| Association of African Women for Research and Development | |
| Formation: | 1977 |
| Headquarters: | Dakar |
| Leader Title: | Executive Director |
| Leader Name: | Zenebework Tadesse |
The Association of African Women for Research and Development (AAWORD) / Association des Femmes Africaines pour la Recherche et le Développement (AFARD) is an African feminist organization established in Dakar in December 1977.[1] The "first intellectual feminist organization to denounce the living conditions of African women", AAWORD/AFARD "brought together female African intellectuals to promote equal rights between men and women at the continental level and contributed greatly to the advancement of the status of African women".[2]
AAWORD/AFARD was created after discussion between women scholars who met in Lusaka in Zambia in December 1976.[3] In its early years, AAWORD was supported by the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA).[4] In 1977, 1983 and 1988 it held general assemblies in Dakar. In 1995 it held its general assembly in Pretoria, South Africa.[3]
AAWORD sponsors regular conferences, and publishes occasional bilingual papers and bibliographies. In 1986 it started publishing a quarterly newsletter, Echo. In 1990 it established a documentation center.[3]