The Weavers Forum – Call for Papers (Deadline tomorrow)

The Weavers Forum 2026
Call for Papers, Creative Works and Movement Sessions
5 to 8 August 2026 | Windhoek, Namibia

About the Forum

The Weavers Forum is a biennial Pan-African convening that brings together feminist thinkers, organisers, policymakers, and artists to reimagine economic systems from African perspectives. While women sustain economies across the continent, they remain largely excluded from decision-making spaces. This forum creates a space to challenge that reality and build feminist, care-centred, and just economic alternatives.

The 2026 convening, hosted in Windhoek, is co-led by FEMNET, Nawi Afrifem Collective, and Akina Mama wa Afrika, and will centre collective learning, strategy, and creative practice.

Theme

Towards African Feminist Economies of Care, Justice and Collective Sovereignty

The forum invites contributions that rethink how economies are organised, from community level to global systems, grounded in feminist political economy and lived African realities.

What You Can Submit

Research and policy contributions
Work that advances feminist economic thinking or proposes alternatives, including topics such as debt justice, tax reform, labour, care economies, climate justice, public services, and resource governance.

Movement sessions
Participatory sessions such as roundtables, policy labs, and skill-sharing spaces that centre organising practice, political education, and strategy-building.

Creative and cultural works
Artistic contributions including visual art, film, music, poetry, performance, and experimental formats that explore economic justice and feminist futures.

Who Should Apply

Submissions are invited from feminist and women’s rights organisations, grassroots activists, economists, policy practitioners, artists, and media professionals. Youth-led groups and underrepresented voices are strongly encouraged.

Submission Requirements

Paper proposals should include a 300 to 400 word abstract, author details, key themes, methodology, and a short bio. Full papers may be requested from selected contributors.

Session proposals should outline the format, facilitators, objectives, and expected outcomes, with a strong participatory approach.

Creative submissions should include a short concept note and examples of previous or proposed work.

Languages and Format

Submissions are accepted in English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, and selected African languages. The forum will be held primarily in person in Windhoek, with limited hybrid participation.

How to Apply

Send your Expression of Interest to femnetprog@gmail.com with the subject line “Call for Papers – The Weavers Forum.”

Deadline: 24 April 2026