Impact stories from Commitment Makers: Nala Feminist Collective

Photo credit: Nalafem
 

Impact Stories from Generation Equality Commitment Makers Working in the Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence in ESAR: Nala Feminist Collective (NALAFEM)
Nalafem’s commitment is rooted in its mission to foster, enable, and mobilize young African women to engage in and fight for gender equality. By focusing on youth-led accountability and harnessing the expertise of young people, Nalafem aims to enable young women to lead the changes necessary to end GBV, aligning with the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto’s call for comprehensive policy reforms.

Nalafem’s approach is threefold: first, it fosters policy change at national and regional levels, in alignment with the Africa Young Women Beijing+25 Manifesto demands, which call for comprehensive reforms to end GBV and ensure gender equality. Second, Nalafem seeks to enable young women’s capacities for advocacy through programs such as fellowships, which equip them with the tools to amplify their voices and push for inclusion at the highest levels of decision-making, Third, Nalafem’s commitment aims to mobilize young women for intergenerational co-leadership, promoting collaboration between youth and elders to occupy leadership positions and accelerate policy change.

Nalafem Empowering Young African Women to Lead the Change Against Gender-Based Violence

Since its launch in 2021, Nalafem has had a profound impact, particularly among marginalized communities. Through the Nalafem Academy, over 50,000 young women have received training in vital areas like bodily autonomy, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), GBV, and economic empowerment. These women are now at the forefront of advocating for women’s rights, with some stepping into leadership roles at local, national, and global levels.

One of the most powerful outcomes of Nalafem’s work has been the development of young feminist leaders. The Nalafem Fellowship program has graduated 15 fellows from nine African countries, many of whom are now working as aspiring politicians committed to feminist leadership and policy reform in their countries. These fellows have gained the courage and skills needed to push for legislative changes aimed at ending GBV. For instance, Hon. Evidence Zana, a former Member of Parliament in Zimbabwe, credits the fellowship with helping her find purpose and resilience, equipping her to continue her work in her community and advocate for meaningful change. “When the Nalafem fellowship program started, it was soon after I had been recalled as a member of parliament, [...] I found purpose and, most importantly, I found courage to continue working in my community. [...] I can safely say the program has helped me to be a strong and resilient and equipped young woman ” Hon. Evidence Zana (Zimbabwe), Former Member of Parliament.

Nalafem’s efforts extend beyond training, with significant strides in policy advocacy. The organization has hosted three summits and facilitated 22 advocacy missions across Africa, bringing together over 500 leaders from 35 countries to foster intergenerational co-leadership. Another example is a notable example was the Nalafem Summit in Kenya, where a direct dialogue between the female Chief Justice and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) strengthened the implementation of SGBV courts to better serve the needs of young women.

Nalafem’s work also includes providing financial support to young feminist organizations. It has allocated $57,600 to 41 organizations leading community-driven projects, and through strategic partnerships, it has provided $559,200 in sponsorships for initiatives like policy briefs in Malawi and amplifying the voices of deaf women in Rwanda. Despite challenges such as cultural resistance and the lack of flexible funding for young women’s organizations, Nalafem continues to make a powerful impact. Its work is adaptable and scalable, offering a model for empowering young women to take charge of their futures and lead the fight for gender equality across Africa and beyond. Through global partnerships and its participation in the Generation Equality Forum, Nalafem is building momentum toward lasting change, ensuring that young women are not only included but are leading the charge against GBV.