RPA Identifies Seven Afghan Women Leaders For Funding
Collaborative fund provides direct support to women-led non-profits
New York, NY, December 11, 2002 – Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors today announced that it has identified seven courageous Afghan women leaders whose innovative nonprofits will receive grants from its Afghan Women Leaders Fund (the “Fund”). The Fund, a grant-making consortium recently launched by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, has been developed to strengthen the role of Afghan women in civil society by supporting women-led nonprofits that are delivering essential health care, education, training and development.
“While Afghan women have a growing role in civil society and are emerging determined to rebuild their country, they are doing so in the face of tremendous risks – particularly in the rural regions of the country,” said Melissa Berman, CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. “Many of these leaders provided services under the Taliban, and refuse to back down now, even in light of such atrocities as recent attacks on girls’ schools,” she continued. “Resources from outside Afghanistan can help them work more effectively and safely, and will reinforce their morale and strength. We are enormously gratified that we are able to provide a vehicle for people to assist these courageous women, although thousands of miles separate us.”
Through the Fund, donors can channel aid immediately into Afghanistan through small grants dispersed to women-led Afghan nonprofit organizations. The groups selected by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors are working for change within Islamic tradition and Afghan culture, and can provide the most disadvantaged women and children in Afghanistan with access to health care, education, income generation and other services.
While other funds are also contributing assistance to major aid organizations or small local groups in Afghanistan, the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors directs grants solely to organizations run by Afghan women. Further, the Fund is highly collaborative in nature and its responsiveness to donor interests is also rare.
New York, NY, December 11, 2002 – Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors today announced that it has identified seven courageous Afghan women leaders whose innovative nonprofits will receive grants from its Afghan Women Leaders Fund (the “Fund”). The Fund, a grant-making consortium recently launched by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, has been developed to strengthen the role of Afghan women in civil society by supporting women-led nonprofits that are delivering essential health care, education, training and development.
“While Afghan women have a growing role in civil society and are emerging determined to rebuild their country, they are doing so in the face of tremendous risks – particularly in the rural regions of the country,” said Melissa Berman, CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. “Many of these leaders provided services under the Taliban, and refuse to back down now, even in light of such atrocities as recent attacks on girls’ schools,” she continued. “Resources from outside Afghanistan can help them work more effectively and safely, and will reinforce their morale and strength. We are enormously gratified that we are able to provide a vehicle for people to assist these courageous women, although thousands of miles separate us.”
Through the Fund, donors can channel aid immediately into Afghanistan through small grants dispersed to women-led Afghan nonprofit organizations. The groups selected by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors are working for change within Islamic tradition and Afghan culture, and can provide the most disadvantaged women and children in Afghanistan with access to health care, education, income generation and other services.
While other funds are also contributing assistance to major aid organizations or small local groups in Afghanistan, the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors directs grants solely to organizations run by Afghan women. Further, the Fund is highly collaborative in nature and its responsiveness to donor interests is also rare.
The organizations were selected based on numerous consultations with Afghan civil leaders and experts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the U.S. and elsewhere. Noted for having the most capable leaders and successful track records, many of these organizations have been providing services within Afghanistan over the past several years, at grave risk under Taliban rule and forced to operate in hiding or from exile.
Recipient organizations will include the Afghan Institute of Learning; Afghan Women’s Educational Center; Afghan Women’s Resource Center; Afghan Women Welfare Department; Refugee Women in Development (RefWID); Humanitarian Assistance for the Women and Children of Afghanistan; and Shuhada Organization. (Please see the attached for more information.)
Because of the sensitive environment in Afghanistan, the Fund will disperse small grants in installments, and will build the capacity of grantees to strengthen their impact, accountability and sustainability. Grantees will be monitored regularly and donors will receive semi-annual grant reports and an annual investment report.
“These Afghan women leaders have put their lives on the line – and continue to do so – to improve the situations of others in their communities,” said Ms. Berman. “We’re honored to act as a liaison between them and people looking to help them make life better in a very real and tangible way.”
The Fund is housed within Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ donor-advised charitable gift fund, The Philanthropic Collaborative.
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