Partnership with feminist organisations in Lesotho and South Africa

Governance and Human Rights

Through its Civil Society Development Fund (CSDF), the Embassy of France in South Africa supports local civil society organisations through projects that contribute to upholding human rights, strengthening social cohesion and the sustainable development of communities, as well as democratic governance.

In 2021, the Embassy embarked on a partnership with 9 feminist organisations in Lesotho and South Africa to support their work on:

  • Gender-based violence (GBV) prevention
  • Economic empowerment of rural women through sustainable & climate friendly livelihoods

These organisations are “feminist” in that they are either women-led or primarily concerned with advancing gender equality and women’s rights, and committed to upholding feminist principles.

Our partners are:

Feminist organisations are at the forefront of advancing women’s rights and gender equality.

GBV and socio-economic inequalities between women and men are major challenges in South Africa and Lesotho, and feature high on the cooperation agenda between France and these countries. Until now, the majority of efforts and resources have been directed to responding to violence and assisting the victims. However, there is a growing realisation that more needs to be done on prevention, to stem the tide of violence which has been even further exacerbated under the COVID-19 pandemic. Prevention is complex due to the multiplicity of factors at play, the need to address deeply ingrained norms or believes, and systemic vulnerabilities.

Women’s economic agency – their capacity to act independently and to make their own free choices – and access to productive resources are not only key to achieving gender equality, but also to transforming the conditions and mindsets that increase women’s vulnerability to violence. They can also leverage poverty reduction, improved food security and sustainable development in general.

Through this partnership, the Embassy supports the invaluable role played by these feminist organisations in upholding human rights and dignity for everyone, and doing so, advancing equality, justice, and solidarity.

The partnership includes a 2-year grant and other non-financial support, including organisational development support as well as networking and competence-sharing opportunities.


This partnership is made possible thanks to the Support Fund for Feminist Organisations of the French Republic. Its goal is to support feminist civil society organizations (CSOs) operating in partner countries of France’s development policy. The fund is co-managed by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the French Development Agency (AFD). It falls within the framework of France’s feminist diplomacy and its International Strategy for Gender Equality 2018-2022.


[Video production: BubbleGum Club
Credits: Protest footage adapted from videography by katty vandenberghe of
#theTotalShutdown intersectional womxn’s movement march and the #SandtonShutdown protest]

You might also like

Phoka Nyokong wins 2019 Absa L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award

©Phoka Nyokong – Collector-Gatherer II Photographic Digital print on aluminium   On 3 September 2019, Phoka Nyokong walked away...

Les réseaux sociaux et l’apprentissage des langues

Les réseaux sociaux en classe de FLE on Prezi

CSDF – Call for proposals 2019

The Embassy of France through the Civil society development Fund seeks to fund innovative projects aiming at building the...

Sounds of Southern Africa

Discover the first five episodes of our series entitled Sounds of southern Africa. Music, Empowerment, Freedom. With the help of various...

Let's get social
French Institute of South Africa

French Institute of South Africa

8,376

Your French / South African cultural agenda in South Africa. Follow us and don't miss out anymore!

Are you in film? Have you signed up for the Q&A session on the France-South African cinematographic and audiovisual co-production agreement? Open to all players in film, those who attend can look hearing from the National Film and Video Foundation , Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image, and the Department of Trade and International Competition. Click the link in below to register or learn more. bit.ly/4553XYS ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
⚠️ New Exhibition at the Alliance Française !The “Kubuni Traveling Comics Exhibition in Southern Africa” presents a traveling collection of comics in southern Africa. It will be presented at the Alliance Française of Johannesburg from TODAY to 30 September 2023.🗺️ Where? At the Alliance Française of Johannesburg, 17 Lower Park Drive, Parkview, 2122In partnership with Embassy of France in South Africa and Institut Français. ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook