A letter from our Co-Chairs

Across the world, women’s rights organisations and feminist movements are powering change for women, girls and people of all genders. In pursuit of joy, choice and dignity for all, it is courageous feminist activists that show up time and time again to do the work for liberation and justice. It is the organisations and movements they are part of that pave the way for transformative and sustainable change.

But the past year has presented extraordinary challenges for this vital work.

Under Taliban rule, gender apartheid has reemerged in Afghanistan, with women and girls stripped of their rights and freedoms in almost every area of their lives. There was a sharp rise in femicide cases in Kenya and anti-rights agendas grew in popularity in Uganda and across other governments globally. When we see this injustice and suffering playing out, we know it can feel impossible to see a way through.  

Still, there is hope. 

From defending women’s land rights in Uganda, to supporting women with disabilities in Nepal to heal from violence. From creating safe spaces for women in elections in Zimbabwe, to ensuring the voices of Afghan women’s rights defenders are heard in international spaces. From intersectional collaboration within the women’s movement in Ethiopia to supporting girls to stand up to sexual harassment in Kenya. Womankind and our partners are addressing the multiple ways that women, girls and people of all genders experience oppression. Together, we are paving the way for a feminist future. 

Powered by solidarity, expertise and collaboration, Womankind and our partners continue to nourish and strengthen the diverse feminist ecosystem required to reach these visions.  

In 2023/24 we continued moving towards our ambitions as a women’s rights organisation and funder. We’re proud to have supported feminist organisations, local groups and movements across 90 projects and grants. This included 71 flexible grants through the Movement Strengthening Fund, Her Voice Fund and Strategic Partner Support Grants. This was also the first year that we were able to fund partners in Afghanistan and began implementing our new Afghanistan Strategy. In addition, we continued bringing people into the Everyday Feminism conversation, showing the power of everyday feminist actions in contributing to change, however small. 

As we continue to see examples of leaders putting profit over people, Womankind recognises this as a pivotal moment of demonstrating the power of transformative feminist co-leadership. In April 2024, we introduced our two Co-CEOs, Diana Njuguna based in Kenya and Disha Sughand based in the UK. This new feminist co-leadership journey is rooted in our core values of sharing power and decolonising our practice. Diana and Disha will exercise feminist leadership principles such as equity, intersectionality, accountability and collaborative decision making. We also stepped into our collaboration as the Co-Chairs of Womankind’s Board of Trustees. We are galvanised by our vision of a future of joy, choice and dignity for women, girls and people of all genders. Together with the Womankind team, trustees, partners and community of donors and supporters, we remain committed to creating a world where everyone enjoys equal rights and freedoms.  

In the year ahead, we look forward to co-creating, collaborating and imagining with our partners across our focus countries. Together, we will continue to advocate for and strengthen our movements through flexible funding, feminist partnership, advocacy and innovative programmes. Our work together will continue to address violence against women and girls, advance their economic rights and nourish their leadership and participation. 

In our impact report ‘A Feminist Ecosystem for Change’, you will see examples of how we are working towards our vision of a feminist future. You will hear stories of the transformative impact that our work with women’s rights organisations and feminist movements is having for women and girls. And like us, after seeing what’s possible when we join together in feminist solidarity, we hope you’ll be inspired and re-energised in your commitment to equality and joy for everyone. 

In solidarity, 

Olga Ghazaryan and Lusungu Kalanga 

Co-Chairs of Womankind Worldwide’s Board of Trustees