Women for Change
Case Study: Saferworld
Brief
Our first assignment for Saferworld, an independent international organization working to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives, was to produce a series of photo and video documentaries in fragile areas such as Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen.
Saferworld chose Fairpicture following a comprehensive selection process involving numerous agencies. Their selection was primarily driven by Fairpicture's passionate commitment to the project and innovative vision for the documentary series. Crucially, our alignment with Saferworld's ethical standards in visual storytelling set us apart, demonstrating a shared commitment to dignified and authentic representation.
In partnership with local visual creators from Nigeria, South Sudan, and Yemen, and under the guidance of creative producer Patrick Kohl, we co-created a compelling narrative alongside Saferworld and its partner women's rights organizations. As the line producer, Fairpicture meticulously coordinated the logistics, ensuring seamless execution from the initial planning stages to the final delivery, upholding our promise of integrity and excellence at every step.
Client
Saferworld | Women for Women International & Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
Visual Creators
Andrew Esiebo (Nigeria), Nikissi Serumaga (South Sudan), Ala'a Noman & Hussam Alqoliaa (Yemen) | Creative Producer: Patrick Kohl
Theme
Impact of innovative financing models for Women Rights Organizations
Locations
Enugu and Jos (Nigeria), Juba (South Sudan), Aden & Taiz (Yemen)
Date
March 2025
Reem Mahdi Ali, a divorcee and incense producer in training at Kafaia Foundation, as she takes a normal lap on the roof of her house looking at her neighborhood in Taiz city, Yemen. "With the availability of financial income, my life has changed and my morale has improved, I use the money for my family, my school and my sister in university. Thank God".
Photo: Hussam Alqoliaa / Saferworld / Fairpicture
Working with Fairpicture helped us to manage a complex video and photo project across multiple states within three countries. Having their support on production and coordination made it much easier for us to juggle the delivery of this project. I strongly recommend working with Fairpicture as they brought huge value to the process for us.
Andrew O'Connor
Communications Coordinator at Saferworld
Violence Club at Trans-Ekulu Secondary Girls' School in Enugu (Nigeria), set up by the Global Initiative for the Development and Care of Women and Youths (GODCOWAY). GODCOWAY is a beneficiary of the Resourcing change fund.
Photo: Andrew Esiebo / Saferworld / Fairpicture
Context
‘Resourcing Change' is an innovative funding program from Saferworld, Women for Women International and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. The project works with women’s rights organisations (WROs) in Yemen, South Sudan and Nigeria and aims to demonstrate the positive impacts of flexible funding models.
Flexibel funding models challenge the prevailing donor-led model of development. This flexibility grants women’s rights organisations the agency to decide how to use funds so that they can set their own agendas, design their own activities and pursue their own goals.
Fairpicture visual creators – in names Nikissi Serumaga (South Sudan), Andrew Esiebo (Nigeria) and Moohialdin Fuad (Yemen) – spoke with some of these women’s rights organisations. They told them about their projects and how they are helping to deliver positive change for women and girls. These stories are now part of the eponymous video-series.
Sule Ladi Luka is a member of community vigilante group in Jos. Through the Women's Initiative for Sustainable Community Development (WISCOD), Luka has been trained on strategies on how she can improve her vigilante services especially in the area of prevention of violence or crime that may occur in her community. Listen to her story in the video below.
Photo: Andrew Esiebo / Saferworld / Fairpicture
Resourcing Change – Episode 1 "Nigeria"
Credits:
- Cinematographer: Andrew Esiebo
- Creative Producer: Patrick H. Kohl
Featuring:
- Global Initative for Development Care of Women and Youth
- Women Skill Acquisition Development and Leadership Organization
- Global Women for Quality and Sustainability Development
- Coalition for the Promotion of Gender Justice, Women in Mediation Network
- The Women Initiative for Sustainability Community Development
- Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society
A collaboration by
Fairpicture | Out of Office Film | Saferworld
Kunooz, a 26 years old, previously unjustly detained, divorced, photographer, supported by Akoun foundation, holding her camera. “During my 3-month detention in prison, I wished that no woman would go through the experience I went through”
Photo: Ala'a Noman / Saferworld / Fairpicture
Resourcing Change – Episode 2 "Yemen"
Credits:
- Cinematographer: Ala'a Noman & Hussam Alqoliaa (YPN)
- Creative Producer: Patrick H. Kohl
Featuring:
- Kefaya Foundation
- Peace Track Initiative (PTI)
- Wogood for Human Security (Wogood)
- ToBe Foundation
- NOON hub
- Whage Hub
A collaboration by
Fairpicture | Out of Office Film | Saferworld
Resourcing Change – Episode 3 "South Sudan"
Credits:
- Cinematographer: Nikissi Serumaga
- Creative Producer: Patrick H. Kohl
Featuring:
- Root of Generations
- Women Advanced Organisation (WAO)
- Women for change (WFC)
A collaboration by
Fairpicture | Out of Office Film | Saferworld
Onuorah Emesiana Iruoma is a beneficiary of the Global Initiative for Development and Care of Women and Youths' skill acquisition and empowerment program, where she was taught and supported in setting up a peanut business. This program was made possible through the Resourcing Change Fund, which supports women’s rights organizations in fragile and conflict-affected states.
Photo: Andrew Esiebo / Saferworld / Fairpicture
Outcome
This project stood out for several reasons. Coordinating three diverse teams across Nigeria, South Sudan, and Yemen, each with distinct languages and cultural contexts, presented a unique challenge. Additionally, the collaboration with numerous women’s rights organizations demanded meticulous coordination, especially given the complexities of security and permits in fragile areas.
Despite these challenges, the unwavering dedication of all visual creators, the creative director, and Saferworld enabled us to achieve our goals. The outcome is a compelling three-episode video series with a unified aesthetic and accompanying photography that powerfully showcases the vital work of the women’s rights organizations involved. These visuals not only highlight the importance but also the strategic impact of innovative financing models.
Saferworld released the first video on October 31st to mark the 24th anniversary of U.N. Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women Peace and Security, and its two-decade journey in integrating women’s perspectives into peace and security efforts. The videos are being published to a YouTube channel held in consortium between Saferworld, Women for Women International, and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom as well as on the Saferworld website.
Looking forward, these videos will play a crucial role at donor roundtables, international conferences, and engagements with both current and potential donor governments. They aim to enhance understanding and support for flexible funding models critical to women's rights organizations in conflict zones. Additionally, the series will support general advocacy efforts by all members of the Resourcing Change Consortium and the women's rights organizations in the three project countries.
Thanks to our strong ethical focus on visual storytelling, we created a documentary series that highlighs the power of innovative financing and amplifies women's rights organizations. I am convinced that this work could lead to further projects for Saferworld's flexible financing model and Fairpicture’s mission to co-create with local storytellers.
Daniel Caspari
Line Producer, Fairpicture
Photos: Andrew Esiebo, YPN- Ala'a Noman & Hussam Alqoliaa / Saferworld / Fairpicture
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