Highlights of the second day of “We Rise 2023”

The second day of We Rise 2023 started off with a participatory session inviting grantee organizations to share reflections from Day 1 and expectations for the rest of the Regional Learning Exchange.  

Participants shared reflections about collective challenges, organizational strengthening and the need for financial sustainability. They also expressed their appreciation to have a space facilitating learning and network building opportunities, and the way it celebrates both diversity and common ground.  

Movement building to drive transformative change 

A panel discussion focused on Movement building to drive transformative change followed, moderated by Tina Musaya from Social Development Direct (Uganda). 

Tarcila Rivera Zea, from Enlace Continental de Mujeres Indígenas de las Américas (Peru) shared the story of the Indigenous women’s movement and their tireless work to reclaim their territories and rights, including the right to live free from violence.  

Glanis Chagachirere from the Insitute of Young Women Development (Zimbabwe) explained how her organization uses feminist education and feminist analyses to build the collective power of women in all their diversity and challenge harmful social norms and practices. “We are able to build solidarity where women are able to stand for each other despite different identities.” she said. 

Leticia Echaverri from Centro de Intercambio y Servicios para el Cono Sur Argentina (CISCSA) (Argentina) reflected on the importance of strengthening women’s voices and movements to raise awareness and address gender-based violence in the public space, recognizing the continuum of violence that women and girls face.  

Natsnet Ghebrehbran from Raising Voices (Uganda) noted how valuable practice-based knowledge can be in movement building to end violence against women and girls. Raising Voices has been using a flexible approach to practice-based knowledge by creating space and time to learn and reflect, to inform and reshape their project activities.  

Faye Macheke, from AWID, focused on the need to work closely with funders and to hold them accountable, especially in a context of increasing backlash, as a way to open doors for feminist resourcing and true partnerships. “Backlash is the evidence of impact.” she also observed. 

“Alone we go faster, together we go further” 

The afternoon was dedicated to thematic workshops to initiate thought-provoking discussions between grantee organizations and enable them to share their own experiences in a safe space. They included sessions covering the following topics: 

• Cross Regional Learning Exchange on experiences of movement building to end violence against women and girls  
• Data, evidence and practice-based knowledge for movements 
• Communications and advocacy for sustainable change 
• Challenging anti-rights across regions: Withstanding backlash & collectively advancing our feminist agendas (this workshop was led by AWID and only open to civil society) 

The day ended with an interactive session on reflections from the day and an opportunity for all participants to celebrate successes and collective engagements in ending violence against women and girls.