africa to lead transformation through collaboration, building alliances and advocacy for women’s human rights. The work of the AAB Programme emerges from the lessons learned in UAF-Africa’s rapid response grantmaking work across Africa. Since its inception, UAF-Africa has focused on supporting women activists’ work to advance women’s rights in Africa particularly in conflict, politically volatile situations, and in contexts where the guarantee of women’s rights is precarious. Developed out of the previous Collaborative Initiatives Programme, the AAB Programme supports women, beyond financial resources, in participating effectively in governance, democracy, sexual health and rights, transitional justice, peacebuilding and conflict transformation processes which too often proceed without women’s input.

As an activist Fund, we identify ourselves as one among a community of diverse actors working for women’s human rights, women’s access to opportunities and their positioning to lead social change.

1. Governance

Africa has moved away from civil war as the defining feature of its civil and political landscape. There are less than 5 major conflicts on the continent, yet even as countries go for elections and move towards democracy, complex forms of conflict, violence, intolerance and exclusion simmer below the surface. We support initiatives aimed at scaling up and maintaining women’s full involvement in governance in all sectors of society.

2. Women as change agents

There has been much written about the value to entire communities of women in leadership. We recognize leadership in diverse forms, in public and private spheres and the significance of inclusive leadership in shaping healthy societies. The Programme supports leadership within the 21st Century African context that embraces a paradigm shift away from the patriarchy and derivative structures that are built on stereotypes and exclusion. We look to work with actors that believe in leadership in Africa for Africa and by Africans in the 21st Century at rural and urban levels, public and private spheres; intellectual and practical levels; corporate and philanthropic sectors; among others.

3. Body politics (sexual reproductive health & rights; bodily integrity)

Sexual and reproductive health and rights remains one of the most emotive issues in Africa and the world over. Arguably, it is the most prominent site for the domination and power struggle that is inherent in patriarchy. We believe in addressing sexual and reproductive health and rights from a health, rights, culture, democracy, societal and individual level.The Programme supports the building of a strong movement for women’s human rights and ultimately for democratic, equitable and just societies in Africa. We support initiatives that ensure women are equal actors in various sectors that shape society.