The Covenant Foundation for Girls (COFGIRLS), and the Kenya Council of Imams and Ulamaa (KCIU) are proud to announce the official launch of the End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Network Africa (END FGM/C NETWORK AFRICA). This will take place during the African Union 2nd International Conference on FGM in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania on 10th October, 2023.
The End FGM/C Network Africa is an African-led initiative seeking to fill a critical gap: providing a platform for a united voice to influence decision-makers at all levels and to drive coordinated advocacy targeted towards ending FGM/C in Africa. COFGIRLS and KCIU have been nominated to jointly co-host this network by the grassroots organisations who have been involved in this space.
Jacqueline pictured speaking at Women Deliver 2023
Jacqueline, founder of COFGIRLS, and joint co-host of the network believes in the real need for the network to help end FGM/C in Africa, “the END FGM/C Network Africa is compelling because it unites Africa’s advocacy voices and allows Africans to take the initiative in ending FGM/C in the continent. Hence, it puts Africa on the same path with its peers in compliance with the implementation of regional and international human rights legal instruments.”
Building on this, Mohammed, Project Coordinator and MEL Specialist at KCIU added, “the launch of the Network will present an opportunity to connect with more CSOs, donors, and decision-makers from across the Region and build relationships that can enrich our coordination, linkages and networking strengthening. Networking can lead to shared knowledge and opportunities, new learning experiences and innovations in ending FGM/C.”
Mohammed pictured speaking at Women Deliver 2023
The concept of a network to end FGM/C in Africa initially rose in early 2022, as part of a series of capacity-strengthening workshops that brought together various grassroots organisations across Africa, facilitated by Orchid Project and funded by MannionDaniels. Orchid Project will support the establishment and operationalisation of the network as the Interim Secretariat.
“We recognise and appreciate the strength of movement building and remain committed to supporting grassroot partners in the African Continent in the establishment and operationalisation of the End FGM/C Network Africa as an Interim Secretariat, in line with our mission of catalysing the movement to end FGM/C,” Asenath Mwithigah, CEO of Orchid Project stated.
Following its launch in Tanzania, African-led organisations will be encouraged to express their interest in joining the End FGM/C Network Africa as members to strengthen its mission to bring together civil society organisations and individual activists throughout the continent to unify their efforts towards ending FGM/C.
