PYWEIG Project
Strengthening the socio-economic development and employability of women and youth-led enterprises in Lesotho is paramount. In realizing this goal, Democracy Works Foundation (DWF) in partnership with Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) implemented a 42-month initiative called, “Putting Youth and Women at the Centre of Inclusive Economic Growth”. The programme was made possible by the generosity of the European Union People through the European Union Delegation in Lesotho. The project championed the change agents by contributing to supporting Civil Society Organization in initiatives that promote youth and women participation and empowerment and strengthening women and Civil Society Organization’ capacities and engagements participation in decision-making processes at district and national level.
Additionally, the project contributed to strengthening the capacity of CSOs and Business Development Service (BDS) providers to support employability, business and entrepreneurship skills of women while also enhancing the capacity of Community Council Members and District Development Coordinating Committee in facilitating a participatory and responsive enterprise support services to Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) led by woman and youth. This has been achieved through supporting, advocating and piloting more relevant education, vocational training development strategies and promoting economic and social rights and empowerment.
Democracy Works Foundation
Democracy Works Foundation (DWF) is a southern African non-profit company focused on democracy development in the region. With headquarters in South Africa, DWF works through its country offices to provide tools to develop resilient democracies.
As an independent foundation, we build and promote inclusive, equitable and sustainable consensus democracies. We do so by providing tools, platforms and content to strengthen democrats, democratic culture and democracy institutions.
DWF opened its doors in 2014 in response to the weakening of public institutions, corruption and declining public participation in South Africa as well as concerns about democratic and development progress in post-liberation Southern Africa.
DWF Thematic AreasDWF works on the supply and demand side of democracy. We operate across several programmatic areas:
- Monitoring: we collect data, do research and provide analysis on the state of democracies.
- Institutions: we support the capacity of democracy institutions to fulfil their mandates.
- Citizens and leaders: we train future democrats to drive change.
- Climate and democracy: we strengthen the capacity of communities and democracy institutions to prioritise climate change initiatives.
- Culture: we provide platforms for democratic engagement to cultivate new ideas for democracy.
FIDA
Federation of Women Lawyers Lesotho (FIDA) is a non-profit women’s rights organisation focusing on the protection and promotion of women and children’s rights. FIDA carries out its mandate through advocacy, education, sensitization, empowerment, and strategic litigation. The Federation of Women’s Lawyers of Lesotho (FIDA – Lesotho) is a leading organisation for women’s and children’s rights in Lesotho.
