Holding the Line, Building Futures: Global South Feminists in Turbulent Times

From July 1–3, 2025, in Cotonou, Benin, 26 feminist activists from 19 countries forged a frontline of resistance. At this turning point of the Leading from the South movement, they united to reclaim their power and chart a radical course for collective liberation against the polycrises.

Hosted by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) and organised by the Leading from the South (LFS) Consortium, alongside three women’s funds from the Global South—Fondo de Mujeres del Sur (FMS), International Indigenous Women’s Forum (FIMI/AYNI), and Women’s Fund Asia (WFA)—the “Holding the Lines, Building Futures: Global South Feminists in Turbulent Times” convening represents a powerful turning point for LFS and its partners. This partnership was a strategic, real-time necessity, constructing a radical safe haven for collective reckoning and tactical evolution as partners stood together to dismantle the obstacles in their path.

As a suffocating polycrisis and retreating global funds threaten to erase decades of progress, Global South feminist movements refuse to yield. We are witnessing a violent shift toward authoritarianism and right-wing extremism—a tide that seeks to strip agency from women, girls, indigenous peoples, and gender-diverse communities. Yet, in the face of restricted freedoms and engineered poverty, feminist human rights defenders have risen with collective strength, expanding the legacy of those who came before them.

“If there is polycrisis, I respond with community.”

Over three intense days, LFS and its allies anchored their work in unity and unapologetic joy. Using the radical power of art, vibrant colour, and ancestral storytelling, they transformed this space into a sanctuary to architect their demands for a liberated feminist future.

From every corner of the Global South, champions of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention, Economic Justice, Climate Justice, and Land Rights converged. They stared down the intertwined crises of our time with clarity and courage. These leaders are architecting a revolution for the rights of women, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, the LBTQIA+ community, and every voice the world tries to silence.

“Our lives are polycrises, and we need to think about the polysolutions and the polyengagement.”

Resources are the lifeblood of this resistance. As global funding cuts loom, our partners are seizing new territory. They are shattering old narratives to unlock radical funding strategies and revitalising grassroots mobilisation. When traditional gates close, feminists build their own doors to ensure the movement’s survival and triumph.

The horizon is daunting, but the Global South leads without permission. With the support of partners like LFS, these movements have mapped their own path. This convening was the spark—a reunion of a sisterhood that has turned survival into a blueprint for a resilient future.

Acknowledgement

We extend our deepest gratitude to the 26 grantee partners from 19 countries from Africa, Asia, The Middle East and South America who participated with honesty and bravery, sharing their experiences, strategies, and visions. We also thank the strong and dedicated women’s funds, along with their allies, for their efforts in advancing the vision and mission of the LFS Consortium. Finally, we appreciate our funders for their ongoing support and commitment to advancing feminist movements in the Global South.