CHARM Africa

Maria Kaddu’s journey into human rights work is rooted in purpose. ⚖️ With a background in law, she found in Consortium for Human Rights and Media (CHARM) a platform to advance gender justice and protect human rights defenders, staying close to the people, the challenges, and the solutions. She reminds us: behind every defender at risk are people working tirelessly to keep their voices alive.  Read her whole story here: lnkd.in/dEMtaE7j

Democracy does not end at the ballot box; it thrives through daily participation in governance and accountability. Timothy Chemonges’ efforts to make Parliament accessible to young Ugandans demonstrate the impact of transparent, youth-driven governance. Through civic tech platforms and youth forums, the message is clear: accountability is a democratic right. In partnership with @MagambaNetwork Timothy has led Open Parly Uganda, fostering conversations on social media platforms such as Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. These discussions address issues including corruption, information gaps, and shrinking civic spaces, engaging youth nationwide to strengthen democracy. Learn more about Open Parly Uganda, Timothy’s work with young people, and his experience at the Open Data Summit through this link: lnkd.in/ddZxFhjk

Day 3 in Kigali was all about sustainability & smart funding! Led by CHARM’s Fundraising & Business Development Officer, Spencer Marume. Participants explored global funding trends, resource mobilization strategies, and practical proposal development tips, from qualification matrices to review schedules. The day wrapped with teams crafting their own resource mobilization action plans. The training is an important initiative in ensuring that our beneficiaries can go for opportunities once they are advertised by donors, and for the sustainability of their projects. #CHARM #ResourceMobilization #FundingForImpact #CivilSociety

TBT to the CHARM Changemakers Meet-Up that took place in Zambia mid this year. The event was a powerful week bringing together creatives, journalists, filmmakers, artists & songwriters to sharpen digital security, explore activism online, and center digital & mental wellness. Change thrives when changemakers are informed, protected & grounded. Grateful to @DefendDefenders @WitsUniversity @fojo_int and @MagambaNetwork Special appreciation to our funders @Sida for supporting initiatives that empower story tellers to push for good governance and accountability across the region #ThrowbackThursday #CHARMChangemakers #CreativesForChange #DigitalSecurity #MentalWellness #CivicSpace

As we continue our sessions in Kigali, we remain committed to building resilient MEL ecosystems that reflect the complexity and impact of work across the region

We closed with a strategic discussion on embedding Outcome Harvesting into partner reporting systems, ensuring evidence pathways remain credible, coherent & aligned with CHARM’s broader MEL agenda. A heartfelt thank-you to our Rwanda partners at @crd_rw for your openness, expertise & commitment to strengthening collective learning. Your engagement continues to elevate the quality and relevance of this mission.

Thread 🧵 As the CHARM Consortium continues its capacity-building mission with partners in Rwanda, today we focused on enhancing our collective ability to generate, analyze & apply evidence in complex civic space environments. Our MEL specialist, Patrick Dowan, led an in-depth session on Outcome Harvesting, structured around three key pillars: • Identifying outcomes in dynamic contexts • Verifying change through credible, traceable evidence • Substantiating findings with independent perspectives We explored data collection approaches: semi-structured interviews, documentation reviews & triangulation, highlighting how contextual sensitivity strengthens the quality of evidence.

With civic space shrinking across the region, this mission is all about building the resilience, creativity, and solidarity needed to keep human rights work bold and unstoppable. Huge shoutout to our amazing partners making this possible: @CIVICUSalliance @DefendDefenders @crdefenders @fojo_int @MagambaNetwork @RFLD @AIJC_Conference

Greetings from Kigali, Rwanda Today we lauched a 5-day capacity building mission is officially in full swing and the energy is unmatched! We’ve brought together 15 brilliant sub-grantees for a week of learning, connecting and leveling up. This week we’re diving into: Outcome Harvesting : turning stories into powerful evidence Resource Mobilisation: because strong ideas deserve strong funding Networking magic: new partnerships, big ideas, shared wins! Kigali, let’s keep the momentum going! 🙌🔥 #TogetherWeRise

Greetings from Banjul, Gambia. We are excited to announce the launch of two applications that talk about the African Union Instruments at the sidelines of the 85th session of the @achpr_cadhp . The launch of AfricLegal developed by Tiriij Technology, led by the Software Developer @Jimale and Fahamu Haki Zako developed by Salome Chemiat, is a culmination of a one-year journey since the two emerged as the winners in a competitive hackathon that was held in 2024 in Banjul. We are honored to have Hon. Commissioner Remy Loy Lumbu as the keynote speaker for the side event, which takes place at Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, Bilateral room 5 from 1:00 p.m. to 3: 00 p.m. Among the panelists will be CHARM Partner representatives, Mr Gbenagnon John, @RfldOrg Senior Officer in Charge of Human Rights, Civic Space, and Democracy Portfolio and Maria Chisvo @MagambaNetwork Network's Digital X Project Lead. Our moderator for the day will be @natoshaah CHARM Communication Officer. You can also join the event online through this Zoom link in the poster below. Looking forward to hosting you!

The day ended with Amplifying Voices led by @DefendDefenders @CIVICUSalliance & partners , showcasing powerful regional strategies defending civic space & human rights. What a day of learning, reflection & connection! From collaboration to accountability, digital innovation to inclusion, CHARM partners are reimagining advocacy for lasting change. Stay tuned for more updates!

Communications Team then took the stage leading a vibrant session on collaboration & visibility. Partners explored creative ways to amplify CHARM’s collective voice and make advocacy communication more impactful across the region. The Beyond the Basics session by @fojo_int , @RfldOrg & @MagambaNetwork delved into integrating gender equality, media, social inclusion & climate justice into advocacy strategies. In the Digital Frontiers session, partners explored civic tech, digital journalism & youth-led innovations reshaping activism across Africa.

#TBT to our ongoing Partner Meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe! A powerful blend of innovation, advocacy & shared strengths — bringing together CHARM partners from across Africa to reflect, learn & reimagine impact. The day kicked off with a refreshing Rise & Shine Energizer led by @RfldOrg setting the tone for collaboration and creativity. Partners then joined the MEL & Finance Learning Circle to explore what worked, what didn’t, and how to grow stronger together.

Our full team meeting kicked off on Monday 21 October 2025 in Harare, Zimbabwe. It drew representatives from all seven Consortium partners, spanning South Africa, Sweden, Benin, and Uganda. The meeting opened with the theme 'From Achievements to Ambitions.' @MemoryBandera @DefendDefenders, Director of Programmes and Administration, celebrated CHARMs milestones and emphasized the value of collaboration. “Collaboration is the heartbeat of the CHARM Consortium; it is through our shared expertise, collective action, and mutual trust that we turn isolated efforts into impactful, lasting change.” Said Memory. The three-day meeting is set to be a reflective retreat, seeking to take stock of CHARMS achievement as well as plan a way forward. Together, we look forward to a new year filled with shared purpose, deeper partnerships, and an even greater impact. #TeamCHARM

Join Us at #ACHPR85 for a side event on: Early Warning & Prevention Systems: Fostering Collaboration Between the African Commission & CSOs for Sustainable Advocacy 🗓️ Oct 21, 2025 | 🕠 5:30 PM | 📍Banjul Our guest speaker will be @RSDDHCADHP Co-org by @RFLD_Africa, @CharmAfric @achpr_cadhp @CIVICUSalliance & EUSEE #HumanRights #CivilSociety

This morning, the Civil Rights Defenders (CRD) delegation led by the new Executive Director, Sofia Walan, Gabrielle Gunneberg, Global Department Director, Mesfin Bekele, Director Africa and Middle East Department and Ruth Apolot, Programs Officer, CRD Uganda paid a courtesy visit to our offices. Our relationship with @crdefenders was born in 2010, when Helena Bjuremalm facilitated the partnership between DefendDefenders and @Sida, signed in cold Stockholm. On the same day, she connected us with a like-minded organisation, CRD, a relationship that has since blossomed into a strategic collaboration under @CharmAfric. We appreciate the @SweMFA for its continued support towards the protection and promotion of the work of human rights defenders through the years.