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Directing power and resources towards local NGOs will further support capacity development of local organizations so that they can lobby for broader social change.

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“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

 

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Portrait

Katosi Women Development Trust, Margaret Nakato, Coordinator

Projects with local partner organizations

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.

Palestinian women’s rights

 

Project duration: 3 years (2022–2024)
Country: Israel (+ Westbank and Gaza)
Partner organization: KAYAN Feminist Organization, Israel

 

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Bicycles for the future

 

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

 

 

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Together for success

 

Project duration: 1 year (May 2022 – May 2023)
Country: Kenya (Nairobi)
Partner organization: Candle of Hope Foundation (COHF), Kenya

 

 

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Wakina Mama Shupavu – self-aid to provide for old age

 

Project duration: 1 year (2022)
Country: Kenya
Partner organization: Wakina Mama Shupavu, Kenya

 

 

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Strengthening local women producers

 

Project duration: 3 years (2023–2025) 
Country: Bolivia (La Paz Department)
Partner organization: Fundación RENACE (Red Nacional de Acción Ecológica), Bolivia

 

 

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Exchange of experience among nut crackers

 

Project duration: 2 years (2023–2024)
Country: Brazil (Bahia)
Partner organization: Casa de Maria, Brazil

 

 

 

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From mining to organic farming

 

Project duration: 2 years (2022-2023)

Country: Bolivia (Oruro Department)

Partner organization: Colectivo CASA, Bolivia 

 

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Knowing and implementing women’s rights

 

Project duration: 2 years (2021–2022)

Country: Uganda 

Partner organization: Katosi Women Development Trust – KWDT, Uganda

 

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Safety and perspective

 

Project duration: 2 years (2021–2022)

Country: Columbia 

Partner organizations: CENTRAP, Columbia, and Casa Ernestina Parra, Soacha, Columbia

 

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To live with dignity

 

Project duration: 2 years (2021–2022)

Country: Nepal (Nawalpur and Lalitpur)

Partner organization: Nagarik Aawaz (Citizen’s Voice), Nepal

 

 

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Coffee women conquer the market

 

Project duration: 3 years (2020–2022)

Country: Colombia

Partner organizations: Red Nacional de Mujeres, Bogotá, Colombia

 

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Third-party projects

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.


> nicasolar.org

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.


> iamaneh.ch

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.


> cuisinesansfrontieres.ch

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.


> PWAG

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.


> International Alliance of Women

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.


> sao.ngo

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.


> GeTM

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.


> vision-guatemala.org

Strengthening single mothers


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.


> frieda.org

“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.


> bruecke-lepont.ch