About ACF
Champions of bodily autonomy, legal rights, and dignity for rural women and girls in Malawi — dismantling poverty and eliminating sexual and gender-based violence.
Championing Dignity, Rights & Justice
ACF mission is to champion the bodily autonomy, legal rights, and dignity of rural women and girls in Malawi by dismantling systemic poverty, eliminating sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and ensuring access to comprehensive protection, healthcare, and economic justice through community-led solutions.
Breaking the Cycle for Good
To break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and sexual violence in rural Malawi, fostering resilient communities where rural women and girls are legally protected, financially independent, and empowered to lead lives free from abuse and exploitation.
Strategic Objectives
Three interlocking, community-led pillars that deliver protection, justice, and lasting reform to rural women and girls across Malawi.
Mobile Legal Aid
Justice, wherever they are
Deploy mobile legal clinics to remote traditional authorities (TAs) to provide free legal representation, securing justice for survivors of rape, defilement, and harmful cultural practices.
Rapid Response Systems
Protection, when it matters most
Establish and equip community-based child protection committees and community policing units to safely report SGBV and safely exit abusive situations.
Customary Law Reform
Tradition, free from harm
Engage with village headmen, traditional authorities, and initiation counselors to eradicate harmful traditional practices that fuel sexual violence and child marriage.
Our Values
The principles that guide our work and shape our approach to creating lasting change.
Empowerment
We believe in empowering women and girls to become agents of change in their own lives and communities.
Inclusion
We ensure that no one is left behind, focusing on the most marginalized and vulnerable populations.
Evidence-Driven
Our programs are designed based on data and research to maximize impact and effectiveness.
Community-Led
We work alongside communities, respecting local knowledge and ensuring sustainable change.
The Malawi Context
Malawi, a nation previously grappling with high HIV prevalence and entrenched gender inequalities, is rewriting its narrative through transformative interventions.
Why Economic Empowerment?
- Poverty and income inequality are directly linked to higher HIV vulnerability
- Economic dependence forces women into transactional or survival sex
- Stigma leads to unemployment and discrimination
- Economic insecurity impedes HIV treatment adherence
- Income generation improves decision-making and spousal communication
Our Partners
We work alongside organizations and communities to amplify our impact and reach.