Our Services

What we Do

Advocacy

We conduct advocacy with local governments and the government of Uganda to
advance policies that will promote the health and rights of women and young people,
particularly adolescent girls We are known as a bold and independent force for sexual
and reproductive rights. We bring women and young activists into the highest halls of
power to make their voices heard. We have achieved a great deal, but our core
challenge has stayed the same: to change thinking, raise funding, and motivate action
by people and institutions that can secure rights and health for women and girls.
COWAD and its partners are working with local government leaders to ensure that
women and girls have a principal spot in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. We know
that sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and women’s empowerment are
essential for sustainable development. Efforts to eradicate poverty and achieve
economic prosperity cannot succeed when women and adolescents, especially girls,
are denied full rights and participation in society. For example, COWAD advocates for
integrating the delivery of sexual and reproductive health care into primary health care,
so it is as accessible as possible. This means, for instance, that a woman could address
her family planning, antenatal care, HIV testing and general health needs all in one
place.

Small grants Scheme

Local women’s groups are the most effective driver of change for women’s rights,
everywhere. For nearly 10 years, COWAD has financially supported feminists and
women’s groups in more than 80 districts across Uganda that advance sexual and
reproductive health and rights of women and girls.
COWAD employs a trust-based philanthropy model that provides sustained and flexible
funding as well as customized technical assistance defined in consultation with each
feminist or women’s group. We listen to our members and partners and create a true
partnership that supports their strategic priorities, fortifies the work of their groups and
bolsters a movement of resilient advocates who fight for sexual and reproductive rights.
COWAD grantmaking is bold—focused on the policy issues that local advocates have
identified as most strategic, and often, most difficult. This approach has helped achieve
groundbreaking victories for women and girls, including the integration of
comprehensive sexuality education into school curricula; Improved access to youth-
centered and gender-based violence services; Legislative and policy reforms that
increase and/or protect access to abortion; and strengthened local advocacy networks

Ambitious advocacy requires renewal, and COWAD continues to identify new
partnerships, strategies, and opportunities to advance the rights of women and girls in
Uganda
Our financial support to feminists and women’s groups ranges between $100-$1000. To
apply for a small grant, contact grants@cowad.org

Training Young Advocates

Since 2010, COWAD has identified and mentored young people from around Uganda
to advocate for local and national policies that further sexual and reproductive rights.
Because engaging in advocacy can be challenging, COWAD holds hands-on
workshops to prepare young people for negotiations with government officials. Called
Advocacy in Practice, these multi-day trainings involve deep learning and team building.
Participants develop a common language to address sexual and reproductive health
and rights, and use techniques such as role play to approach their government officials.
The Advocacy in Practice workshops are meant to empower young advocates to
enable them apply advocacy skills. Advocates then return to their communities better
equipped to lobby their local governments for policies in support of sexual and
reproductive health and rights.