Harnessing the Power of African Women: AWDF

African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) supports local, national and regional women-led organizations across Africa. As the first pan-African grant-making foundation, AWDF envisions a world where African women have social justice, equality, and respect for their rights and it works to mobilize financial resources to achieve this vision. AWDF champions African women in several ways. They focus on fundraising within and outside of Africa, make grants and provide technical assistance to assist organizations in reaching their goals and highlights the achievements of African women’s organizations. AWDF has funded over 1,2000 organizations in 42 African countries. Since its founding in 2001, it has provided $34.2 million in grants.  Their focus areas include:

  • Women’s Human Rights

  • Political Participation

  • Peace Building

  • Health and Reproductive Rights

  • HIV/AIDS

  • Economic Empowerment

AWDF’s AfriRep is an open source digital library of information on African feminism and women’s rights movement in Africa.  Voice, Power and Soul II: Portraits of African Feminists is just one of many publications AWDF has produced over the years that captures and informs on the role of African women in their communities. 

For more information, please visit the African Women’s Development Fund website.

*Member Spotlight highlights how members of AGAG are working to promote robust, effective, and responsive philanthropy to benefit African communities. 

Africa Grantmakers Affinity Group