It was started by women who live and work within the women’s movement in the region who experienced major challenges facing women’s movements, organizations, and groups in accessing funding and thus in making their voice and work visible, especially indigenous women.

The founders of JWF are six formidable African feminists who are convinced that women’s human rights are essential to social, economic, and political change around the world, for the benefit of us all. Frustrated by a lack of interest in funding women’s human rights, they founded JWF to fund women’s rights organizations, movements, and grassroots women-led movements directly. Our founders knew that trusting local partners to drive solutions in their communities would lead to meaningful, lasting change. They were right!

The founders have a wealth of diverse experiences, expertise, and perspectives to strengthen JWF’s mission and commitment to empowering women and girls across the continent.