African Woman and Child Feature Service

Who we are

The African Woman and Child Features Service (AWC) is a Nairobi-based media organisation with an African regional outlook.

AWC is a media-focused, non-governmental organisation with a regional outlook and a vision of a media that enhances acceptance of diversity and gender equality for equitable development.

Established in 1994, we are pioneers in the field of engendering the media within Eastern Africa. We focus on the interface between gender, media and development; working within and outside the media and at national, regional and international levels. As champions of development communication, we uncover and share quality information on the gender issues affecting women, children and the rest of society. In this way, we ensure that voices and issues of women and children are better represented in mainstream media.

What we do

AWC is recognised as a champion for gender diversity and equality. We have a long history of media campaigns, advocacy and lobbying for gender equality. We monitor media content and work with journalists, civil society organizations (CSOs), and various government agencies to ensure that gender becomes the cornerstone for policy making and implementation, and that the media becomes an effective platform for civic empowerment.

On a weekly basis, our Feature service provides mainstream media houses with well researched and investigative stories on various themes relevant to development, women and children in Africa. OUr long-running research programme also provides content for books and training manuals, which have helped strengthen the knowledge of journalists and other practitioners on media, women, children and development issues.

We strengthen the capacity for gender analysis and reporting within the region through our work with journalists and other gender and development practitioners. We train journalists to improve their knowledge and skills in several areas, including gender-sensitive reporting, parliamentary reporting, media in conflict situations, and various issues related to children, women, sexuality and reproductive health.