SAWF is not for profit Company registered in Sri Lanka
  
 
     
 
 
   
 
 
  Frequently Asked Questions
   
 
1. What is SAWF?
South Asia Women’s Fund, SAWF, is a philanthropic institution dedicated to human rights of women in the region. At present our focus countries are: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

2.Does it give funds?
SAWF is a donor organization, and provides both fiscal and technical support to women’s organizations in the social justice sector. It is in the process of finalizing its grant-making strategy, which will be announced at the earliest.

3. Who are its members?
SAWF is registered as a not-for-profit limited company in Sri Lanka, and its Directors are drawn from across the region, including social activists, professionals and corporate leaders, concerned with the human rights of women.

4. If it makes grants, why does it fund-raise?
SAWF was formed in response to our concern about the low level of philanthropic giving to support work on human rights of women. It fund raises to ensure the largest possible support to women’s groups, and for the building of regional and national women’s human rights movements. It also actively advocates the women’s rights agenda amongst donors to raise.

5. Can I become a member of SAWF?
The members of SAWF are selected and appointed by its Board of Directors, and there is no open membership process. You may volunteer with SAWF and donate to it, to build its capacity to support women in South Asia.

6. How can I support women in South Asia through it?
SAWF believes in and accepts all the three ‘Ts” of philanthropy- Time, Talent and Treasure. You can support women’s human rights, by making donation or volunteering with SAWF. If you want to make a donation, click here, if you want to volunteer, click here.

7. Can I ask for grants from SAWF?
If you are working to secure women’s human rights, you may make a grant request. Please make sure you have read our grant-making strategy carefully before you apply to us.

 

8. What kind of projects does SAWF fund?
SAWF funds projects, programmes, organizations and individuals to enhance and expand women’s realization of their human rights. It makes the following kinds of grants:
  • Small Grants Programme: These are granted for not more than one year, and range from USD 1500 to 5000. In the next three years these will be granted:
  • Women led organizations, who have an unexpected shortfall on an ongoing project, for any other reason listed in criteria and guidelines of the Small Grants programme
  • This is a competitive process, and is decided by the Small Grants Advisory Committee, whose decision is final.
  • The application to grant disbursement normally will take 12 weeks.

  • General grants: These are a period of minimum one to maximum three years. These will range from USD 5000 to 25000. In the next three years these will be granted for:
  • Collaborative work in the region, including researches, best practice sharing, regional campaigns, capacity building etc.
    Institutional grants to women led feminist organizations, whose work can have regional resonance.

  • Thematic grants on Right to Safe Movement (for this plan, this will be reviewed every three years) (Amount is flexible)
  • Capacity building
  • Critical Interventions: To support safe movement work, as well as ensure access to justice for women survivors of trafficking
  • Advocacy: Support to women’s groups to advocate for safe movement, implementation of good labour practices and access to socio-economic rights for women in all contexts.

  • Fellowships: SAWF will also grant individual fellowships to women activists for:
  • Capacity building
  • Internships within the region
  • Regional researches and knowledge building on women’s rights
    SAWF’s grant-making strategy and guidelines for applications will soon be uploaded on the website.
9. Does SAWF have offices in all the SAARC countries?
SAWF has an operational structure to suit its regional profile. Its administrative hub is located in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and it has an Executive Office in Lucknow, India, led by the Executive Director. The programme officers work from their home base, in the five focal countries and the advisors are located globally, in addition to the members of the Board of Directors who are located in all five focal countries.

10. How does it know who to fund in countries in which it does not have a presence?
In addition to its Directors- who ensure national representation in addition to their expertise, it has focal points and advisors in all the five countries. This broad structure provides adequate advice and guidance to SAWF in implementing its work in all areas of its work.

11. How does SAWF consult with or hear the views of women’s movements and activists?
SAWF’s primary concern and commitment is to the implementation of the agenda and priorities of the women’s human rights movement. It holds regular consultation with its constituencies as well as participating in various regional, national and sub-national level meetings, workshops and consultations.

We will also interact with our constituency through a listserv, which will provide a forum for raising and discussing priorities of the women’s movements.

We intend to reach out to networks and community based groups through a news letter, to keep them updated on our work, issues and concerns, and have a response service for in-coming queries in local languages for those with limited or no access to the internet.

12. Who do I contact for more information?
You may contact us at sawf@sawf.info for further information.
     
HOME | SITEMAP    
Copyright © 2010 South Asian Women’s Fund. All rights reserved.