SOUTH AFRICA: Moving Closer to True Empowerment

South African women's rights organisations will soon have willing donors on their doorstep, thanks to the launch of the African Women's Development Fund in the country.

Today, world renowned women and children's rights activist Graça Machel will officially open AWDF's satellite office at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Rosebank, Johannesburg.

The fund was launched 10 years ago in Accra, Ghana, to provide funding, technical assistance and capacity building to women's groups working in the areas of women's human rights, political participation, peace building, health and reproductive rights, HIV-Aids and economic empowerment in Africa.

Since its launch the fund has assisted more than 800 women's organisations in 42 African countries with grants totalling R98 million.

"The vision of AWDF is for African women to live in a world where there is social justice, equality and respect for their human rights. To this end our mission is to mobilise financial resources to support local, national and regional initiatives led by women, which will lead to the achievement of this vision," AWDF's Myesha Jenkins said.

Jenkins said the Rosebank office, one of many to be established on the continent, seeks to support and strengthen the work of grant partners in the sub-region and contribute to strengthening the women's movement as a whole.

She said talks will be held with grantees and development partners to discuss achievements, challenges and future work required to develop women's rights organisations in South Africa.

"This convening will inform the strategic work to be undertaken by the AWDF's satellite office," Jenkins said.

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, the fund's executive director, said she was "pleased" with the launch of the satellite office.

Board members are professor Sesae Felicity Mpuchane, Patricia Nozipho January Bardill, Namane Mileah Maga Magau, Angie Makwetla, Tina Thiart, Hilda Tadria, Joana Foster, Yvonne Mhinga and herself.

"Together, we look forward to supporting the work of African women's rights organisations in South Africa," Adeleye-Fayemi said.