Womankind Worldwide

Charity Number: 328206

Annual Expenditure: £5.1M
Geographic Focus: Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Uganda, Zimbabwe

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: £5.1 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: ~8% (Her Voice Fund Cycle 3: 32 grants from 400+ applications)
  • Decision Time: 4 weeks (Movement Strengthening Fund rolling basis); variable for Her Voice Fund
  • Grant Range: £20,000 - £40,000 (Her Voice Fund)
  • Geographic Focus: Africa and Asia (Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan)

Contact Details

Website: www.womankind.org.uk

General Email: finance@womankind.org.uk

Phone: 020 3567 5930

Her Voice Fund Enquiries: hervoicefund@womankind.org.uk (copy: mercyo@womankind.org.uk)

Overview

Founded in 1989, Womankind Worldwide (Charity Number 328206) is a UK-based international development and women's rights organisation with an annual income of £5.1 million (2024). The charity works in partnership with women's rights organisations in six focus countries across Africa and Asia: Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Nepal, and Afghanistan. Womankind's distinctive approach centres on providing flexible, unrestricted funding that enables partners to work strategically according to local context without restrictive project-based requirements. Their 2030 strategy, “Our Feminist Future,” aims to create a world where women, girls and people of all genders enjoy equal rights and freedoms. The organisation is recognised for its feminist grantmaking approach, having operated flexible funding streams for over six years, with 62.5p of every £1 spent going directly to programmes, policy, and advocacy work.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Her Voice Fund (HVF) - Annual cycle, application deadline varies

  • Partners: Up to £40,000 for 24 months
  • Informal Groups: Up to £20,000 for 24 months
  • Provides flexible funding for advocacy work at local, national, regional and international levels
  • Open to Womankind partners and informal groups previously funded through HVF
  • Available in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Uganda, and Zimbabwe
  • In Cycle 3 (2023/24): Made 32 grants (16 partners, 16 informal groups) from 400+ applications

Strategic Partner Support Grants - Closed pilot programme

  • Two-year £1 million pilot launched April 2024
  • Core funding to 24 existing partners
  • Focus on historically excluded and marginalised feminist organisations
  • Not currently accepting new applications

Movement Strengthening Fund (MSF) - Rolling basis (currently closed)

  • Provides flexible funds for strengthening intersectional feminist movements
  • Applications reviewed within 4 weeks of receipt
  • Cannot currently support informal groups directly
  • Status: Not receiving new applications as of October 2024

Priority Areas

  • Women's rights and feminist organisations advancing progressive agendas
  • Organisations working with women facing discrimination based on marginalised identities:
  • Women with disabilities
  • LBTQI+ women
  • Young women
  • Incarcerated women
  • Dalit women
  • Indigenous women
  • Advocacy to challenge discriminatory laws and policies
  • Intersectional feminist movement building and collective action
  • Organisations demonstrating collaboration and feminist principles
  • Work addressing systemic barriers perpetuating gender inequality

What They Don't Fund

  • Organisations outside their six focus countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan)
  • Unsolicited partnership requests due to financial constraints
  • General funding requests from organisations not already in partnership
  • Donations to individuals
  • Organisations that do not identify as women's rights or feminist organisations
  • Project-based work requiring restrictive reporting (they explicitly avoid this model)
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Governance and Leadership

Co-CEOs

  • Disha Sughand (UK-based) - Appointed June 2024, 13 years with Womankind
  • Diana Njuguna (Kenya-based) - Appointed June 2024, focuses on amplifying voices of marginalised communities

Senior Management Team

  • Kavinya E. Makau - Director of Policy and Communications
  • Martina Hoggart - Director of Fundraising and Marketing
  • Sierra Schraff Thomas - Director of Programmes and Learning (Interim)
  • Deirdre McCann - Leadership Support Manager

Board of Trustees

  • Lusungu Kalanga - Co-Chair
  • Katie Ghose - Co-Chair
  • Vanessa Rice - Honorary Treasurer
  • Rebecca Olschner-Wood - Vice Chair

Key Quote: “Our team of staff and trustees are passionate feminists and dedicated to a world where women and girls in all their diversities can realise their rights.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Her Voice Fund:

  • Download application form from website
  • Complete budget template
  • Read accompanying FAQs document
  • Submit via email to hervoicefund@womankind.org.uk

Application Method: Annual fixed deadline cycle

Decision Timeline

Movement Strengthening Fund (when open): Applications reviewed with commitment to respond within 4 weeks of receipt

Her Voice Fund: Shortlisting typically occurs within weeks to one month after application deadline (e.g., applications closing September, shortlisting in October)

Success Rates

Her Voice Fund Cycle 3 (2023/24):

  • 400+ applications received
  • 32 grants awarded (16 partners, 16 informal groups)
  • Success rate: approximately 8%

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applications to the Her Voice Fund are deleted after the review process. Specific reapplication policies and waiting periods are detailed in the FAQ documents accompanying each funding cycle. Applicants are encouraged to contact hervoicefund@womankind.org.uk for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

What Womankind Values

From Six Years of Feminist Grantmaking Lessons:

  1. Intersectional Approach: Demonstrate clear understanding and commitment to intersectional feminism
  2. Local Context: Show ability to work strategically according to local context and community needs
  3. Flexibility: Articulate how flexible funding will enable strategic work without restrictive requirements
  4. Collaboration: Evidence of working collaboratively with feminist movements
  5. Adaptability: Capacity to adapt to changing needs and circumstances

Direct Feedback from Partners

Quote from MWA Kenya: “Flexible funding like that from Womankind is not just supportive, it is radically necessary.”

Quote from TEWA Nepal: “I truly appreciate your understanding of my challenges and the flexibility you provided.”

Recent Funded Project Examples

  • Women and Land Zimbabwe (WLZ): Used HVF grant for 'Land for Her' Campaigns in 10 districts, sharing information with rural women about their land rights
  • WCoZ (Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe): National membership-based network of women rights activists
  • Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association: Legal services for domestic violence, divorce, land and property disputes
  • Pakasipiti (Zimbabwe): Advocacy for LBTQI+ women, challenging patriarchy and embracing diversity
  • Ethiopian Women with Disabilities National Association (EWDNA)
  • Voices of Women in Media (Nepal)

Key Language and Terminology

  • “Feminist organisations” and "women's rights organisations"
  • “Intersectional approach”
  • “Marginalised identities”
  • “Progressive feminist agendas”
  • “Movement building”
  • “Flexible funding”
  • “Advocacy spaces”
  • “Systemic barriers”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic Restriction is Absolute: Only organisations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Afghanistan are eligible. Do not apply if based elsewhere.
  1. Prior Relationship Often Required: Most funds require existing partnership with Womankind or previous funding through their programmes. New partnerships are not currently being accepted due to financial constraints.
  1. Intersectionality is Central: Applications must demonstrate work with women facing multiple forms of discrimination (disability, LGBTQI+ identity, youth, caste, indigenous status, etc.)
  1. Flexibility is Philosophy: Womankind explicitly rejects restrictive project-based funding models. Your application should emphasise strategic flexibility and adaptation to local context.
  1. Competitive Process: With only ~8% success rate for Her Voice Fund, applications must be exceptionally strong. Focus on clear articulation of feminist principles, intersectional approach, and movement building.
  1. Movement Building Matters: Evidence of collaboration with broader feminist movements and collective action strengthens applications significantly.
  1. Contact Before Applying: With such competitive rates and specific criteria, reach out to hervoicefund@womankind.org.uk if you have questions not covered in application materials to avoid wasting effort on ineligible applications.

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References