ICRW Africa
Our Work
At ICRW Africa, we’re committed to tackling gender inequity, which we believe is the root cause of major global problems. We believe gender should inform every solution, and we work to bridge gaps in sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) access, women’s economic opportunity and security, gender and climate action, youth empowerment, and ever-changing health challenges in Africa. As part of our thematic work on SRHR, ICRW Africa is prioritizing efforts to ending child sexual abuse (CSA) in the region.
Our groundbreaking work on women’s economic empowerment and security includes programs such as WEE Community of Practice, and REBUILD Project. We’re also reshaping social norms with our work on men and masculinities. We’ve conducted pioneering research that has illuminated our understanding of why child marriage still happens, and how to prevent it. Additionally, our STRIVE research initiative was one of the first to document the impact of unequal gender dynamics in HIV transmission and care, leading to a gender-transformative, systems-change approach to HIV prevention and care.
Our non-siloed approach recognizes the connections between core issues such as women’s economic empowerment, gender-based violence, SRHR, climate change, and women’s leadership. This enables us to provide tangible solutions that power our advocacy and animate our program design. With a focus on innovation, partnership, and evidence-based approaches, we’re determined to create a more equitable world for all, making meaningful and lasting change that benefits future generations.
ICRW believes it can have the greatest impact, based on need, opportunity, and expertise.
Each issue-set includes a range of related areas, grouped thematically. Throughout all our work, ICRW applies a gender lens with the aim to challenge inequities and promote inclusive development. We are committed to understanding and highlighting how gender plays out in each of these thematic areas to shape discrimination, privilege, power, access to social services and lifelong opportunities and outcomes.
Our History
ICRW Africa serves the continent from its offices in Kenya and Uganda. We have been registered as a non-governmental organization in Kenya since 2011, and in Uganda since 2017.
We have a strong history of work in over 25 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Lesotho, Senegal and DRC. Our work regularly entails active collaboration with communities as well as national, regional, and international bodies to generate and provide contextually grounded evidence, engage in evidence-informed advocacy, and implement innovative programs. We engage stakeholders such as communities, duty-bearers, decision-makers, and program implementers through a variety of strategies, including face-to-face meetings, publications, and other media. ICRW Africa works on the four ICRW thematic focus areas: economic opportunity and security; health and sexual and reproductive rights; equitable social norms and power dynamics; and climate action.
As part of our 2023-2026 Strategy, ICRW Africa is being re-positioned into a mission-driven, efficient, effective, and equitable Gender Center of Excellence. Our intimate connection and proximity to the communities we serve, combined with our extensive history of policy-relevant research, puts us in a strong position to shape policies on multiple issues and support efforts to improve the lived realities of women and girls throughout Africa. At the global level, ICRW continues to reinforce and amplify the common threads of our regional work to maximize impact where it is most needed.
Our Africa Board
Mette Kjaer Kinoti
Joachim Osur
Hellen Owiti
Phyllis Wakiaga
Yvonne Okwara
Gwen Kinisu
Nice Nailantei Leng’ete
Contact Us
ICRW Africa Regional Office (Kenya)
Vienna Court, Fourth Floor, State House Crescent, Nairobi, Kenya
P.O. Box 44168 – 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Phone numbers: (+254) 769 060 463 / 785 048 377
Email: [email protected]
ICRW Africa Regional Office (Uganda)
1st Floor, S&L Chambers, Plot 14 Mackinnon Road, Nakasero – Kampala, Uganda
P.O. Box 131136, Kampala, Uganda
Phone Number: (+256) 760 004 478
Email: [email protected]