Oxfam Canada is working with partners in Southern Africa to identify and confront the region’s emerging challenges.  

• Poverty has deepened and inequality has widened and this is profoundly felt by women. A culture of disrespect and domination has resulted in alarming rates of gender-based violence.
• Southern Africa remains the epicentre of the HIV/AIDS pandemic with the highest prevalence rate in the world; 60% of those living with HIV/AIDs are women. 
• Political instability and severe droughts and floods have put millions at risk of food shortages.

Oxfam Canada is providing support and working with our partners to build organizational capacity to increase women’s participation and leadership to meet these challenges, especially to promote and defend their rights to live free from violence.

As a region prone to natural disasters, our humanitarian relief efforts are on-going, with support to small-farmer organizations and communities to improve their resiliency and food security.

HIV/AIDS and Gender are cross-cutting issues for all programmes in the region, in countries such as Zimbabwe and Mozambique, Oxfam Canada is leading initiatives for Gender Justice in collaboration with local partners and other Oxfams.

We also work with local communities to strengthen their ability to advocate for their rights in the face of increased human rights abuses and failure of many governments to live up to their commitments. Our partner organizations in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Namibia, are working hard to demand accountability and justice from their governments.  

Southern Africa - Regional

• Gender Justice Initiatives in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi (jointly with Oxfam International or other Oxfam affiliates)

Mozambique

• Magariro - Community Development Organization
• National Farmers' Union
• Women's HIV/AIDS Education Organization 
• Women and Law in Southern Africa
• Women's Forum
  

Namibia

• Advanced Community Health Services Namibia – COHENA (Omaheke and Hardap Health Education Program)
• !Nara Training Centre
• Sister Namibia

South Africa

• Women on Farms 
• Anti-Privatization Forum
• AGENDA (women's magazine)
• Gender Advocacy Project
• Institute for Women's Development (NISAA)
• Justice and Women
• Rape Crisis Centre  

• East Cape Agriculture Research Project (ECARP)
• Domestic Violence Assistance Programme (DVAP)
• Khanya College

Zimbabwe

• Matabele AIDS Council 
• Southern Africa AIDS Information Dissemination  (SAFAIDS)
• Women and AIDS Support Network (WASN)
• Musasa Project
  

• A Building Community Capacity Project
  
• Emergency Water Point Rehabilitation – (humanitarian project being implemented by Zimbabwe Project Trust, Dabane Trust, Musasa and Matabeleland Aids Council)