Administered by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), the HIV/AIDS Fund is meant to complement existing resources available to African women’s organisations working on issues related to HIV and AIDS, and to increase access for those who are currently unable to carry out effective programmes due to lack of funding. AWDF has two goals in mind:

• promotion of a culture of awareness, compassion and responsibility around HIV/AIDS issues, particularly where they affect women and girls in Africa; and
• establishment of a firm link between gender inequality, the low status of women and girls, and its implications for the extreme vulnerability of women.

The fund provides grants to women’s organisations/projects working on the following issues:

• enhancing the status of women and girls and protecting their rights;
• creating opportunities for women and girls to make empowering choices including economic empowerment; and
• meeting women’s needs and circumstances in prevention, treatment, support, and community care.

The HIV/AIDS Fund aims to assist local, national, or regional African women’s organisations from any part of Africa. Priority is given to those organisations already working with women and to communities of women living with HIV/AIDS. It prioritises the needs of small- to medium-sized organisations with budgets not in excess of US$150,000. It, however, shows some flexibility and addresses the needs of larger organisations that are doing work that is difficult to fund.

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Applications may be sent in at any time. Applicants must allow three - four months for a response. Organisations can apply for grants ranging from US$1000 - US$25,000. AWDF might occasionally request proposals for larger amounts. Applicants are expected to build in relevant and reasonable running/core costs into their project proposals. Grants for capital costs such as purchase of computers, printers, and photocopiers will be given.

Interested organisations should send in their proposals to the AWDF secretariat in Accra, Ghana using the grant application guidelines. Applications can be sent in English, French, or Portuguese, by email, fax or post. Whilst applications are accepted by email and fax, they are still expected in hard copy. For grant application guidelines contact the Grants Administrator at the contact information outlined below.

Click here for application guidelines.