Background

Forum for African Women Educationalist (FAWE) is a Pan-African Non-Governmental Organization that was founded in 1992 to empower African girls through education. FAWE supports girls to access education, equip them with essential life skills to retain them into the schooling system and progress with quality performance and enabling them to lead fulfilling and successful lives while contributing to national development of their respective countries. The FAWE network, that enables the exchange of experiences, exploring alternatives and providing a focus for influencing policy making, was set up by five African women Ministers of Education- the late Honourable Vida Yeboah of Ghana, Honourable Simone De Commarmond of Seychelles, Honourable Paulette Missambo of Gabon, HonourableDr. Fay Chung of Zimbabwe and Honourable Alice Tiendrebeoge of Burkina Faso. These notable women, with the support from development partners within the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), the Rockefeller Foundation, the Commonwealth Secretariat and SIDA realised that African women in decision making positions have the potential to make a significant difference in female participation in education. To date the network includes 34 National chapters across Africa with autonomous offices run by a National Director or Coordinator and an Executive Committee. Regional co-ordination is provided by the Regional Secretariat based in Nairobi, Kenya. FAWE’s works include; practical –on-the-ground interventions to support girls in education as well as working with governments, schools, communities and other partners to develop and implement gender sensitive policies and practices.