A positioning note to defend the funding of French and North African feminist associations

French and North African feminist associations feel the need to take a stand, given the current context: national environments that are unfavourable to feminist associations and funder requirements that are unsuited to their local realities. They therefore note that feminist associations suffer from structural underfunding and permanent precariousness, which limits the scope of their actions.

BATIK Int. and its partners in the North African region are joining forces to denounce the current situation. Partner organisations include the Institution Nationale de Solidarité avec les Femmes en Détresse (INSAF) and la Fédération de la Ligue des Droits des Femmes (FLDF) in Morocco, and Amal pour la Famille et l’Enfant in Tunisia.

Working together to draft a position paper fulfils BATIK Int.'s commitment to contributing to international solidarity, particularly by defending local actors.

This position paper is structured around three priorities:

• Rethinking national policy frameworks to ensure sustainable support for feminist associations;
• Decolonising French and European official development aid in order to directly support feminist and intersectional¹ struggles ;
• Strengthening the effectiveness of feminist funding in response to crises in North Africa.

Data from a survey filled out by more than fifty feminist (or women's) organisations reveals that 45% of organisations in the Maghreb have never had access to public funding. In addition, 55% of organisations believe that funders are disconnected from local realities. Finally, 38% of organisations denounce the legal risks involved in accessing certain international funds.

BATIK Int. and its partners make four recommendations:

• Strengthen national frameworks to provide sustainable support for feminist associations in accessing public funding;
• Make feminist diplomacy a concrete tool for guaranteeing access to international funding for feminist organisations in the Global South and France;
• Ensure a feminist agenda in European policies post-2027;
• Ensure rapid, flexible and sustainable access to funding during crises.

This positioning note highlights the strong links between North African and French feminist associations. It is also a useful tool for raising their demands in the circles of power, such as at the 4th Conference on Feminist Foreign Policies in Paris at the end of October 2025.

To view the full note, click here.

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1 Intersectional in that it takes into account the different dynamics of domination experienced by women and gender minorities (gender, origin, class, disability, etc.).