Urgent Action Fund-Africa
The Urgent Action Fund-Africa (UAF-Africa) is a regional feminist fund dedicated to supporting the work of African women human rights defenders (WHRDs) and their organizations. They provide rapid response grants to enable WHRDs to seize opportunities, respond to urgent threats, and advance the cause of women’s human rights across Africa.
Mission and Values:
- Empowering WHRDs: UAF-Africa prioritizes supporting the vital work of WHRDs who advocate for social, economic, political, and environmental justice for women and girls in Africa.
- Rapid Response Mechanism: Their unique grant-making approach emphasizes rapid response, providing flexible funding to WHRDs facing unforeseen risks or opportunities.
- Feminist Solidarity: UAF-Africa upholds feminist principles, promoting gender equality and amplifying the voices of African women on the frontlines of human rights struggles.
Key Activities:
- Grant Programs: UAF-Africa offers various rapid response grant programs for WHRDs and women’s rights organizations working on critical issues such as:
- Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response
- Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
- Women’s economic empowerment
- Environmental justice and climate change activism
- Countering violent extremism and promoting peacebuilding
- Capacity Building: In addition to funding, UAF-Africa may offer training and capacity-building workshops for WHRDs, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively advocate for human rights.
- Advocacy: UAF-Africa participates in advocacy efforts to raise awareness about the challenges faced by WHRDs and promote policies that uphold women’s human rights in Africa.
Impact of UAF-Africa:
- UAF-Africa has supported countless WHRDs and women’s rights organizations across Africa, enabling them to carry out crucial work in often challenging and dangerous environments.
- Their rapid response grants provide timely and essential resources, allowing WHRDs to take swift action and maximize their impact.
- UAF-Africa contributes to building a stronger and more vibrant African feminist movement.