MIFUMI’s Submission to UK International Development Committee

MIFUMI is one of the largest women’s rights organisation in Uganda working with grassroots communities to end gender-based violence and was responsible for the 2015 landmark ruling when the Supreme court outlawed bride price refund. Since Uganda’s Women’s ‘Bill of Rights’ was presented to Uganda Parliament in the mid 80s, bride price is the only provision in the bill that has progressed to law.

I raise the point of MIFUMI’s successful 15 years campaign to highlight the difficulty of achieving gains in development work and the importance and value that indigenous women rights organisations contribute to the development table through their ability to tackle difficult deeply entrenched harmful social norms, in a way that international development agencies cannot.

There is a roll-back in gains made by women through the new funding regime that channels funds to Africa through mostly large international agencies. I once had the opportunity to discuss this with the then Director of Programmes at DfID and she told me that the UK government would not consider funding any organisation directly, if it did not have an income of £100,000,000 per year. If this is the case, as it seems to be, then it is a very sad affair.

International agencies such as Oxfam and Action Aid have local partners in-country, relocated directly from the UK to Africa, that are male dominated giant organisations that are generally not interested in gender issues. It is quite common to walk into a meeting to discuss gender-based violence and find only men in the room, the Chief Executive, the accountant, the auditor. The only female may be the Programmes Officer who will generally not be given the floor to speak.

UKAid should distinguish between ‘local partners’ and indigenous partners and make funding directly to indigenous partners. The need for effective management of funding mechanisms is appreciated, however this should not be at the expense of the hard fought for gains that women in Africa have made.

Consortia of like-minded organisations are welcome. In this regard, funding can be allocated to women’s organisations, like Mifumi, to head consortia of other indigenous organisations that share similar values and principles. It is neither fair, nor equitable, that lead organisations of funding are local partners of international agencies. The creativity, versatility, the ability to reach hard to reach women and to tackle difficult subjects like bride price and polygamy, can only be tackled by indigenous organisations with lived-experience.

UKAid should be flexible enough, and broad-shouldered enough, to accommodate this for the sake of women’s equality and empowerment in Africa as prescribed by the Sustainable Development Goals.

MIFUMI’s ask, is the UK International Development Committee considers directly funding consortia of women’s organisations in Uganda, led by indigenous organisations, like Mifumi, that have demonstrated their commitment to the advancement of women’s rights, in Africa, particularly of disadvantaged women, living in grassroots communities.

Dr. Atuki Turner

Executive Director

MIFUMI