Southern Africa partners

We work with a number of partner organizations in Southern Africa. They are:

• Sister Namibia
• Agenda Feminist Media
• The Gender Advoacy Program
• The Nisaa Institute for Women’s Development
• The Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust
• The Anti-Privatization Forum
• Khanya College
• Women on Farms Project
• Forum Mulher
• Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Education Trust
• The Matabeleland AIDS Council
• The Musasa Project
• Southern Africa HIV/AIDS Information Dissemination Service
• The Women and AIDS Support Network

A more detailed description of each partner can be found below, broken down by country. 

NAMIBIA

Sister Namibia

   Sister Namibia is a feminist organization based in Windhoek, Namibia that works towards a society in which all people have equal rights and opportunities. Founded in 1989, Sister Namibia aims to empower Namibian women and girls in their fight for gender equality and is the most dynamic and longest-lasting organization concerned with women’s rights in Namibia. Sister Namibia’s goal is to foster awareness of political, legal, cultural and economic rights in order to equip and inspire women to make free choices as well as act as agents of change in their communities, their relationships and within themselves.  

   Through training programs, radio broadcasts and a bi-monthly magazine, Sister Namibia is dedicated to developing new feminist politics and consciousness with links to regional, continental and global movements. Sister Namibia works for transformation through education, information, collective action and celebration. The organization has participated in global campaigns coordinated by the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) and NGO events around the United Nations Committee on the Status of Women. Sister Namibia celebrated 20 years of programming in March 2009 and has recently opened a satellite office in Northern Namibia.

   Oxfam Canada began funding Sister Namibia in 1995 – only a few years after the country gained independence from South Africa. As part of the Engendering Change program, Oxfam Canada has provided support for the organization’s focus on building the feminist movement in Namibia.  Sister Namibia began as a collective and throughout its history has worked to build and contribute its expertise to networks such as the Namibian Non-Government Organization Forum (NANGOF), Gender Unit, Namibia Women’s Manifesto Network, the African Union (AU), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC)  to push for reform and the inclusion of women’s rights in these national, regional and continental bodies. They have empowered and promoted women through their Media Program, Sexual Rights Campaign, Young Feminist Program and helped establish the country’s Affirmative Action Legislation through their 50/50 Campaign, which focused on promoting women in elections at the local, regional and national levels.  Their magazine, Sister Namibia, is widely distributed to libraries, schools and government institutions and provides informative ideas and lessons on a wide range of issues in English and other national languages.

http://www.sisternamibia.org/

SOUTH AFRICA

Agenda Feminist Media (Agenda)
      Agenda Feminist Media (Agenda) is a non-profit feminist media organization based out of Durban, South Africa. Founded in 1987 by a group of women activists, students and academics from the University of KwaZulu Natal, Agenda works to address the marginalization and oppression of South African women by confronting and questioning the current understanding and practice of gender relations. Agenda seeks to enhance the development of women through the creation of spaces that help women get access to the information they need to build and reflect on their experiences.

   The organization targets members of women’s organizations, as well as individuals and organizations interested in gender equality, and provides a forum for women and men to share ideas about gender relations and gender equity through the publication of a journal called Agenda, which is distributed internationally. Agenda is also involved in campaigns, collaborations and networks. Agenda values participatory and transparent processes and is committed to the principles of non-sectarianism, anti-racism and anti-homophobia.

   Oxfam Canada has been supporting Agenda since the year 2000. For the first several years we funded the “Community Radio Advancing Gender Equality” program, which used radio programming as a way to raise awareness on human rights and gender equality. The program also informed women about issues that affect them on a daily basis, including: gender-based violence (GBV), divorce, education and HIV and AIDS. More recently, through Oxfam’s Engendering Change program, Oxfam Canada has contributed to the publication of several editions of the journal, including one on violence in schools and another on gender and rurality. Oxfam Canada has also been supporting an organizational review and strategic planning process for the organization.

(Website under construction) http://www.agenda.org.za/

Triangle

   The Triangle Project is the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) organization based in Cape Town, South Africa working to challenge homophobia and appreciate sexual diversity. Established in 1981, The Triangle Project had its origins in an organization called GASA 6010, but changed its name in 1996 to reflect the multi-faceted nature of its services. Triangle’s mission is to contribute to the eradication of discrimination against and within the LGBTI community and to provide defined services with the vision that organizations will eventually become a choice and not a necessity.

   Through education and lobbying against harmful stereotypes, attitudes, and behaviours, as well as establishing and making use of strategic partnerships, Triangle builds the confidence and visibility of the LGBTI community. The Triangle Project established the first gay and lesbian health project in the African Township, Cape Town, but also provides services including public education and training, research and advocacy and community engagement and empowerment. Triangle strives to achieve a better understanding of the LGBTI community.

   Oxfam initiated a partnership with Triangle in January 2011, to undertake research and ensure collection of data regarding gender based violence affecting the LGBTI community.

http://www.triangle.org.za/

The Gender Advocacy Program

“To strive towards a society in which South Africans, particularly those that are marginalized can participate in policies and decision-making at all levels of South African life for the achievement of gender equality.”

The Gender Advocacy Program (GAP) is a non-profit organization based out of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa.  Created in 1993, GAP was born out of a movement of organizations whose goal was the development and empowerment of women throughout South Africa.  GAP wishes to bridge the gap between women in civil society and government institutions and policies to create a gender just society.   They seek to boost the participation and inclusion of women at the community level, in government and in policy making as well.  A fundamental part of the work GAP does is the lobbying of government officials and policy makers to make sure that state policy takes into consideration the needs of marginalized women.  Currently the organization is involved in five projects which include: Local Government and Gender, Domestic Violence, Social Policy and Gender, Women and Governance and Women and Media.  Work with these projects includes capacity building, research and advocacy/awareness raising and building relationships with key stakeholders. 

Oxfam Canada and GAP have been partners since 2003.  In 2007-2008 funding period Oxfam is supporting GAP’s Domestic Violence Project within the Drakenstein Municipality in the Western Cape, South Africa.  The goal of this project is to address the high rates of domestic violence within this area.  Strategies include: the mobilization of communities, institutions and civil society to promote effective responses from and within the health and justice sectors, law enforcement, government etc.  This will be done through awareness raising and capacity building and training activities for women of different ages and organizations.  Discussion forums and training will also be offered to police and justice officials.   

Justice And Women

Justice and Women (JAW) is a non-profit organization based in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.  JAW works to empower local women to understand their rights under existing family law and change unfair government polices and procedures in this area. It does this through providing legal and administrative support to women in the form of internships, court based literacy programs, mediation, lobbying and advocacy. JAW assists over 5 000 women annually with such struggles, the majority of them unemployed single mothers from the Zulu tribe.
Oxfam Canada has been in partnership with JAW since 2002.  Oxfam Canada Canada, along with Oxfam Australia, has been providing support to JAW’s rural outreach program. This program helps women to understand their rights under existing familial law with regards to gender equality, gender based violence (GBV) and HIV/AIDS. It also helps to build community capacity to provide support for women and children affected by violence and HIV/AIDS. A third component involves lobbying the state to provide further services where necessary.

Nisaa Institute for Women's Development

The Nisaa Institute for Women’s Development (NISAA) is a non-profit organization that was created at the end of 1993.  Based in Lenasia, South Africa, NISAA focuses its efforts on violence prevention, women’s empowerment and providing support for women who have been the victim of domestic violence.   NISAA seeks to provide women with the encouragement and resources they need to achieve control over their lives.  They provide shelter and counseling to women and their children who have been or are in danger of violence.  Along with this, NISAA lobbies government and policy officials to create and implement appropriate legislation that will protect women – providing training workshops that target youth, police, health care practitioners and other groups who play a central role in the prevention of violence and abuse towards women and children.

Oxfam and NISAA have been partners since 2002.  Currently, Oxfam Canada is funding NISAA’s National Radio Project entitled Change the Tune.  The goal of this project is to give women a space where they can access information on topics that affect their everyday lives such domestic violence, HIV/AIDS and divorce.  The objective is to create an accessible space to spread awareness and advocate on issues surrounding women’s rights. 

The Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust

The Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust (RCCTT) is a feminist non-profit organization based out of Capetown, South Africa.  The organization was formed in 1976 and is one of the oldest and most established organizations that work in the area of violence against women.  RCCTT believes in confronting the unequal power relations on which sexual violence is rooted.  The organization wishes to confront and prevent sexual based violence by working with rape victim’s, their families, communities and other organizations/social structures.  Each year RCCTT helps thousands of rape survivor’s through counseling, support networks and medical facilities.  They are also involved with awareness campaigns, volunteer programs and lobby/advocacy work. 

Oxfam Canada has been working in partnership with RCCTT since 1996.  This year Oxfam is funding the project Implementation of Existing Laws, Policies and Plans of Action that Address Rape.  Despite numerous bills that have passed since the end of Apartheid, there are still thousands of women who are raped each year that do not receive the proper support or the appropriate legal justice.   The goal of this project is to increase awareness by policy makers, government and police officials of the issues surrounding protocols, sexual offences bills, better survivor care, and prevention efforts as well as issues to do with the bail and release of perpetrators.   Along with this JAW wishes to monitor the services provided to victims as well as the accountability of state officials. 

The Anti-Privatization Forum 

The Anti-Privatization Forum (APF) is a network that was formed in 2000 when community organizations, NGO’s, trade unions, students associations and activists came together in Johannesburg, South Africa to advocate in the fight against the commodification of basic services to poor communities.  The APF is a network that embodies many organizations in order to strengthen the capacity of poor communities to mobilize and fight for their right to basic services which include water, housing, education, sanitation and electricity.  Their work focuses on capacity building of community organizations and active lobbying of government.  They work towards this goal by conducting workshops within communities on privatization and its impact.  They also help organizations come together to lobby government by supporting community led marches, public meetings and peaceful lobbying protests.  Their target group is mainly poor, black South Africans living in Shanty towns – these people are most affected the comodification of services - facing housing evictions and essential services cut offs on a regular basis.  

Like APF, Oxfam Canada believes that everyone has the right to basic services.  Oxfam Canada and APF have been in partnership since 2004.  Previous funding was allocated for operating costs and research on HIV/AIDS.  More recently however, Oxfam Canada has been funding APF’s Remmoho Project: a Force for Change in the Struggle against Violence against Women which seeks to develop a women’s forum within the APF that can address the issue of gender based violence incorporating it into the social movements.   Activities include analyzing the APF from a gendered perspective, strategizing about the issues regarding unequal power relations between men and women in the APF as well as campaign action forums to aid organizations in the fight against gender based violence. 

Khanya College

    Khanya College is an independent non-governmental organization based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Established in 1986, the primary aim of Khanya College is to assist members of the working class and poor communities in their struggle for social justice and activism. Khanya College’s programs also help mass organizations and social movements to learn more about gender equality and how to overcome inequities.

   Khanya College engages in six kinds of activities: education and training, economic literacy, research, publications, campaigns and advocacy as well as providing support infrastructure for social movements. Its constituents are trade unions, community-based organizations, students and youth organizations, churches and ecumenical organizations, cooperatives, NGOs and emerging social movements. Khanya College’s programs cover nine areas, including: an annual Winter School, an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Community Empowerment Program, a Strategy Centre for the Practice and Theory of Social Movements, a Centre for Labour Education, a Southern Africa Solidarity Centre, a Journal Project, a Working Class History Program and a Gender and Women’s Empowerment Program.

   With Oxfam Canada’s support through the Engendering Change Program, Khanya College has participated in internal workshops that have served to develop a deeper understanding of and sensitivity to gender issues and the oppressed position of women. The organization has also engaged in a process for engendering their own educational programs and has developed a sexual harassment policy and code of conduct. Oxfam support to Khanya College’s work on building women’s leadership includes support to the Winter School on Building Women’s Activism, and the recent establishment of a Women’s Advice Centre in central Johannesburg.

   As part of its core mission to build social movements in South Africa, Khanya College is also contributing to the work on marginalized workers as part of the Oxfam Women’s Rights Advancement Program with the aim of raising awareness of structural and systemic forces and their impacts on women and women’s work with respect to health rights and women’s rights by developing new forms of organizing  and dialogue amongst women  to build solidarity and break down isolation.  Even though this initiative began only recently there is growing appreciation of home based care and farm/agricultural work as they come together to face shared challenges and begin to develop their political consciousness.

http://khanyacollege.org.za/

Women on Farms

   The Women on Farms Project (WFP) is a non-governmental organization based in Stellenbosch, South Africa.  Founded in 1996, the vision of WFP is an engendered society that treats women who live and work on farms with dignity and respect in accordance with the constitutional rights guaranteed to all South African citizens.  The primary constituency of WFP is women who live and work on commercial farms; women who work in the agro-processing industry are also included in this group, and children and men who live and work on farms are secondary constituents.

   The core work of WFP includes training and capacity building, research, lobbying, campaigning and organization building. WFP has many programs that contribute to the building of a rural social movement of farm women, including a Women’s Health and Empowerment Program (WHEP), Labour Rights, Women’s Cooperatives, Land & Housing, Social Security, and a Young Women’s program. WFP is the only organization in South Africa that focuses exclusively on the rights of women farm workers. They bring a strong feminist/gender analysis to all of their work and programs.

   Oxfam Canada started working with WFP in 2003, to support them in establishing a women-led farmworkers union called Sikhula Sonke and to work on farm worker labour rights. As a result of this process Sikhula Sonke has become an independent organization with over 3,000 members defending their rights on the vineyards in the Western Cape. Through the Engendering Change program, Oxfam has provided WFP with funds to build women’s leadership by providing women with knowledge about their labour rights, domestic violence, social security and other legislation. Their programs also strengthen women’s ability to organize campaigns for the improvement of their living and working conditions. Most recently Oxfam has provided funds to WFP to initiate a participatory feminist board development process to increase the participation and ownership of farmwomen in the life and work of the organization.

   As part of the Oxfam Women’s Rights Advancement Program, WFP is bringing its expertise and knowledge to protect the rights of other groups of marginalized workers in South Africa through a collaborative initiative with other South African civil society organizations such as JAW and Khanya College. Together they are tracking the issues and profiling the difficult situations being faced by Home Based Care givers and other un-organized workers to assist them in mobilizing to ensure labour rights are upheld, according to the constitution. 

http://www.wfp.org.za/

MOZAMBIQUE

Forum Mulher

Forum Mulher is a network of organizations based out of Maputo, Mozambique.  Originally founded in 1993, Forum Mulher’s membership consists of national NGO’s, political women’s groups, government, research institutions, national and international donor agencies as well as foreign agencies.  Forum Mulher recognizes the inequalities that exist between men and women in Mozambican society.  Their main objective is to bring together the different organizations that are working for a gender just society.  Main activities include: creating networks of communication and exchange of information regarding gender issues between groups, lobbying government on legislations, laws and issues that concern women and equality as well as training to member organizations on gender issues to increase the standard of their work in gender justice. 
   
Oxfam and Forum Mulher have been partners since 2001.  Initially, Oxfam supported their advocacy work around the criminalization of domestic violence as well as the creation of a new Family Law.   Since the proliferation of that law, Oxfam has been supporting Forum Mulher with the diffusion of the law around the country.  Along with this, Oxfam Canada is assisting with other advocacy work including the restructuring of the Inheritance Law and more recently work around domestic violence legislation

. 

Women and Law in Southern Africa Mozambique

Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Education Trust (WLSA) is a regional non-profit organization.  Their main purpose is to carry out research on women’s rights.  The organization operates in seven countries including: Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.   WLSA first began in 1988 as a group of activists and academics from different countries concerned about the rights and legal conditions of women in their respective countries.   WLSA Mozambique describes themselves as a feminist organization.  They believe that women maintain an unequal position within Mozambican society and do not have access to the same rights and opportunities that men have.  Their theoretical research states that women live in a constant state of subordination as a result of power relations between men and women and a patriarchal based society.  WLSA is dedicated to research that will help to create a society in which women and men share equal rights and opportunities.  Their research helps to promote changes in law and public policy.

WLSA and Oxfam Canada have been partners since 2003.  Currently, Oxfam Canada is working with WLSA to create a library and documentation center that would allow them to have better access to up to date information to complete their research on women’s rights and gender equality. 

ZIMBABWE

Matabeleland AIDS Council

The Matabeleland AIDS Council (MAC) is a non profit organization based out of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.   Created in 1989, MAC works with women and youth who are affected by HIV/AIDS.  Their main goals are to: collect and distribute information on the effects of HIV/AIDS for women and youth, network among organizations who also work in this field as well as advocate for women’s rights in regards to reproductive health, health care and HIV/AIDS.  Each year MAC and its allies work with women and youth from all walks of life – they work with children, students, women’s groups and prostitutes.

   Oxfam Canada and MAC have been partners since their inception in 1989.  Currently Oxfam Canada is supporting their project Engendering HIV Prevention: Promoting Sexual, Reproductive Health and Rights of Women and Girls in Matabeleland.  Throughout the Matabeleland region, violence against women is very prominent along with harmful practices such as unsafe abortion, domestic violence, rape and forced pregnancy – all of which are increasing the spread of HIV/AIDS.  MAC believes that because of this women’s rights and gender equality should be put on the forefront when trying to confound HIV/AIDS.   

This project seeks to promote women’s rights in Matabeleland region, increase the amount of women in leadership roles, as well as raise the consciousness of community members about gender equality.   

MUSASA

The Musasa Project is a non governmental organization based out of Harare and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.  Established in 1988, the Musasa Project works in the area of violence against women.  Their main goals are to: reduce the incidence of gender based violence, build the capacity of women to stand up for their rights as well as initiate a strategy towards the eradication of gender based violence.   The Musasa Project is the only organization whose central focus is revolved around domestic violence.   Their work consists of education campaigns, shelter and counseling services, advocacy around legislation and policy at the national level, research on gender and the link to HIV/AIDS as well as training at the community level. 

Oxfam Canada has been in partnership with Musasa on and off since 1988.  Recently, Oxfam Canada has been supporting Musasa’s project Gender Based Violence and Women’s Rights: A Community Coordinated Approach to Reducing Domestic Violence and HIV/AIDS in the Matabeleland Region. 

Southern Africa HIV/AIDS Information Dissemination Service

The Southern Africa HIV/AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) is a regional non-profit organization that was formed in 1994 and based out of Harare, Zimbabwe. They work in other countries throughout southern Africa. The goal of SAFAIDS is to distribute inform and advance right responses to AIDS Specific areas of prevention care planning coping in the area.  SAfAIDS encourages the examination of the issues from a socio-economic view because AIDS is not just a health issue,  it is also a social and political one.

Much of the work SAfAIDS does is with women and gender equality – reaching
In order to promote, inform and support appropriate responses to HIV and AIDS in the fields of prevention, care, long term planning and coping with the impact of the epidemic in the region.  We encourage responses to HIV/AIDS from socio-economic, political and cultural perspectives since HIV is not solely a health problem.  SAfAIDS also focuses on gender and human rights reaching about 75% women through their work. 

Oxfam Canada has been supporting SAfAIDS in Zimbabwe since 2002.  Currently, Oxfam Canada is working with SAfAIDS on their project entitled Interlinkages between Culture, Gender Based Violence and Women’s Rights.  This project focuses on women’s organizations in order to raise awareness of the linkages between gender based violence, women’s rights and HIV/AIDS as well as capacity building within organizations in the area of gender mainstreaming.  SAfAIDS is also focusing on promoting policy debates and dialogue with key policy makers, women leaders and civil society around these issues.  Oxfam Canada is also supporting SAfAIDS project around Community Based Training for Safer Sex. 

Women and AIDS Support Network

Women and AIDS Support Network (WASN) is a non profit organization based out of Harare, Zimbabwe.  Created in 1989, WASN is a woman focused organization that centers on issues concerning HIV/AIDS and the reproductive and sexual rights of women.  They are committed eradicating the discrimination, abuse and stigma that women face when confronted with HIV/AIDS as well as making sure that women and girls have access to proper treatment, medical facilities and support.  WASN works improve women’s situation by: providing training

Oxfam Canada has been a supporter of since their creation in 1989.  Currently Oxfam Canada is helping to support their program around gender based violence and HIV/AIDS.