Organisation Profile

Action for Development (ACFODE) is an indigenous, voluntary, non-governmental women’s organization whose formation was stimulated by the United Nations Third World Conference on Women held in Nairobi in July 1985.

After being denied the right of entry to the conference due to the overriding political control that was in Uganda at the time, the idea of creating a women’s organization that would not be controlled by the state or political party was conceived by a few women academicians led by Dr Hilda Tadria. Others included Dr. Joy Kwesiga and Dr. Ruth Mukama. The three needed to incorporate the ideas that had been discussed during the conference with in ACFODE’s mandate and so they approached Dr. Maxine Ankrah who had attended. She accepted to join them and this led to the birth of ACFODE.

Since inception 25 years ago, ACFODE has been an effective platform of debate and action on issues related to the women’s empowerment in Uganda.  This has been done through consolidated advocacy for policy formulation, research, capacity building, coalition building, mobilization and sensitization as her core strategies geared towards enhancing the capacity of Ugandans to champion the women’s cause and gender equality on the national agenda.

Vision

A just society where there is gender equality of opportunities in all spheres

Mission

To Promote Women’s Empowerment, Gender Equality and Equity through Advocacy, Networking and Capacity Building of both Women and Men

Core purpose

Advocacy for gender equality and equity

ACFODE‘s values

Learning, Openness, Voluntarism, Self-determination, Commitment, Caring, Respect, Integrity, Participation and Teamwork

Organizational Objectives
• To increase women’s effective involvement in politics and decision-making through building the leadership capacity of potential female leaders at all levels
• To promote good governance and democracy at national, district and local council levels through democracy monitoring and civic education
• To defend and protect women’s rights through elimination of gender based violence and any form of discrimination against women
• To promote formulation and implementation of gender responsive political, economic and social policies as well as programs
• To build and strengthen the capacity of ACFODE and other like-minded civil society organizations for effective implementation of programs intended to benefit the vulnerable women

ACFODE’s focal areas
• Sexual And Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and discrimination
• Women’s rights and opportunities
• Good governance and democracy
• Women’s economic, social and political empowerment
• Institutional development

ACFODE’s Current Programs
•    Advocacy for women and girls human rights based on CEDAW
•    Advocacy for women’s effective participation in politics and decision making
•    Advocacy for the operationalization of the Equal Opportunities Commission
•    Empowering Local Council Women Leaders at district level for transformative engagement within multiparty politics
•    Monitoring of institutions mandated to promote democracy and good governance from a gender perspective
•    Prevention of sexualized violence Against women and girls 
•    Institutional strengthening of ACFODE and other like-minded organizations