This special issue seeks to explore and critically examine the various strategies feminist advocacy deploys to advocate for gender justice, present the interests of the historically oppressed, and also challenge and question the workings and operations of mainstream advocacy led, funded, and determined by the politics of the global North.
Feminist advocacy efforts ensure that gender-based injustices are named and that the interests of the most marginalised and neglected communities are discussed and included in political, legislative, and policy spaces, resulting in the formulation and execution of gender just laws, policies, and programmes. Beyond furthering a gender just agenda, feminist advocacy also draws attention to, challenges, and pushes for change in the flow of financing for development, so that underfunded programmes addressing sexual and reproductive health, education, and other SDG goals especially in the global South (Plan International 2025, UN News 2025, Rutgers 2024 ), can be adequately and consistently resourced.
The current global context is marked by protracted wars, rising authoritarianism, growing anti-gender movements, dominance of the private sector interests, tightening of public funding and austerity measures and systematic attacks on the rights of women and persons with marginalised identities.
Global advocacy and policy spaces are undergirded by power inequities stemming from colonial histories, capitalism, and neoliberal development, which shape feminist advocacy efforts and funding policies. These include inadequate funding for autonomous advocacy in policy-making forums, visa restrictions, and co-opting of feminist interests by neoliberal institutions and agendas (Musindarwezo et al. 2023). There is also the invisibility of grassroots advocacy to advance gender rights and improve lives of women, their families, and communities.
The role of digital technology in shaping feminist advocacy cannot be ignored. Social media platforms along with offline advocacy strategies are creating powerful ripples of awareness, along with building alliances around gender justice. However, emboldened feminist expressions and articulations within digital spaces are countered by an increase in misogynistic and anti-gender digital content. The rise of the manosphere presents a counter discourse to feminist discourse, which often takes on violent connotations.
This issue aims to shed light on these and other issues.
Our guest editors: This special issue will be guest edited by Dr. Awino Okech and Dr. Sohela Nazneen.
Read the detailed call here: Revisiting Feminist Advocacy
Submissions
We want to hear from those working in governance, community and grassroots leaders, women’s rights and human rights activists, civil society organisations and networks, researchers and academics, policymakers, and practitioners. We especially invite contributions that share case studies and practice-based recommendations.
Please submit your abstract or proposal using the google form link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfR-N9jibMiRjkkbVaP-df7SJZudr0KJxxI951Ev7orI7DQ8g/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=117639870437962946973
Deadline: 26 July 2025, 11:59pm UTC.
Please read the Guidelines for contributors carefully before abstract/proposal submission. Please send any queries to genderanddevelopment.south@gmail.com.
Note about Gender and Development:
Gender & Development, co-published by Oxfam and Routledge/Taylor & Francis, has been a steadfast source of essential readings in the field of development for over 30 years. Since its founding in 1993, the journal has critically explored a range of cross-cutting issues in the areas of gender and development. It is a trailblazer in establishing inclusive and decolonialist approaches to knowledge creation and management in the wider international humanitarian and development sectors. While previously hosted by Oxfam Great Britain, a consortium of Oxfam affiliates in the global South – Oxfams Brazil, Colombia, India, Oxfam KEDV (Turkiye), Mexico and South Africa – has now been hosting the journal since 1st January 2022.