International Women's Development Agency (IWDA)

Your donation makes this transformation possible. Together, we can break down barriers and ensure women have the opportunities they deserve. In Timor-Leste, women face challenges that prevent them from stepping into leadership roles—high rates of gender-based violence, stigma, economic insecurity all hold them back. These barriers leave many women without the opportunity to lead or make their voices heard. With your support, we can change this. By providing the tools, confidence, and mentorship women need, we can empower them to break through these obstacles and lead with strength. Use your power so they can use theirs. Your gift today will create lasting change. Donate now at: https://loom.ly/EAS2i94

A decade on from Sweden announcing the world’s first #FeministForeignPolicy, how has the #FFP landscape changed? IWDA's new research explores this very question! Building on the findings from our original project into how early commitments to #FeministForeignPolicy came about, 'A Decade of Feminist Foreign Policy: Changing Trajectories of Adoption and Accountability over Time' explores the critical debates, questions and tensions that have shaped Feminist Foreign Policy since then. Read the full report today: https://loom.ly/WZAxvCs

We're proud to share our 2024 Annual Report, highlighting the collective power of IWDA's partners, supporters, allies and the feminist movements we are a part of. From our CEO Nayomi Kannangara: "There is no doubt that we find ourselves in an increasingly destabilised world, where hard-won rights for women and girls are under threat. The backlash to gender equality efforts is real. An anti-rights movement is on the rise, at the same time as we face environmental, health and humanitarian crises around the world. In this context, the need for strong women’s rights organisations, grounded in feminist movements, is more important than ever. We need organisations that can contribute to lasting change, even when it is hard. Especially when it is hard. I look forward to us continuing to shape IWDA to meet this critical moment." Read more from Nayomi and learn about the biggest wins and lessons for IWDA.

The latest AFFPC issues paper highlights the benefits of a gender sensitive approach to counter-terrorism. In many countries, the field of national security is deeply gendered and efforts to address terror threats are no exception. So what would a feminist approach to counter terrorism look like? In this paper, Shannon Zimmerman describes it as an approach that would: 📍Be people-centred 📍Be context- specific 📍Identify and balance unequal power relationships 📍Identify allies instead of enemies and: 📍Prioritise prevention over response While a feminist approach to this issue adds layers of complexity, this brief argues that such an approach has distinct advantages over existing responses. Read the full paper here: https://loom.ly/HbOP2H0

Imagine being told your voice doesn’t matter. That’s the reality for many women in Timor-Leste, but we can change it together. Your donation can help our partners provide leadership training, advocacy support, and resources that empower women to step into their power and transform their communities. Will you stand with them? Give now to make a lasting impact. https://loom.ly/F0Tj1HA

#16Days is behind us, but our work is not done. The urgent pursuit to end violence against women in all its forms continues. In Australia alone, 98 women have been killed this year, with 8 of their deaths occurring during the 16 Days of Activism. They deserved to be safe in their homes, in their workplaces and in public. The loss of each of these women will continue to affect the lives of those who knew and loved them, with a ripple effect flowing on into each of their communities. We are all affected by violence, and we each have a role in ending it. #EndVAWG #16Days

My head and heart are still buzzing from an incredible week in Bangkok, attending Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) 2024 with a few thousand (3,500, I hear!) feminists from around the globe! AWID was so many things—all at once! It was intense, yet warm and relaxing. It showcased strength while embracing brave vulnerability. It embodied solidarity in abundance while fiercely standing on its own. It was about strategizing, defiance, and hope. It was perfect in its imperfections. It was everything you’d expect from a feminist collective (pure bliss!). I must admit, I spent much of my time at AWID talking and thinking about moving money to feminist movements. Among the highlights: Sharing the stage with Rachel Jacobson PeiYao Chen Sanjana Gaind Meghan Doherty Saranel Benjamin Katharine Im-Jenkins to discuss our experiences in moving institutional funding to movements—a true honor! Being deeply inspired by the ever-creative #ResourceFULLCollective, who sparked out-of-the-box ideas for philanthropic fundraising. Check them out: https://lnkd.in/giQ85vMW Connecting with our amazing partners from Asia and the Pacific, whose brilliant presentations and company left me in awe. Special shoutouts to Chandy Eng Rainbow Community Kampuchea @Women’s League of Burma @United Sisterhood Alliance for being such inspiring forces. And it was absolute joy travelling with IWDA colleagues- deep conversations and light chatter in abundance! Somporn (Fhon) Williams Annelise Lecordier Camilla Price Phoebe Tan Makara Vorn Linh Nong Chandni Dhingra

No person has claim to more human rights than another. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights outlines 30 rights and freedoms that belong to all of us, “without distinction of any kind”. Today on #HumanRightsDay, we stand with every movement striving to realise this vision of universal human rights, in which all people can gain freedom and equality.

The OECD has just released a new, first of its kind report on Development Finance for Gender Equality. It tells a story of the continuing gap between commitments to gender equality and the resourcing to realise them. Of particular concern is the low level of official development assistance (ODA) to women’s rights organisations and feminist movements – around USD 500 million per year, or less than 1% of ODA focused on gender equality. This is despite global evidence confirming the critical importance of women’s rights organisations and feminist movements in understanding – and changing – the drivers of inequality in particular contexts. It is a critical moment for countries and philanthropic funders to walk the talk. As IWDA joins feminists from around the world in Bangkok this week for the 15th International #AWID Forum, strategies to strengthen resourcing will be at the heart of our work to accelerate change. Here’s the report for more detail https://oe.cd/5PJ #DevelopmentFinanceForGenderEquality #GenderEquality #OECDDevelopment #ODA #GENDERNET #FFD4 #DevelopmentFinance

Every woman deserves to be safe wherever she is in the world. Sadly, we still live in a world where this basic right is not guaranteed. Whether a woman is at work, going about her business in public, or in her own home, she should be able to expect freedom from harassment, violence and abuse. Right now, this is a dream. We will continue to fight for a world where this is the reality. #16Days #EndVAWG #NoExcuse