Rural Women Foundation

What Rural Women Foundation does

Rural Women Foundation (RWF Nigeria) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1997 and registered with Nigeria's Corporate Affairs Commission in May 1999 (RC: 12,057). Headquartered in Abuja with regional offices in Enugu, Jos, Ukpo (regional hub), and Lagos, RWF delivers four interconnected program lines to rural women, children, orphans and vulnerable children, out-of-school youth, and rural communities across five Nigerian states. Its programs comprise: the Multipurpose Centre in Ukpo offering vocational skills training (bakery, sewing, ICT), family planning, a Health and Wellness Centre, Village Savings and Loans Associations, and youth entrepreneurship training; Water and Sanitation (WASH) infrastructure installing boreholes and sanitation facilities at schools and health centres (27 projects since 2013); RWF International School, a private nursery-through-secondary institution serving 513 pupils with 42 teachers and full scholarships for orphans and vulnerable children; and HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, and care programs running since 2006, with the current aCARES initiative funded by the U.S. CDC via APIN Public Health Initiatives in Plateau State.

RWF operates as a non-profit funded primarily through international foundations and bilateral/multilateral donors, with revenue channelled largely through a Dutch sister organization, Stichting Rural Women Foundation. Core funding partners include Wilde Ganzen (matched student fundraising since 2013), Contribute Foundation (Family Stabilisation Project since 2021), AFAS Foundation, and the U.S. CDC (aCARES since 2022). All services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. The organization implements programs either directly or as a sub-awardee under prime international NGOs such as FHI 360, ARFH, Winrock International, EUCORD, and PACT World International. Its go-to-market is community-led, with grassroots engagement through community centres, schools, health facilities, and village-based savings groups across South East Nigeria supplemented by an annual student-driven fundraising event in the Netherlands (Nacht van de Fooi) across ten universities. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Rural Women Foundation

Legal name

Rural Women Foundation

Website

https://ruralwf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Rural Women Foundation is a Nigerian non-profit NGO that delivers integrated education, health, economic empowerment, and WASH programs to rural women, children, and vulnerable communities across five Nigerian states, funded primarily through international foundations and Dutch partner organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Community Development Services

NAICS

Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGABAF

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYBPAGABAA

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYBPAGABAE

Education Access & Quality (International Development)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYBPADABAE

Education, Skills & Workforce Development Aid Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Bilateral Development Agencies & Aid Programs

Keywords

• Rural community development
• WASH infrastructure projects
• Vocational skills training
• HIV/AIDS prevention programs
• Primary education support

Headquarters

HQ city

Abuja

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Donor Funding: RWF Nigeria operates as a non-profit NGO funded primarily through international foundations and donor organizations. Funding is secured through sister organization Stichting Rural Women Foundation in the Netherlands which raises funds from private, family and philanthropic organisations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rural Women Foundation delivers integrated community development programs for rural populations in Eastern Nigeria, operating a Multipurpose Centre that offers family planning, vocational skills training (bakery, sewing, ICT), Village Savings and Loans Associations, and a Health & Wellness Centre. The foundation also runs RWF International School providing nursery, primary, and secondary education with scholarships for vulnerable children, implements WASH projects installing boreholes and sanitation facilities in schools and health centres, and executes HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, care, and support programs.

Product overview

Rural Women Foundation operates as a non-governmental organization offering a portfolio of community development programs rather than a single unified product. The organization delivers four interconnected programs: the Multipurpose Centre providing family planning, vocational skills training (bakery, sewing, computer), health and wellness services, and financial inclusion through VSLAs and entrepreneurship training; Water and Sanitation (WASH) projects installing boreholes and sanitation facilities in schools and health centres across Eastern Nigeria; RWF International School providing nursery, primary, and secondary education with scholarship support for vulnerable children; and HIV/AIDS Prevention programs offering prevention, testing, and care services. These programs are implemented through partnerships with international organizations including Wilde Ganzen, Contribute Foundation, Stichting RWF, and APIN.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RWF International School: A private nursery, primary, and secondary institution established in 2018, located at the RWF Regional Hub Office in Ukpo, Nigeria. Currently serves 513 pupils with 42 teachers.
• Multipurpose Centre

Products and services

• Multipurpose Centre (MPC) A community center at the Ukpo Regional Hub offering family planning education and services, vocational skills training in tailoring and baking, computer training, Health & Wellness services for children aged 0-10, Village Savings and Loans Associations, and youth entrepreneurship training for rural women and out-of-school youth.
• Water & Sanitation (WASH) Program equipping primary schools and health centres across Eastern Nigeria with clean drinking water, solar-powered boreholes, overhead water tanks, and ultra-modern toilet facilities.
• RWF International School A private nursery, primary, and secondary school located at the Regional Hub Office in Ukpo, providing formal education with full scholarships covering tuition, uniforms, books, and fees for orphans and vulnerable children.
• HIV/AIDS Prevention Program Comprehensive HIV/AIDS intervention offering prevention education, voluntary counselling and testing, home-based care and support, and psychosocial and nutritional support for affected families and persons living with HIV/AIDS in Anambra and Plateau States.
• Health & Wellness Centre Clinical service at the MPC providing wellness checks, minor medical treatments, micronutrient supplements, vitamin A, and deworming medication to children and parents in surrounding communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,788 individuals reached through family planning programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020Nigerian NGO that led the USAID-supported ICHSSA-LAGOS project (2020-2023) focused on improving health and social outcomes for vulnerable children. RWF Nigeria served as sub-awardee.
• FHI 360minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2013International NGO that led the USAID-funded SIDHAS project (June 2013 - September 2018) for HIV prevention, care, and support services. RWF Nigeria implemented the project in Anambra State as sub-awardee.
• PACT World InternationalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2012Principal recipient of the USAID-funded REACH project (2012-2014) implemented by RWF Nigeria in three communities in Enugu State for community-based HIV/AIDS response.
• European Cooperative for Rural Development (EUCORD)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2009Led the Children of Hope project (2009-2011) funded by USAID for orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS. RWF Nigeria served as direct implementing partner.
• Winrock International NigeriaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2007Partnered with RWF Nigeria (2007-2011) on the AIM project funded by USAID/PEPFAR, focusing on strengthening capacity of community and faith-based organizations for HIV prevention messages.
• Stichting Rural Women FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch sister organisation that works directly with Wilde Ganzen and other Dutch foundations to raise funds and secure funding for RWF Nigeria's projects. Has facilitated funding from Contribute Foundation, Wilde Ganzen, and other Dutch donors.
• APIN Public Health InitiativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO headquartered in Abuja managing the aCARES HIV/AIDS project funded by CDC. RWF Nigeria implements the project in Langtang North and Kanam Local Government Areas of Plateau State since September 2022.
• Anambra State Ministry of HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner collaborating on bi-annual immunisation drives and providing access to health resources including micronutrient supplements for pregnant women, vitamin A for children, and Albendazole for deworming through Vitamin Angels International.
• Vitamin Angels InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides micronutrient supplements and vitamins for children and pregnant women through partnership with RWF Nigeria and Anambra State Ministry of Health.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ActionAid Nigeria: Direct peer operating in Nigeria focused on women's rights, education, and economic empowerment at the grassroots level; both are community-led NGOs targeting rural women and vulnerable children with multi-sector programmes.
• Plan International Nigeria: Direct peer focused on girls' education, child protection, and youth economic empowerment across Nigerian states; comparable donor mix (bilateral foundations) and vulnerable-children focus.
• Women for Women International: Direct peer delivering rights-based economic empowerment, skills training, and health education to marginalised women in conflict and post-conflict settings including Nigeria; highly comparable target beneficiary and programme mix.
• APIN Public Health Initiatives: Direct peer managing PEPFAR/CDC-funded HIV/AIDS programmes in Nigeria through local implementing partners; RWF already operates as a sub-awardee under APIN, making it the closest programme-comparable peer.
• BRAC Nigeria: Direct peer running integrated microfinance, education, health, and youth empowerment programmes for poor rural women in Nigeria; comparable model that combines skills training + health + WASH at community level.

Broad incumbents

• Save the Children Nigeria: Broad INGO incumbent delivering education, health (incl. HIV), and child-protection programming across Nigeria; comparable vulnerable-children focus and bilateral-funder relationships.
• CARE International Nigeria: Broad incumbent INGO with a global women's-empowerment mandate and active Nigeria portfolio; overlaps on rural women's economic empowerment, WASH, and food security programming.
• FHI 360 (Nigeria): Broad incumbent INGO with extensive Nigeria HIV/AIDS and OVC programming under USAID/PEPFAR (previously led SIDHAS where RWF was sub-awardee); directly comparable on health-focused NGO contracting model.
• Mercy Corps Nigeria: Broad INGO incumbent operating multi-sector programmes (livelihoods, WASH, health, education) across Nigeria with much larger budgets; comparable programmatic mix but more diversified geographically and thematically.

Regional players

• Association of Nigerian Authors for Health (ANHEF) / Community Health NGOs: Regional peer of community-based Nigerian health NGOs (e.g., Society for Family Health, ARFH) operating family-planning and reproductive health services; comparable because RWF runs family planning at the Multipurpose Centre through similar community-distributor models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@RuralWomenFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100091814620058
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rural-women-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/ruralwomenfoundationnigeria

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Rural Women Foundation