Wangu Kanja Foundation (WKF) is experienced-informed and survivor led feminist non-profit national organization founded in 2005. The organization is domiciled in Nairobi Kenya but has footprints in all the 47 counties in Kenya. The organization was founded by Ms. Wangu Kanja, an experienced Human Rights Champion, with 18 years’ experience in the field of gender and development. The challenges she faced after a sexual violence ordeal and particularly in the quest for justice in Kenya, were instrumental in the establishment of WKF. The organisation focuses on addressing sexual violence with regards to prevention, protection and response. At the core of WKF’s work is addressing the needs of survivors of sexual violence in Kenya and beyond by engaging in holistic interventions with an aim of restoring their dignity and that of their families and friends.
WKF believes that by shifting social norms that propagate sexual violence, enhancing service delivery and ensuring accountability by all stakeholders can result in the prevention and response to sexual violence leading to dignified healing, recovery and resilience amongst survivors. WKF identifies itself as a centre for excellence that catalyzes action towards curbing sexual violence by applying myriad strategies including but not limited to community mobilization, awareness, partnerships, research, innovation, capacity strengthening lobbying and policy advocacy, socio-economic empowerment, and access to comprehensive care and support for survivors of sexual violence. WKF is the Convenor of the Survivors of Sexual Violence in Kenya (SSVKenya) Network which brings together a unified movement of survivors to amplify their voices to address all forms of sexual violence across the country.
WKF’s work is anchored in the belief and respect for fundamental human rights. This is to say that; regard- less of traumatic experiences, all life is sacred and precious and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Based on this foundational belief, WKF utilizes its expertise and resources towards restoring the well-being and dignity of survivors and especially survivors whose sexual rights are at risk of viola-
tion as a result of prevailing systemic gendered inequalities, oppression, exploitation and discrimination. WKF supports survivors of sexual violence (SSV) irrespective of sex, gender, age, ethnicity, race, class, education and any other form of socio-economic status or affiliations. Some of the key populations include survivors with HIV, survivors self-identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and intersex, survivors living with disabilities, survivors experienc- ing racial discrimination and/or injustice, survivors self-identifying as sex workers, survivors living in the lowest income groups, vulnerable and marginalised groups, survivors who are also human rights defenders and gender advocates among other diversities.
These are our core constituents, for whom we will:
1. Co-create purpose-driven and survivor centered interventions; 2. Collaborate and strategically work with public and private
institutions, community structures and facilitate joint
interventions to positively influence culture and practice; 3. Pursue contextualized solutions for local problems;
4. Strengthen movement building through knowledge and
information sharing and capacity development;
5. Work to consolidate and safeguard the gains realized through
prevention and response initiatives;
6. Celebrate milestones achieved and showcase best practices to
influence knowledge, skills and practice.
Using survivor centric approaches, we shall:
Adopt strategic and innovative gender transformative approaches
in our work with survivors and in our resource mobilization;
Use comprehensive monitoring, learning, adaptive and evi-
dence–based approaches that embrace human rights principles;
Ensure safe work environment for the staff to enhance their self-
care and overall well-being;
Source for safe opportunities in the referral pathway for serving
survivors and those at risk of sexual violence.
We shall work in complementarity to offer:
Platform for leveraging of opportunities and resources so as to
maximise spaces for holistic support and impact for our benefi-
ciaries;
Opportunities for collaboration in evidence building to increase
knowledge and solutions;
Spaces for coalescing and enhancing joint advocacy on areas of
mutual interest.
Our offer to those who fund our work, we shall
Share our knowledge and experience on what works to address
sexual violence;
Be accountable in how we use resources entrusted to us guided
by the principles of value for money, accountability and good
faith;
Seek complementarity in areas of work to realise positive impact
in the achievement of our goals.
We will endeavour to hold state, non-state and itself to account for actions and inactions towards the fulfilment of WKF's mission and vision. We will diligently fulfil all our commitments to the survivors of sexual violence, donors, partners, and collaborators and expect the same with each of the individuals and organisations that interact with our work.
We believe in being honest, guided by strong organizational principles to behave ethnically and do the right thing, even behind closed doors. We will honour the confidence endorsed by survivors of sexual violence, our donors, and collaborators by adhering to the highest ethics in all areas of our work including respecting institutional policies and practice.
We will esteem and honour the survivors of sexual violence, their families and their communities. We will therefore engage efficiently, give information, provide services and make follow-ups to ensure that survivor issues are adequately addressed with strict confidentiality.
We take into consideration the perspective, feelings, and emotions of the survivors of sexual violence and taking action in consultation with the survivors in response. We will integrate the needs and amplify the voices of survivors in all our programs and activities considering their best interests.
We care and respect ourselves, survivors and others we connect with. We shall therefore be guided by ethical principles such as 'do not harm' and be informed by the best interests and practice in supporting our constituents and collaborators to attain their full potential.
We will embrace inclusion and diversity as core principles in the identification of collaborators and partners. We shall embrace team work and use principles of intersectionality in finding mutual partners to support our work.
Wangu Kanja Foundation (WKF) believes that it is not enough to desire an end to sexual and other forms of gender-based violence. We need to have an understand- ing of how change occurs, and what we can do to make it a constant reality. Our theory of change focuses on sexual violence against women, men, children, persons with disabilities, the elderly, key populations and other minority groups. It does not minimise other forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), but we deem that different approaches are required.
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