Susana Klein Leaders for change: why support women’s rights organisations? Emily Esplen, Womankind Worldwide

“In a patriarchal society, it is extremely difficult for women to be heard, so it is important that women come together. Unless they act together, no-one is going to hear them. They find security and strength in each other’s experiences.” Bandana Rana, Director of Saathi, Nepal

March 2013 2 Leaders for Change Foreword “While there is Recent years have seen increasing attention Development (AWID) in 2011 found that more money to women and girls from development only one-tenth of the organisations out there for actors. Powerful institutions such as the received funding from bilateral, national 5 women and World Bank have championed women as governments and INGOs . Only 6.9% ‘agents of change’. For the first time in 2012 received funding from UN Women and only girls, it is not the World Bank’s World Development 3% from corporate funds. reaching Report focused exclusively on gender So while there is more money out there for women's rights equality. Private foundations such as the women and girls, it is not reaching women’s organisations.” Gates Foundation and Nike Foundation, bi- rights organisations. lateral donor agencies including Norway, This situation makes it difficult for women’s Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands and the UK, rights organisations to undertake the and large international non-governmental longer-term structural work essential to organisations (INGOs), have all expanded shifting gender power relations. It also their focus on women and girls2. prevents them from developing their This spotlight has acted as an impetus to organisational capacity and independent expand funding commitments on gender political agenda or strategy. Instead their equality and women’s rights. However, energy and resources are directed towards women’s rights organisations are often delivering short-term projects that often unable to tap into these new funding reflect the priorities of donors rather than opportunities3. constituents’ needs, and which are Just 1.3% of all Organisation for Economic unsustainable in the longer-term6. Co-operation and Development (OECD) This brief seeks to increase recognition of Development Assistance Committee (DAC) the unique and essential roles that women’s screened funds dedicated to gender equality rights organisations and movements play in in the 2010 budget went to women’s rights advancing gender equality and women’s organisations4 and ministries. rights around the world. It makes the case A global survey of 1119 women’s for increasing funding to southern women’s organisations from over 140 countries by rights organisations and explores promising the Association of Women’s Rights in donor practices being used to achieve this. Why support women’s rights 2. Alpizar, L., Clark, C., Rosenhek, S. and Vidal, V. 2010. Context and Trends Influencing the Funding Landscape for Gender Equality and organisations? Women’s Organizations and Movements, Association for Women’s Rights in Development “Supporting women’s rights equality and women’s rights – women and (AWID) organisations… to make change and women’s rights organisations8. 3. Ibid build strong and inclusive social 4.Tolmay, S. 2012. Financing For Women’s rights organisations, defined as Gender Equality: Rhetoric Versus movements is the most effective Real Financial Support, Association women-led organisations working to for Women’s Rights in mechanism for ensuring sustainable Development (AWID) advance gender equality and women’s change in the lives of women and girls.” 5. Pittman, A., Arutyunova, A., rights, comprise a huge spectrum and Vidal Degiorgis, V and Shaw, A. 2012. 2011 AWID Global Survey: UK Department for International diversity. Some operate primarily at the Where is the Money for Women’s Rights, Association of Women’s Development Theory of Change for grassroots level and have a strong Rights in Development Tackling and 6. Castillejo, C. 2011. ‘Building a connection with communities. Others are State that Works for Women: Girls, 20127 Integrating Gender into Post- active in advocacy and accountability work Conflict State Building’, Working Paper 107, FRIDE National governments hold ultimate at national, regional and international 7. DFID, 2012, How To Note: A responsibility for promoting and protecting levels. Many are self-led organisations – for Theory of Change for Tackling Violence against Women and Girls women’s rights. But sustainable change example, of rural women, farm workers, 8.Women’s rights organisations are requires governments and donors to work women living in urban slum areas, domestic women-led organisations with a strong commitment to gender in partnership with the primary workers, migrants, indigenous women, Dalit equality and advancing women’s rights stakeholders of efforts to achieve gender women, sex workers, disabled women, 3 Leaders for Change

women living with HIV, lesbians, • ensure that they invest sustainably in transwomen. those organisations with the ability to History has shown that women’s rights tackle root causes of inequality and organisations and movements are a vital catalyse long-term shifts in the status quo. catalyst for gender equality and the This is an intensely political project that 12 realisation of women’s rights9. Over and needs to be locally driven . over again, in all different contexts, women This brief shows why it is so vital to support have realised the necessity of organising women’s rights organisations. It is based on autonomously in order to raise their existing research and evidence from the concerns and achieve change. Women’s literature as well as the learning of rights organisations can empower and Womankind’s partners and programmes mobilise women, including the poorest and around the world. most marginalised, to come together to Creating spaces for women to see know and claim their rights. Especially in themselves and their situation the case of self-led women’s organisations, differently they also have a solid base in the daily “By getting together, becoming united, by 9. Htun, M. and Weldon, L. 2012. realities of women’s and girls’ lives and the ‘The Civic Origins of Progressive becoming members [of Sagtagram] we Policy Change: Combating legitimacy to speak on behalf of women Violence against Women in Global have learnt. When we were by ourselves, Perspective, 1975–2005’, and represent their concerns and priorities American Political Science Review, there was no unity. Now everyone is Cambridge University Press and in a way that mainstream (non-gender the American Political Science 10 together. There are 20 members here: can Association focused) organisations lack . anyone’s husband come here to beat her?” 10. However it is important to recognise that women’s rights Of course not all women’s rights organisations are not necessarily Jamuna, a member of Sagtagram, a representative of all women – they organisations are exemplary. Many lack may be led by elite women with landless women’s organisation in rural little connection to grassroots capacity, for example in areas such as 13 communities, for example. Care is Bangladeshv therefore needed in determining monitoring and evaluation, administration, which organisations to partner Strong women’s organisations and with. organisational development, advocacy and movements play a critical role in creating 11. Women’s Resource Centre, fundraising. Some are led by elite women 2011, Hidden Value: spaces for women and girls to come together, Demonstrating the Extraordinary who have little connection to grassroots Impact of Women’s Voluntary and analyse their situation and how it could be Community Organisations communities. Some can be quite improved, and realise that the injustices they 12. O’Connell, H.,Forthcoming, conservative in their approach, for example What added value do experience are also experienced by others, organisations that are led and promoting agendas focused on traditional managed by women and girls are structural, and can be challenged14. bring to work addressing the gender roles and family reunification. rights, needs and priorities of Research by the Pathways of Women’s women and girls?, prepared for However, by selecting partners with proven Comic Relief Empowerment Programme shows that 13. Kabeer, N. and Huq, L. 2010 commitment to women’s rights, and The Power of Relationships: Love relationships fostered in the spaces created and Solidarity in a Landless building their capacity where required, Women's Organisation in Rural by women’s rights organisations often bring Bangladesh. IDS Bulletin, 41: 79– partnerships with women’s rights 87 about the kind of changes associated with organisations can enable donor agencies 14. O’Connell, H.,Forthcoming, empowerment – growth in self-confidence, What added value do and international NGOs to: organisations that are led and acquisition of new capabilities and managed by women and girls • support existing local agendas for bring to work addressing the consciousness about gender injustice, and rights, needs and priorities of women’s rights rather than setting women and girls?, prepared for capacity to act collectively to demand Comic Relief agendas from the outside that don’t rights15. These are an essential precondition 15. Pathways of Women's Empowerment (2012) necessarily reflect the priorities of women to women starting to challenge this Empowerment: A Journey Not a Destination, Brighton: Pathways of themselves; injustice in their everyday lives16. Women’s Empowerment • connect with and support the needs of 16. International Center for Nurturing stronger relationships between Research on Women (ICRW) and grassroots women, including those in Instituto Promundo, 2010, women also strengthens their ability to Evolving Men: Initial Results of the remote areas who are least able to make International Men and Gender respond to threats and feel safer in their Equality Survey (IMAGES) 11 their priorities heard ; communities17. This in turn makes it more 17. Bruce, J. and Hallman, K. 2008. ‘Reaching the Girls Left • draw on women’s rights organisations as a likely that women will have the confidence Behind’, Gender and Development, 16:2, 227-245; The source of knowledge and expertise for and support necessary to challenge the Population Council, 2010, Girl Centred Programme Design: A policy dialogue and decision-making on status quo and respond to the backlash that Toolkit to Develop, Strengthen and Expand Adolescent Girls Program aid distribution and management; invariably follows. For example, Womankind 4 Leaders for Change

and ActionAid research on women’s role in a number of women to be involved in peacebuilding – From the Ground Up – committees, two of whom became showed that being a member of a women’s committee leaders. AWRC supported these group helped women have more influence women to become committee leaders at the in building peace and offered them a district level. Following their experience and greater degree of protection and support18. the increased access to politics this gave Having a safe space and social support them, they ran for election in parliament network is particularly critical for women and both won seats23. and girls suffering violence, when it may be Spearheading legal and policy a matter of life or death19. change Mobilising women to claim their “... Security Council Resolution 1325, rights and become advocates for achieving 30% of women’s gender justice representation in parliaments, and many “Women’s organisations are unique in other commitments would never have their ability to support, mobilise and come to pass without the advocacy of a inspire women and seek to establish long strong women’s movement.” term solutions to the challenges they face.” Joanne Sandler, Deputy Director, UNIFEM, Women’s Resource Centre 2011: 1020 2006xvii As well as the emphasis on consciousness- 18. Womankind Worldwide, Central to the strategies of many women’s ActionAid UK and the Institute of raising and mobilisation, women’s rights Development Studies. 2012. From rights organisations is an emphasis on the Ground Up: Women’s Roles in organisations and movements are vital in Local Peacebuilding in mobilising women to know and claim their Afghanistan, , Nepal, building political will and spearheading Pakistan and rights at all levels: in the home, in the 19. O’Connell, H.,Forthcoming, community and from formal state constitutional, legal and policy reform in What added value do 24 organisations that are led and institutions and structures. By acting as an favour of women’s rights . managed by women and girls bring to work addressing the intermediary between formal institutions Few of the gains made on women’s rights in rights, needs and priorities of women and girls?, prepared for and communities, they can demystify legal the last 20 years – the landmark Beijing Comic Relief instruments that otherwise seem abstract Platform of Action, the recognition of 20. Women’s Resource Centre, 2011, Hidden Value: and out of reach for the majority of women. women’s rights as human rights, legislative Demonstrating the Extraordinary Impact of Women’s Voluntary and and policy changes at the national level – Community Organisations For example, in , Isis-Wicce builds would have been achieved without the 21. the capacity of women survivors of sexual http://www.fride.org/homepage_e advocacy of women’s rights organisations nglish violence to use United Nations resolution 22. Castillejo, C. 2011. ‘Building a 1325 and related resolutions to hold local and movements to raise public awareness State that Works for Women: 26 Integrating Gender into Post- and national governments accountable. and pressure governments for change . Conflict State Building’, Working Paper 107, FRIDE Over 1,000 women have been trained to In particular, women’s rights organisations 23. Womankind Worldwide, date and many have gone on to become and movements have taken the lead in ActionAid UK and the Institute of Development Studies. 2012. From community and national advocates for advancing core feminist issues on national the Ground Up: Women’s Roles in Local Peacebuilding in women’s rights and peace. and international agendas, such as violence Afghanistan, Liberia, Nepal, Pakistan and Sierra Leone Women’s civil society activism also provides a against women and girls. This was powerfully 24. Kerr, J, 2007, The Second Fundher Report: Financial platform for women to enter formal politics demonstrated by the recent findings of a Sustainability for Women’s Movement Worldwide, without having to come up through political four-decade research effort in 70 countries, Association for Women’s Rights in 21 Development parties. Research by FRIDE found that, in which found that the mobilisation of feminist 25. UN Women, 2012, Report of Sierra Leone, the majority of women movements is more important for combating the Expert Group Meeting on Prevention of Violence Against parliamentarians and councillors interviewed violence against women than the wealth of Women and Girls, Bangkok, Thailand, 17-20 September 2012 had gained visibility as civil society leaders nations, left-wing political parties, or the 27 26. Ibid; UN Women, 2011, before moving into formal political spaces22. number of women politicians. Progress of the World’s Women 2011-2012: In Pursuit of Justice, There are abundant examples of the success New York: UN Women In Afghanistan, Womankind’s partner, the 27. Htun, M. and Weldon, L. Afghan Women’s Resource Centre (AWRC), of women’s rights organisations in lobbying 2012. ‘The Civic Origins of Progressive Policy Change: has been supporting the creation of for reform of legal systems and frameworks. Combating Violence against Women in Global Perspective, women’s committees in local communities In Bolivia, when the country’s first 1975–2005’, American Political Science Review, Cambridge where it is still rare to encounter women in indigenous President came to power in University Press and the American Political Science Association decision-making positions. AWRC supported 2006, women’s rights organisations formed 5 Leaders for Change

a diverse alliance to lobby for a new investigation, prosecution and medical constitution that reflected their priorities. services34. The presence of third party They consulted with 30,000 women across observers has made service providers more the country before drawing up proposals responsive to the needs of women affected for the Constituent Assembly – the body by violence and has led to changes in responsible for overseeing and drafting the procedures and training35.

28. Womankind Worldwide, constitution. In 2009, Bolivians voted in a 2009, CEDAW: The 30 Year Expertise and innovation Struggle for Equality new constitution which enshrined the http://www.womankind.org.uk/w The strong track record of women’s rights p-content/uploads/2011/02/2009- principles of equal opportunity, non- CEDAW-the-Thirty-Year-Struggle-f organisations is a reflection of their specialist or-Equality.pdf discrimination, equity and affirmative gender expertise. Many emerged as a direct 29. Manuh, T. The Passage of action and gave much greater political Domestic Violence Legislation in response to the injustice or abuse that . Pathways of Women’s rights to women and indigenous peoples28. Empowerment Available at: women experience and so have in-depth http://www.pathwaysofempower Other examples of success include the ment.org/ understanding of the issues and a direct 30. The Maputo Protocol is the Domestic Violence Legislation in Ghana, connection to a constituency of women36. Protocol to the African Charter on passed due to mass mobilisation by Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Where resources are limited, it does not Rights of Women in Africa. women’s rights coalitions such as “Sisters 31. See the SOAWR website: therefore make sense to fund the work of http://www.soawr.org/en/ Keepers” and the National Coalition on http://awid.org/News- 29 mainstream organisations at the expense of Analysis/Friday-Files/African-Wome Domestic Violence Legislation . Another n-s-Organizing-for-the- women’s rights organisations which have Ratification-and-Implementation-o win was the campaign for ratification and f-the-Maputo-Protocol strong gendered analysis, are a crucial implementation of the Maputu Protocol30 32. Sardenberg, C. (2011) ‘What source of knowledge and innovation on makes domestic violence by the NGO coalition Solidarity for African legislation more effective?’ women’s rights, and whose existence affirms Pathways of Women’s Women’s Rights31. Empowerment; Pathways of women’s leadership and participation40. Women's Empowerment (2012) Women’s rights organisations have often Empowerment: A journey not a Women’s rights organisations have pioneered destination been especially influential in post-conflict many effective models and mechanisms for 33.Sardenberg, C. (2011) ‘What contexts, where they can play a key role in makes domestic violence advancing women’s rights, such as women’s legislation more effective?’ the development of new laws and Pathways of Women’s police stations and family courts, which are Empowerment constitutions and lobbying for women’s 34. Ibid now adopted widely by security sector participation in formal peace processes and 35. Ibid agencies and international bodies. political settlements. For instance, in Nepal 36. O’Connell, H.,Forthcoming, What added value do the Women’s Alliance for Peace, Power, They have also pioneered models for organisations that are led and managed by women and girls Democracy and the Constituent Assembly advancing gender equality and women’s bring to work addressing the 41 rights, needs and priorities of were instrumental in securing the one-third rights at the community level . women and girls?, prepared for Comic Relief quota for women in the parliamentary In , Womankind’s partner, Women 37. Pathways of Women's for Change (WfC), have developed an Empowerment (2012) elections of 2008, as well as in the Empowerment: A journey not a innovative model of community destination, Brighton: Pathways of development of Nepal’s National Action Women’s Empowerment, available mobilisation. Using popular education at: Plan on the United Nations Security Council http://www.pathwaysofempower methodologies, gender analysis and human ment.org/PathwaysSynthesisRepor Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and t.pdf Security. rights education, WfC’s animators live and 38. Email correspondence with work with rural communities over many Jessica Horn, Advisor on: Gender and Development Network, 2012, Holding governments accountable years to promote critical reflection on Guidance on Community Programming on VAWG, Women’s rights organisations also play a traditional norms and practices. To ensure Department for International Development critical accountability role – monitoring the sustainability of the work and to build 39. AusAID, 2008, Violence against Women in Melanesia and implementation of legislation and seeking women’s leadership from the local level, East Timor: Building on Global and 32 Regional Promising Approaches redress in cases of state negligence . WfC support communities to organise 40. Alpizar, L., Clark, C., In Bangladesh, for example, while various themselves into associations, led by women, Rosenhek, S. and Vidal, V. 2010. Context and Trends Influencing laws had been passed to address violence with resources that are managed by women the Funding Landscape for Gender Equality and Women’s against women, they had not been (the treasurer is always a woman). Organizations and Movements, Association for Women’s Rights in adequately enforced and services remained Recognising the influential role of Development (AWID) http://www.awid.org/content/dow inadequate. In response, the women’s rights traditional leaders as ‘custodians of culture’, nload/109528/1254849/file/5%20 %20FundHer%20Research%20U organisation Naripokkho implemented a WfC has also established a Traditional pdate%202010.pdf project on Monitoring State Interventions Leaders Programme that works with Chiefs 41. DFID, 2012, How To Note: a practical guide to community to Combat Violence Against Women, which and Village Headpersons to re-examine and programming on violence against women and girls assessed the process of lodging a complaint, abolish customs that discriminate against 6 Leaders for Change

“There is no women including sexual cleansing, wife of violence and discrimination justified by shortage of inheritance, early marriage, and trafficking. ideas of ‘culture’ or ‘religion’. For example, effective What started as a regional initiative within in Nigeria, women’s rights organisations models, but Zambia led to the launch of the Southern have been at the forefront of defending African Development Community Council women facing prosecution under Shari’a they often for Traditional Leaders in 2007 across all of law for adultery. This includes the case of take time. southern Africa. Amina Lawal which made international Due to There is no shortage of effective models, but headlines in 2003. A coalition of women’s underfunding they often take time. Due to underfunding rights organisations launched a successful of women's of women’s rights organisations globally43, national and local campaign alongside legal rights in particular a shortage of funding which arguments, which resulted in charges 48 organisations commits beyond an annual cycle, many against Amina Lawal being dropped . globally, many organisations have not had the resources Intervention models developed wholly needed to take this work to scale44. outside a particular context are unlikely to organisations be as effective and may put women at risk Understanding the context have not had of intimidation and violence due to failure the resources There is no blueprint for promoting to integrate and address locally-relevant to take this women’s rights; what works in one context risks and community dynamics. will not necessarily produce the same results work to Connected to communities scale.” elsewhere and what works for one woman will not necessarily work for another. “Socio-cultural, economic and political Women’s rights organisations have a fuller processes of change cannot be imposed understanding of the context – including on society solely through government religious and cultural systems and plural efforts, but must be brought about legal orders – than external actors. They through change within society itself. We also have experience of navigating local believe that this can be done most and national politics and securing the effectively with an efficient and effective support of those who wield power45. network of civil society organizations.” Many countries have plural legal systems Robert Dijksterhuis, Head of the Gender which women engage with depending on Department of the Ministry of Foreign their particular situation – for instance, Affairs of the Netherlands, responsible for seeking informal dispute mediation on the MDG3 and FLOW Funds (see below)49 some occasions and on others demanding Women’s rights organisations from or with more punitive measures to seek redress. connections to grassroots urban and rural Women’s rights organisations understand communities play a unique role in service this and support women to access justice provision, social norm and behaviour change appropriate to their needs and demands. work, and advocacy. They have regular They also have experience of negotiating contact with women in their communities 42. Ibid plural legal systems to women’s advantage and tend to have well-established 43. AWID’s Where is the Money and appropriating international human for Women’s Rights Initiative community-based networks, which include 46 44. UN Women, 2012, Report of rights standards into local practices . law enforcement and service providers. the Expert Group Meeting on Prevention of Violence Against For example, in Uganda, the Federation of Women and Girls, Bangkok, Womankind’s partner in , the Thailand, 17-20 September 2012 Women Lawyers (FIDA-Uganda) initiated Women’s Legal Aid Centre (WLAC), uses an 45. DFID, 2012, How To Note: a dialogue with local community elders in the practical guide to community innovative approach, training women in programming on violence against Acholi districts of northern Uganda to women and girls refugee camps to become paralegals and address sexual and gender-based violence, 46. UN Women, 2011, Progress of provide legal services to other refugees. the World’s Women 2011-2012: engaging with a legal-cultural institution In Pursuit of Justice, New York: UN WLAC have found that women are much Women made up of traditional leaders. This led to more comfortable approaching fellow 47. Ibid the drafting of principles to guide the refugees about violence than using services 48. see http://www.wluml.org/node/1163 elders in their future judgements, drawing provided by development and humanitarian 47 49. Kinoti K. 2011. The Centrality on international human rights standards . organisations. WLAC have also built the of Investing in Women’s Rights Organizations and Leadership: the Women’s rights organisations also have capacity of law enforcers to respond to Launch of the Dutch FLOW Fund, AWID experience and legitimacy in tackling forms violence against women and girls in the 7 Leaders for Change Sandra Calligaro / Picturetank Sandra Calligaro

“Women’s camps, including police, immigration mutilation (FGM) in the Kembatta Tembaro rights officers, social welfare and community Zone of . Over ten years, KMG’s organisations development officers, magistrates and camp work has led to the abandonment of the wield broad settlement officers. annual public FGM ritual and a reduction from 97% to just 5% in people who said influence – Transforming the socio-cultural norms that undermine women’s they would have their daughters cut. Key to from grassroots rights KMG’s success has been their efforts to build rapport with communities and secure the organising to Working in partnership with women’s rights backing of traditional and religious leaders. advocacy and organisations is essential for governments, accountability donors and other external actors who wish Women’s rights organisations wield broad work – and are to promote and support transformations in influence – from grassroots organising to uniquely placed gender norms. To be effective, social norm advocacy and accountability work – and are to mobilise and behaviour change work must be led by uniquely placed to mobilise women to voice women to voice organisations that have a connection to the their demands for gender justice. This is key community and are able and willing to to building the kind of collective power their demands engage over long periods of time50. Women’s needed to bring down the structural for gender rights organisations have a clear advantage barriers to women’s equality. Unlike other justice.” over other actors (donors, governments, development actors whose support for international NGOs, private sector) in doing gender equality and women’s rights tends this kind of long-term empowerment work. to fluctuate as funding trends shift, A good example is the work of women’s rights organisations have a long- Womankind’s partner KMG in Ethiopia, term commitment which is essential for this 50. UN Women Baseline survey on which has implemented a highly effective deeper, more systemic work needed to shift violence against women and peacebuilding: Liberia 2011 programme to tackle female genital gender power structures. 8 Leaders for Change Challenges facing women’s rights organisations “Only 28% of “Within women’s movements and The most recent survey (2011) revealed that: women’s organizations, the struggle for • 35% of organisations sampled rights organizational or personal survival, for experienced a significant budget shortfall, retaining autonomy while also having to organisations with one-fifth of organisations facing the compromise with changing funding threat of closure; surveyed policies, and the backlash, in many • Across the sample, women’s rights locations, against feminist agendas, have received core organisations were living month to month all taken a toll.” funding in and had not secured all of their funding 2010.” Srilatha Batliwala, Scholar Associate with for their current fiscal year; 51 AWID • There was a general trend of fragmented Despite their enormous added value, many funding, directed toward project rather women’s rights organisations are struggling than core funding and one year grant to survive in the current aid environment cycles rather than multiyear commitments; marked by changed aid modalities, • Only 28% of women’s rights organisations increasing competition for funding, and the surveyed received core funding in 2010 heavy demands of the ‘results agenda’. (funds to support the functioning of the New funding modalities organisation as a whole, including staff “WROs [women’s rights organisations] salaries and rents, as opposed to project- find themselves in unfair competition specific funding) and nearly half had with often larger organisations to access never received core funding. funding disbursed through modalities In the face of fragmented, short-term that simply have not been designed to funding and small amounts of money, take their agendas, ways of working and women’s rights organisations are often perspectives into account.” unable to scale up innovative models and Maitrayee Mukhopadhyay and Rosalind approaches and build their organisational Eyben, Royal Tropical Institute and and operational capacity for the longer- 53 Pathways of Women’s Empowerment, term . 2011: 42 Fierce competition for funds Research by Pathways of Women’s Womankind’s partners have raised Empowerment and the Royal Tropical particular concerns about increasing Institute on the impact of external funding competition for in-country funding on women’s rights organisations shows how between local NGOs and INGOs that has the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness accompanied the decentralisation of many (2005) fundamentally shifted the terms of INGOs. They describe how INGOs often the relationship between women’s rights access funds and then “sub-contract” local 52 51. Batliwala, S., 2008, Changing organisations and donors . In particular, organisations to deliver the work – treating their World: Concepts and Practices of Women’s Movements, direct funding from bi-lateral agencies has them as contractors rather than change- Toronto: AWID been replaced by donor pooling of funds 52. Mukhopadhyay, M. and makers and innovators. These challenges Eyben, R. 2011. Rights and and short-term project-based rather than Resources: the Effects of External are most acute for women’s rights Financing on Organising for core funding. Women’s rights organisations Women’s Rights, Royal Tropical organisations operating at the local level Institute and Pathways of and donor staff interviewed saw these Women’s Empowerment outside of capital cities. Their work tends to changes as detrimental to efforts to secure 53. O’Connell, H.,Forthcoming, be less visible and they are less well What added value do socially transformative outcomes. organisations that are led and rehearsed in speaking ‘donor language’ and managed by women and girls bring to work addressing the Likewise, research carried out by AWID since meeting bureaucratic funding requirements rights, needs and priorities of 54 women and girls?, prepared for 2006 has consistently demonstrated the than their international counterparts . Comic Relief precarious financial position of many Perspectives from Womankind’s partners are 54. Batliwala, S. (2008) Changing their World: Concepts and women’s rights organisations as a result of shared below. Practices of Women’s Movements, Toronto: AWID-- these changing funding trends. 9 FLeaders for Change

Perspectives from Womankind’s partners

“INGOs compete for funding, resources and advocacy space in country. The space is getting crowded. Local NGOs find it difficult to compete with better equipped and resourced INGOs for “INGOs went in after the conflict to profile and networking opportunities with implement much needed humanitarian donors...and therefore funds. They often do not and development work but there does not know how to ‘play the game’ as well.” appear to be any exit strategy now that Sierra Leone is at peace. This is Womankind partner from Zambia suppressing the burgeoning of an empowered local civil society sector especially in terms of women’s rights organisations. Practice shows that where donors or INGOs are supporting local NGOs to implement women’s rights programmes they tend to support mainstream organisations rather than women’s rights organisations as they feel they have more organisational capacity. This results in a catch 22 as women’s rights organisations will continue to be sidelined if they do not receive support from donors to strengthen.” “This creates a lot of tensions and conflicts, but local organisations lose the fight because they are weaker Womankind partner institutionally and are not as well connected in the funding from Sierra Leone circles as INGOs. So sometimes you hear INGOs say they are supporting capacity building of local NGOs when in fact they are stifling their growth by competing with them.” Womankind partner from Ethiopia

“There is a real The results agenda Backlash against women’s risk of reversals Increasing emphasis on demonstrating organising in progress on results is a challenge for most development At the same time as negotiating the gender organisations but can be particularly constraints of external financing, women’s equality unless challenging for women’s rights rights organisations are operating in a organisations because of the structural deeply precarious geo-political context, progressive nature of the changes they are seeking. marked by the resurgence of governments, These changes are complex, take time, and fundamentalisms of all kinds, growing donors and are not easy to measure or quantify – such political and social conservatism, and INGOs continue as transforming entrenched social norms, related backlash against women’s rights to support practices and behaviours. agendas and activism57. In the face of such women’s rights Many women’s rights organisations accept opposition there is a real risk of reversals in organisations.” the need to effectively and convincingly progress on gender equality unless document the results of their work. They progressive governments, donors and INGOs also recognise that being able to effectively continue to support the women’s rights apply M&E frameworks and methods will organisations all over the world that are require developing new skills and capacities, spearheading struggles for equality. and dedicating staff time to this work55. However, research by AWID found that the costs of M&E are rarely factored into project 55. Batliwala, S. 2011. Strengthening Monitoring and costs. Several organisations interviewed said Evaluation for Women's Rights: Twelve Insights for Donors, AWID that the information required of them was 56. Ibid so extensive that almost an entire staff 57. See http://www.awid.org/Our- person was required for the task, but this Initiatives/Resisting-and-Challengin g-Religious-Fundamentalisms cost was not built into their grants56. 10 Leaders for Change

“Women’s Innovative funding models Funds are increasingly This brief has demonstrated the powerful in the box below. Recognising these significant roles of women’s rights organisations in benefits, several donors have devolved players and advancing gender equality and women’s grant-making through women’s funds. rights in the face of enormous challenges. These include the Danish International have a critical In recent years, some donors have begun Development Agency (Danida) which has role in to recognise and support this vital work. devolved funds through Africa Women’s funding This section highlights effective Development Fund, and Irish Aid which organisations approaches and provides funds the international women’s fund, considered too recommendations for donors. Mama Cash. Comic Relief also devolves funding through women’s funds as a small or risky Women’s Funds by the strategy to extend the reach of their funds Women’s Funds are increasingly significant to smaller and medium-sized women’s mainstream.” players and have a critical role in funding organisations60. organisations considered too small or risky by the mainstream58. There are a number of Special donor funds and well-established women’s funds which are budget lines experienced in administering grants to local Special donor funds and budget lines women’s rights organisations59 – Mama dedicated to advancing women’s rights are Cash, the Africa Women’s Development also being used by some bi-lateral and Fund, the Global Fund for Women, the multi-lateral agencies. For example, the Central American Women’s Fund, the MDG3 and FLOW Funds set up by the Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Rights, and the Young Feminist Fund FRIDA. Netherlands represented a historic There are major benefits to channelling commitment to gender equality and money through women’s funds, summarised women’s empowerment and have provided

Women’s Funds61 Added value of the MDG3 Fund63 • can provide small, flexible grants; MDG3 Fund is an exemplary funding model in that it: • can support programme expenses as well as • targets women’s organisations and supports their role in projects so that organisations can cover their advancing gender equality: 35 of the 45 MDG3 Fund core costs; projects were awarded to women’s organisations • reaches grassroots women’s rights organisations by • are increasingly providing multiyear funding, funding intermediaries with partnerships and close links so that organisations can make long-term, to grassroots and local women’s organisations and sustainable plans for their work; movements. This makes funding accessible to a wider • allow simplified grants application, monitoring range and scope of women’s organisations. For and reporting processes – for example, example, the International Network of Women’s Funds accepting applications in any language (as is (INWF) and Central American Women’s Funds (CAWF) the case with the Urgent Action Fund) and received a EUR 1 million grant, of which 80% was encouraging participatory evaluation channelled to small grassroots organisations supporting processes; young women’s efforts to challenge gender inequalities • have strong links with the grassroots level of and discrimination civil society so that they are able to reach • supports a mix of well-known women’s organisations in small, remote and minority organisations; and addition to lesser-known and newer organisations • are often in touch with non-mainstream • supports organisations to scale up the organising and groups that may be focusing on issues rights work that they specialise in considered controversial in some countries, • supports core funding, which is critical for women’s such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organisations to make deeper and more sustainable rights; impacts • enable large grant-makers (e.g. bi-lateral • outsources the administration of the fund, making it a donors) to sub-contract the partnership and realistic model of bilateral funding. administrative workload. 11 Leaders for Change

“Be aware of strategic support to women’s rights the tremendous organisations in several countries, including 62 backlash that core funding . The box below highlights some of the features of the MDG3 Fund women's rights which made it such an innovative funding organisations model – one that could be replicated by can face.” other donors wishing to act more comprehensively on stated commitments to women’s rights. Best practice in funding women’s rights organisations

In order to deliver on commitments to - applications can be in any language gender equality and women’s rights, donor - application forms are kept simple agencies should increase support to and short women’s rights organisations. Below we - evaluations are timed to suit WROs, highlight best practice in funding for are participative and meaningful, women’s rights organisations and provide while being able to capture longer- key recommendations. term change 58. Mukhopadhyay, M. and • Provide flexible, multiyear core funding Eyben, R. 2011. Rights and - extensive evaluations are not imposed – Resources: the Effects of External for women’s rights organisations. This is Financing on Organising for indicators and measuring systems are Women’s Rights, Royal Tropical crucial for their long-term sustainability, Institute and Pathways of open for negotiation with WROs Women’s Empowerment enabling organisations to build up their - reporting processes are flexible and not 59. DAC Network on Gender capacity, protect themselves from external Equality. 2008. Issues Brief 3: time intensive ‘Innovative Funding for Women’s risks and set independent agendas. Organisations’ - multi-donor funds and harmonised 60. O’Connell, H.,Forthcoming, • Recognise specialisation amongst women’s What added value do approaches are used organisations that are led and rights organisations – from meeting managed by women and girls - women’s rights organisations’ own bring to work addressing the practical needs, to attending to women’s rights, needs and priorities of budgets and plans are used where women and girls?, prepared for and girls’ strategic (longer-term, Comic Relief structural) interests, to advocacy, research possible (rather than separate 61. Summary is an extract from application form) with a simple DAC Network on Gender Equality. and analysis. 2008. Issues Brief 3: ‘Innovative cover letter. Funding for Women’s • Develop mechanisms to ensure that Organisations’ • Be aware of the tremendous backlash that 62. Mukhopadhyay, M. and funding reaches grassroots women’s Eyben, R. 2011. Rights and women’s rights organisations can face and Resources: the Effects of External organisations in provincial capitals and Financing on Organising for support partner organisations to establish Women’s Rights, Royal Tropical rural and poor urban areas. This could be Institute and Pathways of appropriate mechanisms to mitigate and Women’s Empowerment achieved through scaling up funding to respond to it. This may include support for 63. Pittman, A. 2011 The Power women’s funds that have links with of Investing in Women’s Rights network building and coordination and Empowerment: A Mid-term grassroots civil society or by considering Summary, AWID between groups, especially when ‘from or reach to grassroots organisations’ 64. DAC Network on Gender undertaking advocacy work, to reduce the Equality. 2008. Issues Brief 3: as a key criteria when making decisions ‘Innovative Funding for Women’s risk of a particular organisation or Organisations’ about allocation of funds. 65. For more information on individual becoming a target. It should protection and empowerment of • Ensure funding streams are accessible to women’s human rights defenders also include systematically integrating see: women’s rights organisations through protection of women human rights Women Human Rights Defenders simplifying grants application, monitoring International Coalition: defenders into grants and programmes. www.defendingwomen- and reporting processes. The following defendingrights.org Donors might want to consider direct recommendations are based on Guidance DFID How To Note: A Practical support to funds that support women’s Guide on Community by the DAC Network on Gender Equality64: Programming on Violence Against human rights defenders such as the Women and Girls - applications should not be expected to Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human European Union Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders be written in perfect English Rights http://urgentactionfund.org/65. 12 Leaders for Change Recommendations

“Donors need to recognise the importance of women mobilising for their rights as the main driver of gender justice and that failure to support WROs [women’s rights organisations’] agendas will mean donors failing to secure their gender equality objectives.” Maitrayee Mukhopadhyay and Rosalind Eyben, Royal Tropical Institute and Pathways of Women’s Empowerment, 2011: 1066 Donors should more generously resource women’s rights organisations, recognising the enormous value of the roles they play in advancing gender equality and women’s rights.

Specifically donors should:

1. Embed a commitment to actively supporting women’s rights organisations across development policy, programming and funding. 2. Increase the accessibility of existing funding streams to women’s rights organisations, particularly funds targeted at human rights and civil society organisations, by acting on the recommendations proposed by the DAC Network on Gender Equality outlined above. 3. Increase devolved funding through women’s funds that have strong partnerships with southern women’s rights organisations, including those with strong links with the grassroots level of civil society and those supporting women’s human rights defenders. 4. Consider setting up dedicated funds for southern women’s rights organisations, drawing on the positive aspects of the MDG3 funding model. 5. Place greater emphasis on core funding, where possible on the basis of women’s rights organisation’s own plan and budget, and provide sizable grants. Small amounts of money can stimulate innovation but does not enable vital expansion, scale-up and strengthening of organisational and operational capacity. 6. Develop more effective systems for tracking how much money is spent on gender and women’s rights, and who receives this funding – including how much reaches southern women’s rights organisations, directly and indirectly. This should include institutionalising sex-disaggregated monitoring systems with the capacity to track the amount and type of support to gender equality through development, diplomatic or defence spending, and its impact, and tracking all aid using the DAC gender equality marker. 66. Mukhopadhyay, M. and Eyben, R. 2011. Rights and 7. Strengthen agencies’ own understanding of the kinds of quantitative and qualitative Resources: the Effects of External Financing on indicators and methodologies that are appropriate to capture complex social change Organising for Women’s Rights, Royal Tropical Institute towards gender equality. and Pathways of Women’s Empowerment

We are grateful to Helen O’Connell for her contribution to this briefing.

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