Women and Development Against Distress in Africa

Women and Development Against Distress in Africa (WADADIA) is a Kenyan-registered nonprofit organization that empowers marginalized women and girls in 15 counties in Kenya to advocate for their health and socioeconomic rights. WADADIA’s community-based programs are grounded in psychosocial support, reproductive health, and socioeconomic empowerment and focus on supporting low-income women, including female sex workers, survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, women with female genital fistulas, adolescent girls, and young mothers. WADADIA has become a significant voice in advocating for improved reproductive health services for marginalized communities, ensuring access to family planning, safe motherhood, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education and services, treatment of childbirth injuries and other neglected surgical conditions, social reintegration and rehabilitation, safe spaces for survivors of violence, education, mentorship, mental health, and other psychosocial support services. Its comprehensive socioeconomic programs have created opportunities for women to gain financial independence, thus helping them to make informed choices that improve their general health and well-being. (Gender Equity and Governance)