Exploring Feminist Futures

Exploring Feminist Futures 

‘The risk isn’t in the funding you give, the risk is in them putting their (women’s) lives on the line, constantly trying to defend and serve their communities’ – Anne Agar, Managing Director, Polycom Girls. 

This response from Anne Agar of Polycom girls during a recent webinar has really stayed with me. Anne was asked what her one piece of advice to funders on how they can most effectively support feminist movements. Her response is powerful and challenges donors’ perceptions of risk, it speaks of the need for trust and is a reminder to centre and remember the lived reality of young feminist activists when making funding decisions. 

The webinar was hosted by Womankind’s new Co-CEOs Diana Njuguna and Disha Sughand alongside panelists from other progressive feminist organisations:  Shyleen Momanyi, Executive Director, Young Women’s Leadership Institute (YWLI), Anne Agar, Managing Director,Polycom Girls and Immaculate Mukasa, Executive Director, Mentoring and Empowerment Programme for young Women (MEMPROW). 

Stark lack of funding for Feminist Movements 

During the webinar Shyleen reminded us of the tiny fraction of funding that is received by women’s rights activists. Only 1 per cent of gender equality funding goes into feminist organising at the grassroots meaning YWLI, Polycom Girls and MEMPROW are constantly working to secure funding to sustain their ongoing work. When funding comes it is often short term and restricted, meaning more time is required for report writing and less time on doing the vital work of supporting young feminist activists. 

Huge barriers 

The lack of funding is just one of many barriers currently faced. The pressure of what is often referred to as ‘shrinking civic space’ was explained and explored. In reality, civic space is the environment which allows all people and, in this case, young feminists to come together, share their interests and concerns and act to influence and shape their societies. If this space is not preserved and comes under pressure or attack, then the ability of young women to come together and collectively push for change and for their rights to be protected is impossible.

In this forum panelists shared how government crackdowns to silence and shut down dissent has been a norm in East Africa.  Direct attacks on civil society organisations continue to rise with bank accounts frozen and new legislation requiring bureaucratic registration processes for NGOs and releasing confidential information directly into the public sphere compromising the safety and security of organisations. Panelists also shared cases of silencing of individuals online in social media spaces but also through arrests and abductions to silence dissenting opinions and voices.  

Shyleen spoke of the rise of technology facilitated violence and the propagation of rape culture through online platforms. She painted a picture of people who in their daily lives appear progressive but propagate violence against women in online spaces with the lack of control or accountability for these actions.  

Violence against women and girls in all their diversities remains a continued and devastating challenge. This is most stark in the increased rates of femicide globally. In Kenya at the start of 2024 feminist activists and allies took to the streets after the brutal murders of over 20 women were reported across the country. During recent protests, the bodies of 11 dismembered women were found dumped in a rubbish site, wrapped in sacks. Just in the last three weeks we’ve seen the news of the brutal murder of Ugandan Olympic  Marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei. The reality and huge challenge that we are facing is that society continues to normalise violence against women and girls, victim blaming is rife and perpetrators often go unpunished or face minimal sentences.    

Flexible funding and the difference it can make 

In the face of these huge challenges, young feminist activists continue striving for change. But for feminist activists to navigate these challenges they need long-term and flexible funding.   

‘’The beast we are fighting has been around a long time. We can’t expect patriarchy to disappear overnight, it’s a journey. We extend an open invitation to donors to journey with young feminist leaders and, trust us. Transformational change takes time, and donors need to recognise this and provide long-term funding’’, Immaculate Mukasa. 

We were also reminded that trust is crucial in funding partnerships. ‘’Give core funding and be flexible enough to journey with us.  Remember the privilege of expertise, be part of the growth journey’’, said Anne Agar. 

Flexibility means long-term but also less restrictive, Shyleen reminded funders to believe in young feminist leadership, restrictive measures mean that you can’t lead in your own authentic self.  

In a climate of constant backlash and shrinking civic space, flexible funding allows feminist organisations to be adaptive and responsive, giving organisations the autonomy to respond and address emergent and urgent needs.

‘’But also crucial to effective and sustained organising, flexible funding allows feminists to have that grace – to be able to pause and have plans that reflect the need and urgencies of young women and girls. Only with flexible funding can feminist activists stop and breathe and strategise together. Flexible funding also allows space for self-care, restrictive funding means most feminist organisations don’t have time to prioritise their physical and mental well-being denying themselves self-care and risking burnout. ” Shyleen Momanyi

Final message of hope 

Most of all- this webinar gave a message of hope and the opportunity that exists if young feminist activists are resourced flexibly. In countries like Kenya young people make up 70 per cent of the population and 50 per cent of those are young women. Anne recalled that when young women come together in safe spaces, it is a lightbulb moment to realise that you aren’t the only one who sees that things are wrong. There are frameworks that exist to hold leadership and each other to account at all levels. Anne also shared stories of change including the femicide campaign in Kenya which showed the power of women to organise and come together both physically and on social media to campaign. Young feminist activists must not be ignored and Womankind’s new strategic plan and shift to funding our partners flexibly ensures that they won’t be. We are proud to stand in feminist partnership with Polycom Girls, YWLI and MEMPROW and are excited to share in a feminist future together.