Last week the MATCH International Women’s Fund and the Nobel Women’s Initiative hosted Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro of the Global Fund for Women, and Theo Sowa of the African Women’s Development Fund. The women were in Ottawa, Canada to speak with Canadian civil society leaders and Global Affairs Canada officials following Canada’s announcement of its new feminist international assistance policy. They discussed ways that the Canadian government could ensure that the $150 million in funding over 5 years for women for the global south reaches the women at the grassroots who are having the most impact.
Musimbi and Theo emphasized that working with women’s funds around the world is the most effective way for Canada to truly support women who are creating peace.“Women’s funds are trusted by women’s groups because we hold each other accountable,” said Musimbi. “As long as we are not funding local women’s rights organizations then we are not funding sustainability,” said Theo Sowa.
The Nobel Women’s Initiative also met with Hinke Nauta, the Coordinator of the Taskforce for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality at the Dutch High Commission to discuss ways the Dutch and Canadian governments respectively incorporate a gender equality lens into policy.