The Women and Habitat Africa Working Group (WHAWG) is a group of Habitat International Coalition (HIC) Members and Friends across Africa committed to consolidating, developing and mainstreaming the feminist approach in HIC Africa processes, projects and activities.
The pioneer convener of Women and Habitat Africa Working Group (WHAWG) was Dr. Ifeyinwa Ofong – Main Representative to the UN WorldWIDE Network Nigeria, Women in Development and Environment until 30th April 2024 when she voluntary resigned as the convener and Dorothy Baziwe – Shelter and Settlements Alternatives: Uganda Human Settlements Network – Uganda was elected as a new convener the same day. Currently the period at which the convener will serve the working group is not stated.
Dorothy Baziwe Bio
Ms. Dorothy Baziwe is the Director of Shelter and Settlements Alternative: Uganda Human Settlement Network (SSA: UHSNET). Dorothy is a Social Worker by profession and has been in the human settlements sector in Uganda since 2012. In this sector, Dorothy has engaged in various activities including fundraising for housing projects; demonstrating housing development; advocacy and lobbying for responsive policies and programs; networking and collaboration with both state and non-state actors; as well as research and information sharing. Prior to the human settlements sector, Dorothy worked in different sectors such as Water Sanitation and Hygiene; Public health and social work; HIV and AIDS awareness; and Banking all aimed at improved service delivery to vulnerable households in Uganda.
About the Women and Habitat Africa Working Group (WHAWG)
The WHAWG is aware of these historic challenges and proposes work with relevant organizations, institutions and agencies to put women’s lives at the center of habitat decisions, particularly in Africa. The feminist approach to human settlements entails bringing about the alternative of gender equality in the built environment.
WHAWG is aware of these historic challenges and proposes work with relevant organizations, institutions and agencies to put women’s lives at the center of habitat decisions, particularly in Africa. The feminist approach to human settlements entails bringing about the alternative of gender equality in the built environment.
Vision, Goals and Objectives
Within the HIC vision of a world in which everyone, everywhere enjoys adequate housing and community in which to live in peace, dignity and wellbeing, WHAWG seeks to realize this vision for women and girls. Its mission is to work collectively and individually with HIC Members and allies in Africa to develop and carry out their regional and global roles to bring about that vision. WHWAG’s goals and objectives align with these vision and mission by building civil society capacities to meet the historic challenges facing women and girls in their habitat to achieve equal realization and enjoyment of their habitat-related human rights. These include the human rights to adequate housing, land, food, water and sanitation and all of the process human rights and corresponding services to bring this about.
More specifically, these include enabling women to realize full and equal access to, use and control of natural and economic resources through decent work, credit, equal and equitable inheritance, legally secure tenure—including, but not limited to ownership—of land, housing and other property, and the use of appropriate technologies. The effort also seeks to align HIC Member activities with principles and approaches associated with feminist urbanism.
