Abigail Jacobs-Williams
Head of Governance Programme
governance@genderlinks.org.za
Abigail Jacobs – Williams joined GL in July 2009 as Manager of the Local Government and Gender Justice Programme. Prior to this, she worked for the Western Province’s Department of Social Development at their Head Office as an Assistant Director in the Directorate: Social Capital Formation, which focuses on social capital theory thinking, i.e. the power of positive, mutually beneficial relationships between civil society, government and other sectors of society (private, religious, etc). Here she also formed part of the PWGC (Provincial Government of the Western Cape’s) Women’s Forum, which specifically focused on gender issues within the public service.
She also worked for the Department of Health as a community liaison officer focusing on creating platforms of collaboration and networking between communities and government. While at University she worked as a HIV/AIDS Counselor / Peer Educator and in collaboration with UWC and International NGO, Engender Health, she worked as a MAP (Men As Partner) facilitator and trainer.
Among other achievements, she represented the Western Province on the National Department of Social Development’s Women’s Task Team, tasked with writing a National Women’s Strategy for the National Department of Social Development. Abigail holds a BA degree from the University of the Western Cape in Women & Gender Studies, Psychology and English. She is also currently studying towards a Masters degree in Public Administration with a research focus on Gender Responsive Budgeting and Government’s response to GRB, at her Alumni, the University of the Western Cape.
Click here to read about Abigail's learning journey for 2010/2011.
