The Power of Strengthening Capacity of African Feminists: Case of Uganda’s African Women Leadership Institute (AWLI) Alumnae

Abstract

This study sought to establish the impact of leadership development on creating more socially just systems in which women’s rights and gender justice are realised – first by practicing the knowledge acquired as individuals and within their organisations, including movements for change within communities Specifically, the objective of the study was to explore or examine and document the extent which AWLI participants acquired new knowledge and skills and how the same manifested in the implementation of the post training activities including their community action plans, from an impact lens. The study is an exercise in feminist epistemology and ontology – analysis by doing – tracing and mapping the contributions of AWLI’s feminist movement in Uganda. The analysis comes from the ground up, reflecting the feminist commitments to self-awareness and reflexivity, generating new knowledge, building organisations and movements, and transforming society. The study conceptual framework borrows from Kirkpatrick Model (1996) four steps for evaluating learning. A mixed approach to the study was adopted where 21 AWLI participants were purposively targeted using an online self-administering survey with follow up interviews via skype calls. On knowledge acquisition, 97.0% interviewees reported that the training had imparted them with new knowledge and skills in feminist leadership. All interviewees reported that the training was useful and relevant in advancing their personal feminist development agenda while 90.9% found the training to be useful and relevant in advancing their organisation agenda. Additionally, all the interviewees reported to have implemented the training to advance their personal and organisational development agendas. Indeed, the participants acquired new knowledge and skills on transformational and feminist leadership, based on the feedback received. Evidence suggests that the AWLI participants have changed how they look at every occurrence in their life which has generally changed their perception hence becoming more optimistic in life. For young feminists, they have become more emphatic and more aware of the patriarchal social norms that exist in their societies. Additionally, there is demonstrable evidence that the participants have taken up leadership roles in championing women issues in their communities including building capacity of other women and appreciating other women. For young upcoming feminists this will go a long way in building a movement of young feminists who understand women’s human right issues, and a cadre of young feminist who can influence other young women hence building a strong movement at the community level. Evidence also suggest that some participants have gained confidence to publish feminist knowledge products. Self-awareness and instilled transformational and feminist leadership have had a direct impact in the organisations that the participants represent. Gender-focused programming has also been strengthened where gender-focused issues are integrated in programmes. For marginalised populations such as sex workers organisations, the training helped in building their capacity, especially on their rights. The mainstreaming of gender in recruitment and remuneration processes within organisations will ensure that organisations remain inclusive and gender conscious in their human resources packages. The AWLI also had an impact within the feminist ecosystem in Uganda where 8,885 were influenced.