4. Methodogy

Desk reviews were undertaken to gather data concerning legal, policy and institutional reforms. Information was gathered from credible sources including country constitutions, laws, national reports and government websites, databases of international governmental organisations (such as the different UN agencies and the AU) and non-governmental organisation (NGOs) websites and reports. To ensure the reliability of sources, all data was verified, and counterchecked as much as possible. For the most part, it was the authors of the report who carried out translation work. The main challenge lay in the collection of gender-disaggregated data for each of the 55 African countries. This problem applies not just on the African continent but rather exists on a global scale. Meanwhile, the statistical data used to inform the regional comparative data analysis was collected using the same To elevate African indicator to the extent possible. Sources included the women’s voices and Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the World Bank World Development Indicators (WDI), UN databases (United make it possible Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Women, etc.). to learn from the To elevate African women’s voices and make it possible to experts, MEWC learn from the experts, MEWC reached out to grassroots reached out to NGOs to inform the case study elements of this report. The search for case studies was guided by a need to cover grassroots NGOs to different theme issues and represent different regions. inform the case study Case studies were identified through desk review/ research. They hoped to capture actions, strategies and elements of this lessons learnt that could serve as best practice methods report. The search and inform others. Data was gathered on each actor’s website as well as through interviews (via email/Zoom, for case studies was phone) with the actor to collect more data and insights. guided by a need to The focus was on a combination of different initiatives of both non-state actors and state actors. Non-state cover different theme actors included civil society organisations (CSOs), the issues and represent media, the private sector and political, social, religious and traditional actors that have held states accountable different regions. for their commitments, advocated at national level for the adoption of policies/laws or mobilised others to advocate for women’s rights. State actors included policy-makers, politicians and professional bodies, to illustrate their efforts to domesticate and implement commitments at different stages and with different outcomes (e.g. signing and ratifying existing instruments, law and policy change, constitutional amendment). Lack of funding and barriers to technology for local women’s groups posed a serious challenge in efforts to recognise their vital work here.

Table 1: Outline of the Case Studies Covered in the AWD 2010-2020 Report

AWD Themes Case Studies

Fighting Poverty and Promoting Economic Empowerment of Women and Entrepreneurship, Finance and Gender Budgeting

Governance, Legal Protection and Women in Decision-Making 1. Gender-Responsive Budgeting in Uganda: The

Certificate for Gender and Equity 2. Promotion of Women Living with Disabilities’ Right to

Work in Madagascar

3. Senegal’s Campaign for Parity and Successful

Adoption of the Law on Parity 2010 4. The Women’s Situation Room

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, Maternal Mortality and HIV/ AIDS 5. Landmark Petition Gives Maternal Health Rights

Their Place in the Ugandan Constitution 6. The Power of Grandmothers to Treat Depression and

Anxiety: The Friendship Benches

Violence Against Women and Harmful Practices 7. The Criminalisation of Female Genital Mutilation in

Sudan 8. The African Union Campaign to End Child Marriage

Women, Peace and Security 9. Uniting in Diversity: The Women Initiative for Sustainable Community Development in Plateau State, Nigeria 10. Advancing Women’s Peace and Security in the Great Lakes Region: Case Study of Burundi Crisis of 2015

Agriculture and Food Security 11. Mama Ardhi Alliance: Securing Land Rights for Women in Tanzania 12. Equal Land Rights for Women in Botswana

Environment and Climate Change 13. Young Women’s Movement: Fridays for Future, Uganda Chapter 14. Kwataniza Women Farmers Group Fighting Climate Change

Education, Science and Technology 15. Equal Education Rights for Pregnant Girls and Women in Sierra Leone 16. Miss Geek Africa – Promoting Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths

Young Women’s Movement 17. Women Lead the #EndSARS Movement in Nigeria 18. The My Dress, My Choice Campaign, Kenya