Directing power and resources towards local NGOs will further support capacity development of local organizations so that they can lobby for broader social change.
“Shifting power and resources towards the Global South Organization will have an impact on how development is implemented. Local organization are in better position to respond to local conditions, it is less costly while promoting strong local ownership of the development intervention which can contribute to sustainability. The empowerment from the process however difficult can also contribute to building strong systems for development. Directing power and resources towards local NGOs will further support capacity development of local organizations so that they can lobby for broader social change. CSO in the south are natural allies within CSOs in the north hence linkages on lobbying between south and north CSO will still be strengthened.
The UDHR, ICESCR, and ICCPR recognizes the right to development. Therefore, developing agencies must give communities including grassroots an opportunity to participate in the process of development and managing their communities and livelihoods."
Katosi Women Development Trust - Margaret Nakato, Executive Director
Katosi Women Development Trust, Margaret Nakato, Coordinator
The Foundation’s partner organizations are generally managed by women and located in the global South.
The Foundation and its partner organizations keep regular contact; their cooperation is based on mutual trust and transparency.
Project duration: 3 years (2022–2024)
Country: Israel (+ Westbank and Gaza)
Partner organization: KAYAN Feminist Organization, Israel
Project duration: 2 years (August 2022 – August 2024)
Country: Uganda (West Nile Region: Adjumani, Lambwo, Arua Districts)
Partner organization: Women Coalition for Empowerment Eastern Africa WCEEA, Kenya
Project duration: 1 year (May 2022 – May 2023)
Country: Kenya (Nairobi)
Partner organization: Candle of Hope Foundation (COHF), Kenya
Project duration: 1 year (2022)
Country: Kenya
Partner organization: Wakina Mama Shupavu, Kenya
Project duration: 3 years (2023–2025)
Country: Bolivia (La Paz Department)
Partner organization: Fundación RENACE (Red Nacional de Acción Ecológica), Bolivia
Project duration: 2 years (2023–2024)
Country: Brazil (Bahia)
Partner organization: Casa de Maria, Brazil
Project duration: 2 years (2022-2023)
Country: Bolivia (Oruro Department)
Partner organization: Colectivo CASA, Bolivia
Project duration: 2 years (2021–2022)
Country: Uganda
Partner organization: Katosi Women Development Trust – KWDT, Uganda
Project duration: 2 years (2021–2022)
Country: Columbia
Partner organizations: CENTRAP, Columbia, and Casa Ernestina Parra, Soacha, Columbia
Project duration: 2 years (2021–2022)
Country: Nepal (Nawalpur and Lalitpur)
Partner organization: Nagarik Aawaz (Citizen’s Voice), Nepal
Project duration: 3 years (2020–2022)
Country: Colombia
Partner organizations: Red Nacional de Mujeres, Bogotá, Colombia
The focus women foundation also supports partner organizations in Switzerland and in Europe, provided they have long-standing good relations for cooperation with women’s organizations in the target country.
Sharing knowledge and experience
Project duration: 5 years (2019–2023)
Country: Nicaragua and further Latin-American states
Partner organizations: Swiss Association for Women’s Solar Projects in Nicaragua (Nicasolar), Switzerland, and Frutesól, Nicaragua
Members of the Frutesól organization share their experience of many years in organic farming and building solar cookers and driers with other women’s organizations. Implementing such environmentally friendly practices enables these women to mitigate the impact of climate change and to contribute to food security in their communities.
The long road to financial independence
Project duration: 4 years (2022–2025)
Country: Bosnia-Herzegovina
Partner organizations: IAMANEH, Switzerland, and Budućnost, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Many women victims of gender-specific violence remain trapped in their domestic environment because they are economically dependent. The program implemented by Budućnost and IAMANEH aims at enabling affected women to break out of this vicious circle with the help of psychological counselling and legal advice.
With a further education program, they can improve their chances on the labour market.
Cooking together helps to solve conflicts
Project duration: 5 years (2021–2025)
Country: Lebanon
Partner organizations: Cuisine sans frontières, Switzerland, and Women’s Program Association, Lebanon
In the Burj El Barajneh refugee camp in Beirut, a restaurant that is accessible only for women and their children was built in cooperation with WPA. It is the only place in the camp where women can meet outside of their homes.
In addition, operating the cafeteria is creating work and training opportunities for women.
Networking for peace
Project duration: 3 years (2021–2023)
Country: worldwide
Partner organization: PWAG (Peace-Women across the Globe), Switzerland
PWAG has been building a network of female peace activists across the world since 2003. The project “Feminists Connecting for Peace” aims at strengthening and expanding the existing net-work. It provides its members with a space for joint learning and exchange of experiences. In ad-dition, it serves as a platform for women to formulate demands that can then be put forward in decision-making processes and taken before the public.
Sanitary pads and education
Project duration: 4 years (2021–2024)
Country: Cameroun and Togo
Partner organization: International Alliance of Women (IAW), Switzerland
The project’s key focus lies on youth education days addressing health, menstruation, women’s sexual and reproductive rights, and gender equality. Young women as well as men are welcome to attend these education events.
For women refugees
Project duration: 2 years (2021–2022)
Country: Greece
Partner organization: SAO Association, Switzerland
Female refugees are more often exposed to gender-specific violence. SAO operates two sanctuar-ies for particularly vulnerable women refugees: one on Lesbos (Bashira Center) and another in Athens (Amina Center). The women are provided with legal counselling, psychosocial support, and medical care.
Women’s power for Lima
Project duration: 3 years (2020–2022)
Country: Peru
Partner organizations: GeTM (Genève Tiers-Monde), Switzerland, and DESCO, Peru
The project called “Ciudad Mujer” (“A city for women”) uses further education events to strength-en 80 women’s organizations and enable them to participate more strongly in governmental and decision-making processes, as well as to defend their interests successfully.
The path towards autonomy
Project duration: 1 year (2022)
Country: Guatemala (Atitlan Lake)
Partner organization: Vision Guatemala, Switzerland
Vision Guatemala helps women to take their future and that of their communities into their own hands. They can attend a further education program and receive support for creating their own small business.
Project duration: 3 years (2022–2024)
Country: Morocco
Partner organizations: Frieda - The Feminist Peace Organisation, Switzerland, and INSAF, Morocco
The project “Karamtna – our dignity” was created in Casablanca by the Frieda’s partner organization INSAF. Its aim is to help improve the socio-economic position of unmarried mothers who live in precarious conditions. A vast range of offers includes medical and legal advice, as well as training opportunities.
“Trabajo Digno” – dignity at work
Project duration: 3 years (2020–2022)
Country: Honduras
Partner organizations: Brücke Le Pont, Switzerland, and Centro de Estudios de la Mujer, Honduras
In Honduras, approximately 100 000 girls and women aged between 15 and 25 work as house-maids. They do not know their rights and are therefore often exploited by their employers. Many of them also experience sexual violence. The “Trabajo Digno” project initiated by Brücke Le Pont helps women to stand up for themselves and to claim their right to having a dignified job. To achieve this, the organization uses further education, an expansion of the existing network of do-mestic staff, as well as initiatives at legislative level.