The African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA) was founded in 2009 during a conference organized by
SWEAT in South Africa. At this pivotal gathering, sex workers from ten African countries united to form
an alliance grounded in solidarity, shared experiences, and a common struggle against stigma,
discrimination, and repressive policies. ASWA began as an informal coalition and has since grown into a
leading pan-African movement advocating for the rights, health, and dignity of sex workers across the
continent.
ASWA exists to amplify the voices of sex workers—female, male, and transgender—including those
living with HIV and those who use drugs. Our work focuses on advocacy, movement building,
networking, and the development of strategic partnerships to drive policy change and ensure that sex
workers are meaningfully included in decision-making spaces. From these efforts, ASWA has evolved
into a robust network of over 162 sex worker-led organizations spanning 36 African countries.
Our flagship training programs—the Sex Workers Academy for Africa (SWAA) and the African
Leadership and Empowerment for Sex Workers Academy (ALESWA)—have played a pivotal role in
nurturing leadership. These programs have empowered over 3,500 sex worker leaders with skills in
advocacy, organizing, and rights-based approaches. ASWA’s influence has helped establish 27 national
networks that are actively resisting harmful laws and challenging systemic oppression through local and
regional initiatives.
Despite its humble beginnings and limited resources, ASWA has successfully attracted support from
international donors, UN bodies, and philanthropic organizations aligned with our vision. We’ve grown
amidst funding challenges, expanding our reach and deepening our impact. The COVID-19 pandemic
exposed critical gaps in preparedness and resilience; however, it also catalyzed new strategies, including
emergency relief and long-term planning. Key support from Open Society Foundations (OSF) in 2011
played a significant role in laying the groundwork for national coordination and movement sustainability.
