SOURCE: SA news

The Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will this week host a policy dialogue on the prevention of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

SOURCE: Leadership

Formerly dominated by men, the Nigerian banking industry is gradually being overtaken by female banking gurus as the number of women leading the major banks in the country has increased in recent years.

SOURCE: allAfrica

Following two hurried weeks of campaigning, Senegal's delayed presidential election is set for this Sunday - with more than 7 million people registered to vote for a record 18 candidates. 

Source: Angop

Luanda - The promotion of the economic and social empowerment of women and girls and the fight against gender violence constitute the main challenges of the Ministry of Social Action, Family and Promotion of Women (MASFAMU), The secretary of State, Alcina Lopes Kindanda said on Wednesday in Luanda.

SOURCE: The Independent

What do poverty, climate change, and conflict have in common? They are among the biggest challenges confronting Africa, and they all disproportionately affect women living in poverty or on the margins of society. Both research and experience have demonstrated that these women have enormous potential to improve the well-being of their families and communities.

SOURCE: The New Times

Women account for a far smaller percentage of job applicants than men in public service, the lower chamber of Parliament has exposed. It called for an inquiry into the matter to understand the underlying reasons and what could be the appropriate response. 

SOURCE: Spotlight Initiative

SIDAMA REGION, Ethiopia - Entering adulthood can be a beautiful journey, but for those who have experienced female genital mutilation (FGM), it often carries layers of pain and trauma. FGM leaves a scar that goes beyond physical pain. It robs young girls of the opportunity to embrace womanhood on their terms. The shame and trauma often linger with them for a long time. Yet in the face of these challenges, FGM survivors show strength and resilience by reclaiming their voice and advocating for a world free of harmful practices. Below, three young women share their experiences.

By: Agnes Miriam

As we commemorate International Women's Day this year with the theme "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," it is imperative to acknowledge the proactive role that women play in shaping their future. The need to give priority to responding to gender disparities and violence against women and girls is growing. This means that governments must finance measures that take gender equality into account and implement laws and policies that prioritize social protection and other necessities.

Between 2012 and 2013,  USD 4 billion annually on average, or 5% of aid screened against the DAC gender marker, was directed towards gender equality as a primary goal. In contrast, gender equality was the secondary goal of USD 22 billion, or 25%. When combined, these figures indicate that just 30% of help is tailored to the needs and interests of women. While aid for gender equality reached USD 28 billion in 2012–13, the average annual funding for women's civil society organizations and institutions was less than USD 400 million. Women's equality organizations and institutions received a mere 1% of all aid aimed at promoting gender equality in unstable states. However, initiatives to promote state-building and peace are frequently led by women's organizations.

Only 0.42% of foundation grants are allocated towards women’s rights. 0.13% of the total Official Development Assistance (ODA) is allocated to Women’s Rights Organisations(WROs). As of 2017-2018, ODA totalled $153 billion of which, $198 million was given to WROs and 0.4% of all aid associated with all gender-related aid. Four out of every five (48%) of the Global South feminist and women’s rights organizations that filed a profile with the GFW between 2015 and 2019 stated that their most recent fiscal year budget was less than $30,000. Merely two out of every six groups have budgets above $1 million, and only 65 had recent  FY budgets over $300,000. Women’s rights organizations had an average budget of just $20,000, 50% of them had never gotten core financing, 50% had never received multi-year funding, and 98% of them had not raised all their funds for the upcoming year. A significant amount of aid cash earmarked for the Global South ultimately remains in the Global North. Development money anticipated to return to donor countries exceeds $24 billion.

A UN report shows that women and girls are not receiving nearly enough medical and non-medical support when dealing with gender-based violence. Globally, nations provided $204 billion in foreign development aid in 2022, of that substantial amount, just one-fifth (0.2%) was allocated to the prevention of gender-based violence. In the meantime, government organizations or huge aid groups received 98% of that funding. The decline in funding or lack of it has immense catastrophic effects on ending gender-based violence as responders lack training funds contributing to low-quality service provision for survivors of violence in medical care and the care provided may not include all the essential services prescribed. Gender-based violence prevention is not at the top of donors’ priority list when it comes to ODA spending. In 2021, $14.38 billion was spent on health, $10.12 billion on education, $1.84 billion on social protection and $4.14 billion on environmental protection in aid and development. Although ODA has increased generally over the past five years, an OECD analysis shows that support for GBV has decreased by 13% between 2018–2019 ($581 million) and 2020–2021 ($458 million).

International Women's Day highlights the significant role women play in shaping their future. However, only 30% of aid is tailored to women's needs and interests. Women's rights receive only 0.42% of foundation donations and 0.13% of the total Official Development Assistance (ODA) is allocated to Women's Rights Organisations (WROs). Meeting out gender equality goals means this must change fast. Accelerating progress towards generation equality and economic stability means that women and feminist changemakers must be well-supported financially.

By: Agnes Miriam

As we commemorate International Women's Day this year with the theme "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," it is imperative to acknowledge the proactive role that women play in shaping their future. The need to give priority to responding to gender disparities and violence against women and girls is growing. This means that governments must finance measures that take gender equality into account and implement laws and policies that prioritize social protection and other necessities.

Between 2012 and 2013,  USD 4 billion annually on average, or 5% of aid screened against the DAC gender marker, was directed towards gender equality as a primary goal. In contrast, gender equality was the secondary goal of USD 22 billion, or 25%. When combined, these figures indicate that just 30% of help is tailored to the needs and interests of women. While aid for gender equality reached USD 28 billion in 2012–13, the average annual funding for women's civil society organizations and institutions was less than USD 400 million. Women's equality organizations and institutions received a mere 1% of all aid aimed at promoting gender equality in unstable states. However, initiatives to promote state-building and peace are frequently led by women's organizations.

Only 0.42% of foundation grants are allocated towards women’s rights. 0.13% of the total Official Development Assistance (ODA) is allocated to Women’s Rights Organisations(WROs). As of 2017-2018, ODA totalled $153 billion of which, $198 million was given to WROs and 0.4% of all aid associated with all gender-related aid. Four out of every five (48%) of the Global South feminist and women’s rights organizations that filed a profile with the GFW between 2015 and 2019 stated that their most recent fiscal year budget was less than $30,000. Merely two out of every six groups have budgets above $1 million, and only 65 had recent  FY budgets over $300,000. Women’s rights organizations had an average budget of just $20,000, 50% of them had never gotten core financing, 50% had never received multi-year funding, and 98% of them had not raised all their funds for the upcoming year. A significant amount of aid cash earmarked for the Global South ultimately remains in the Global North. Development money anticipated to return to donor countries exceeds $24 billion.

A UN report shows that women and girls are not receiving nearly enough medical and non-medical support when dealing with gender-based violence. Globally, nations provided $204 billion in foreign development aid in 2022, of that substantial amount, just one-fifth (0.2%) was allocated to the prevention of gender-based violence. In the meantime, government organizations or huge aid groups received 98% of that funding. The decline in funding or lack of it has immense catastrophic effects on ending gender-based violence as responders lack training funds contributing to low-quality service provision for survivors of violence in medical care and the care provided may not include all the essential services prescribed. Gender-based violence prevention is not at the top of donors’ priority list when it comes to ODA spending. In 2021, $14.38 billion was spent on health, $10.12 billion on education, $1.84 billion on social protection and $4.14 billion on environmental protection in aid and development. Although ODA has increased generally over the past five years, an OECD analysis shows that support for GBV has decreased by 13% between 2018–2019 ($581 million) and 2020–2021 ($458 million).

International Women's Day highlights the significant role women play in shaping their future. However, only 30% of aid is tailored to women's needs and interests. Women's rights receive only 0.42% of foundation donations and 0.13% of the total Official Development Assistance (ODA) is allocated to Women's Rights Organisations (WROs). Meeting out gender equality goals means this must change fast. Accelerating progress towards generation equality and economic stability means that women and feminist changemakers must be well-supported financially.

By: Agnes Miriam

As we commemorate International Women's Day this year with the theme "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," it is imperative to acknowledge the proactive role that women play in shaping their future. The need to give priority to responding to gender disparities and violence against women and girls is growing. This means that governments must finance measures that take gender equality into account and implement laws and policies that prioritize social protection and other necessities.

Between 2012 and 2013,  USD 4 billion annually on average, or 5% of aid screened against the DAC gender marker, was directed towards gender equality as a primary goal. In contrast, gender equality was the secondary goal of USD 22 billion, or 25%. When combined, these figures indicate that just 30% of help is tailored to the needs and interests of women. While aid for gender equality reached USD 28 billion in 2012–13, the average annual funding for women's civil society organizations and institutions was less than USD 400 million. Women's equality organizations and institutions received a mere 1% of all aid aimed at promoting gender equality in unstable states. However, initiatives to promote state-building and peace are frequently led by women's organizations.

Only 0.42% of foundation grants are allocated towards women’s rights. 0.13% of the total Official Development Assistance (ODA) is allocated to Women’s Rights Organisations(WROs). As of 2017-2018, ODA totalled $153 billion of which, $198 million was given to WROs and 0.4% of all aid associated with all gender-related aid. Four out of every five (48%) of the Global South feminist and women’s rights organizations that filed a profile with the GFW between 2015 and 2019 stated that their most recent fiscal year budget was less than $30,000. Merely two out of every six groups have budgets above $1 million, and only 65 had recent  FY budgets over $300,000. Women’s rights organizations had an average budget of just $20,000, 50% of them had never gotten core financing, 50% had never received multi-year funding, and 98% of them had not raised all their funds for the upcoming year. A significant amount of aid cash earmarked for the Global South ultimately remains in the Global North. Development money anticipated to return to donor countries exceeds $24 billion.

A UN report shows that women and girls are not receiving nearly enough medical and non-medical support when dealing with gender-based violence. Globally, nations provided $204 billion in foreign development aid in 2022, of that substantial amount, just one-fifth (0.2%) was allocated to the prevention of gender-based violence. In the meantime, government organizations or huge aid groups received 98% of that funding. The decline in funding or lack of it has immense catastrophic effects on ending gender-based violence as responders lack training funds contributing to low-quality service provision for survivors of violence in medical care and the care provided may not include all the essential services prescribed. Gender-based violence prevention is not at the top of donors’ priority list when it comes to ODA spending. In 2021, $14.38 billion was spent on health, $10.12 billion on education, $1.84 billion on social protection and $4.14 billion on environmental protection in aid and development. Although ODA has increased generally over the past five years, an OECD analysis shows that support for GBV has decreased by 13% between 2018–2019 ($581 million) and 2020–2021 ($458 million).

International Women's Day highlights the significant role women play in shaping their future. However, only 30% of aid is tailored to women's needs and interests. Women's rights receive only 0.42% of foundation donations and 0.13% of the total Official Development Assistance (ODA) is allocated to Women's Rights Organisations (WROs). Meeting out gender equality goals means this must change fast. Accelerating progress towards generation equality and economic stability means that women and feminist changemakers must be well-supported financially.

SOURCE: Addis Standard

Addis Abeba – When the residents of the Jardega Jarte district within the Horro Guduru Wollega Zone of the Oromia region were compelled to evacuate their residences in pursuit of safety after what locals characterized as “an assault perpetrated by Fano” in September 2023, the trajectory of Hana Tadesse’s life (pseudonym) took an irreversibly adverse turn.

SOURCE: allAfrica

Nairobi — A spate of femicides has spurred calls for justice for women across Kenya, where more than a dozen women have been killed since the start of the year.

SOURCE: allAfrica

Joint Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, OHCHR High Commissioner Volker Türk, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

SOURCE: UNFPA

WEST DARFUR STATE, Sudan – “I came to the health center after the fighting calmed down, but I found it destroyed – there were no beds left, no equipment, no supplies,” recalled Hiba*, a doctor in the city of El Geneina, in Sudan’s West Darfur State.

SOURCE: The New Times

Rwanda has initiated antenatal Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) for pregnant women, aiming to enhance maternal nutritional status and further mitigate the risk of adverse birth outcomes, including stunting, across the country.

Source: The Guardian

At least four women have been murdered since the start of the year, leading to accusations of government inaction

Rights groups are calling for the Kenyan government to urgently investigate and prosecute cases of femicide, after the brutal murders of two women.

Vacancy for New Board Members with Fundraising Expertise

Make Every Woman Count (MEWC) is looking for two outstanding team players with fundraising and resource mobilisation expertise to join our current board as trustees to help steer the charity forward.

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