South Africa: The Woman Who Woke From the Dead

Nearly 10 years ago Zandile Malgas was rushed to hospital, declared dead, then woke up to find herself in a morgue. At this point she began to take her HIV status seriously, and… Read more »

South Africa: Savings Groups Help Rural Households Affected by HIV/Aids

A poor and HIV-positive South African may well hear advice about "living positively" with HIV, but this is guidance that many find impossible to follow. Read more »

South Africa: Poor Make Money by Saving in Groups

Bongiwe Dlamini thinks back to the financial crisis she faced a few years ago, a time when she was so deep in debt that she could not even buy for groceries for her family. Read more »

Nigeria: Beating Grim Odds of Childbirth

An expectant mother in northern Nigeria faces higher risks in childbirth than in most any other place in the world, according to international public health surveys. Read more »

Africa: 'Tellers and Cashiers' of Africa's Wealth Are Key to Development

When it comes to development policies, alongside all the statistics of hunger and need, and the totals of dollars spent, it must be remembered  that what matters most is that… Read more »

Liberia: Technology Eyed to Improve Lives of Women

In the densely populated community of Paynesville on the outskirts of Liberia's capital, scores of women are doing hard labor. Read more »

Africa: Empower Women to Realize the African Dream

It is hard not to be inspired by the widely-recognized economic growth story of Africa: more than a decade of robust growth for a region that has become a credible destination for… Read more »

Sudan: Rebecca Garang Promotes Accountability for New State

'Mama Rebecca', widow of John Garang - the charismatic leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and commander of its army - welcomes the opportunity for southern… Read more »

Equatorial Guinea: Rights Group Appeals to Obiang to Uphold AU Principles

The African Union's choice of Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang as its new chairperson challenges his government to fulfill the organization's standards for democracy… Read more »

Africa: Stronger Global Response Needed to Gender-Based Violence

Just a few weeks ago, as millions of families gathered in the United States to celebrate Thanksgiving, a lesser-known event went by unnoticed. The International Day for the… Read more »

Africa: Women and Children the Focus of Achieving MDGs

With five years remaining to achieve the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has made it clear that a concerted,… Read more »

Africa: Focus on Women and Girls Key to MDG Success

As world leaders gather this week in New York to assess progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), they will face stark challenges to social and economic development,… Read more »

Africa: Giving the Millennium Development Goals a Human Face

Ahead of the United Nations Millennium Development Summit to be held in New York later this month, the UN Foundation and its partners have ramped up efforts to educate the media… Read more »

Africa: Africa's Women Turn 50

Five decades ago, 17 African countries threw off the brutal and degrading yoke of colonialism. The 50th anniversary of African national liberation is an opportunity to critically… Read more »

Liberia: Something New for the Senior Class: Girls

When students return to the classroom at Bopolu Central High School this year, there will be something not seen at the school since it reopened after Liberia's long civil war:… Read more »

Congo-Kinshasa: Improvements Necessary to Deal with IDPs, U.S. Official Says

Tens of thousands of people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been fleeing a government offensive against Ugandan rebels, adding to the nearly 2.5 million people… Read more »

Congo-Kinshasa: Marching for the Women of Congo

On a warm spring day on Monday, activists and supporters from the Enough Project and Women for Women marched with colorful banners across the Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C.,… Read more »

South Africa: Zuma Educates Journalists Over Wives

The rise to power of South Africa's first polygamous head of state in the modern era* is causing confusion in the media, and the office of President Jacob Zuma is now trying to set… Read more »

Tanzania: Kikwete Hopeful for Action On Climate Change, Optimistic On Africa's Future

Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete recently sat down for an hour-long interview with AllAfrica's Reed Kramer and Tami Hultman at State House in Dar es Salaam. In the… Read more »

Kenya: Widows Support Themselves Selling Maize to World Food Programme

Widows are often looked down on and pitied in Kenya. But the widows in the village of Angata Barakoi in the Transmara area of Kenya were determined to help each other and make a… Read more »

Niger: Tree Planting Heroine Helps Reclaim the Desert

Sakina Mati is a farmer and community leader in the village of Guidan Batoye, in the Maradi Region of Niger. She began to manage the regeneration of useful trees on her fields 15… Read more »

Africa: Women Are Behind 80 Percent of Continent's Food Production

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) considers gender mainstreaming, or involving women in farming development efforts, an essential component of its efforts… Read more »

South Africa: Snapshot Descriptions of Woman Farmers

Below are snapshots of some of South Africa's successful women farmers. All of them are recent winners of a female farmer competition run by provincial departments of agriculture,… Read more »

South Africa: Women Farmers Play Vital Role in Food Security

In South Africa's not-too-distant past, the image of a commercial farmer usually brought to mind middle-aged white men in short pants or, in a few cases, black farmers struggling… Read more »

Africa: Agriculture Group Finds Targeting Women Improves Food Security, Family Incomes

Gender inequalities are a key impediment to achieving food security in many households in sub-Saharan Africa. Although women do most of the farming on the continent, growing an… Read more »