When women thrive, the world thrives.

Transcription

1 WOMEN THRIVE WORLDWIDE 2013 When women thrive, the world thrives.

2 2 WOMEN THRIVE WORLDWIDE AT A GLANCE 3 When women thrive, the world thrives. Women Thrive Worldwide envisions a world in which women and men work together as equal partners to secure better lives for themselves and their families. Women Thrive advocates for change at the U.S. and global levels so that women and men can share equally in the enjoyment of opportunities, economic prosperity, voice, and freedom from fear and violence. We ground our work in the realities of women and girls living in poverty, partner with locally based organizations, and create powerful coalitions to advance the interests of the women and girls we serve.

3 4 WOMEN THRIVE WORLDWIDE AT A GLANCE 5 Why women? Women are more vulnerable to the effects of poverty, violence, and discrimination around the world. Advancing women s rights is one of the biggest civil rights challenges of this century. Research and experience also show that women living in poverty are more likely to invest in nutrition, health care, and education for their children, helping entire communities step into prosperity. Who has the influence? The U.S. government invests billions of dollars each year in aid and humanitarian programs globally, but these investments could do much more to benefit women and girls living in poverty. When we follow the money, we also know that global corporations, investors, private foundations, institutions like the United Nations, and consumers themselves have more and more power to support women in realizing their rights and opportunities. What will it take? We can make it happen. To address the big challenges women and girls face in this century violence, illiteracy, discrimination, poverty, and more we need big ideas and the resources to make them happen. Whether it s growing more food and changing property laws, or teaching job skills and opening access to opportunity, the best people to bring about change are women themselves and the locally based organizations that work with them. But they need our support. Women Thrive Worldwide brings the priorities, ideas, solutions, and voices of women living in poverty to the most powerful decision-makers and donors in the world. We push U.S. government agencies to ensure that women and girls benefit from every poverty assistance program. We work with the global women s movement to make women s empowerment a goal for international action. And we gather together the voices of caring American women and men to influence decision-makers.

4 6 WOMEN THRIVE WORLDWIDE AT A GLANCE 7 Theory of Change Women Thrive is a unique advocate of transformational change for women and girls. We are a recognized expert on gender and a trusted leader in shaping U.S. policies to make international assistance work for women and girls. We occupy a unique niche, focusing on U.S. international assistance and global trade, and work at the nexus of international development, women s issues, and U.S. citizen engagement. We play a critical role as a convener and trusted collaborator by leading a diverse and powerful U.S. based coalition of more than 50 organizations. We partner with local women s organizations in developing countries to highlight their experiences, giving policy-makers an on-the-ground perspective of how U.S. and international policies are affecting women. Our diverse and robust Global Partnerships Network brings together local organizations, service providers, national and regional networks, coalitions, social enterprises and small businesses, advocacyoriented organizations, and research-focused groups from around the globe.

5 8 WOMEN THRIVE WORLDWIDE AT A GLANCE 9 Celebrating 15 Years of Success Women Thrive has been an important voice within the development community, helping to secure the following achievements: White House launches United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally USAID launches Gender Equality and Female Empowerment policy Ritu Sharma participates in HungerFast, which helps stave off serious cuts to foreign aid budget Gender integration featured in President Obama s Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review IVAWA passes the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but not in time to be introduced before the recess Feed the Future includes gender indicators in the implementation guidelines for USAID missions Feed the Future initiative makes gender one of three cross-cutting program issues Millennium Challenge Corporation initiates a field review of gender in six countries Gender is integrated into New Partnership for Development Act $50 million in U.S. support for the Global Development Fund, $10 million specifically for women s economic opportunity IVAWA is introduced in the House of Representatives and Senate, but does not pass Women Thrive joins the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) GROWTH Act introduced in Senate and House of Representatives, but does not pass Tsunami Relief bill includes gender requirements for implementation USAID launches $6 million project to analyze the impact of trade on women in eight countries Women Thrive helps secure $77 million of U.S. support for Afghan women s groups and projects Millennium Challenge Account changes education fund eligibility criteria from primary school enrollment to primary school completion Millennium Challenge Account awards Burkina Faso $12 million for the BRIGHT Project Millennium Challenge Account legislation passed, complete with gender requirements Women Thrive helps secure $60 million for Afghan women s programs U.S. Goverment invests $3 million in UNIFEM and the UNIFEM Trust to End Violence Against Women Access for Afghan Women Act of 2002 passes congress Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 passes congress Ritu Sharma serves on an official U.S. delegation to the UN General Assembly Session on Women (Beijing Plus Five) Ritu Sharma and Elise Fiber Smith launch Women s EDGE Coalition (now known as Women Thrive Worldwide) Women included in all programs of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act Gender analysis included into the emergency relief package for Hurricane Mitch

6 10 WOMEN THRIVE WORLDWIDE AT A GLANCE 11 Policy Priorities At Women Thrive, we focus our work on the priorities of the people our efforts affect most. Education Investments in education yield tremendous returns greater economic growth, improved public health, and safer and more stable communities. However, for these benefits to be realized, all girls and boys must not only attend school, but also learn skills that will enable them to thrive. Women Thrive advocates to the United Nations and other decision-makers for universal, learning-centered development goals for boys and girls of all economic backgrounds. We re working to make sure that when the Millennium Development Goals are renewed in 2015, a goal on learning not just access to schools is included. Economic Opportunity Most issues faced by women living in poverty can be tied back to economic opportunity. Without equal rights, women are unable to prosper; without the ability to walk to work safely, they are unable to provide for their families; without support from local organizations, they are unable to access resources that will enable them to thrive. Food Security If all women had the same access as men to land, water, training, and materials, they could increase food production and lift 100 million people out of hunger. Women Thrive works to improve policies that promote food security and alleviate hunger by improving sustainable agricultural practices for the world s small-holder farmers most of whom are women. Violence Against Women and Girls Millions of women and girls worldwide experience violence with rates reaching up to 70 percent in some countries. Violence against women and girls is an intolerable violation of human dignity, as well as hindrance to economic and cultural development. Women Thrive works to prevent, respond to, and end violence against women and girls. We encourage the U.S. government to increase and expand investments in locally-based solutions that enable women and men to lead safe, healthy and productive lives. Aid Effectiveness The U.S. spends only 1 percent of its overall budget on international aid, yet it is still able to save millions of lives and combat poverty around the world. Women Thrive promotes the effective use of these funds. Smart development is rooted in local perspectives, increases gender equality, and empowers women and girls to be the drivers of their own destiny.

7 12 WOMEN THRIVE WORLDWIDE AT A GLANCE 13 Global Partnerships Network Thrive Institute for Advocacy The GPN is a dynamic network that connects organizations from around the world working to advance women. Whether on the issue of gender-based violence, food security, economic opportunity or agricultural needs, Women Thrive works with local organizations to advance common goals. We hope to be a conduit for organizations and individuals committed to gender equality to share their experiences on how to best address the needs of women and girls living in poverty around the world and empower them. Our globally diverse network includes: local and civil society organizations service providers national and regional networks and coalitions social enterprises and small businesses advocacy-oriented organizations research-focused groups Through our partner networks we are able to track and monitor the impact of international policy on a country and a community level. This direct connection with women and organizations on the ground enables Women Thrive to clearly identify the intricacies of the issues and obstacles faced by women and girls living in developing countries. The best available research shows that the most effective, longterm solution to ending global poverty is empowering women. We now know that women who are trained to advocate for their own unique needs can amplify their voices to more effectively improve their own lives and play a more powerful role in lifting up their communities. U.S. foundations and development agencies are increasingly focusing on building the capacity of individuals to improve the policy environment for development in their countries. Women Thrive Worldwide s new Thrive Institute for Advocacy is uniquely positioned to address the vital need for advocacy capacity-building among women s organizations in developing countries. We have the advocacy experience and local connections to train an extensive and growing network of partners in the global south. Working in tandem with these local partners, we can help realize the full potential of advocates for women and girls in the global south to affect positive social change for women and girls. Through the Thrive Institute for Advocacy, we will help empower women to speak out with their own voices and champion the best possible solutions for their lives, the lives of their families, and the well being of their communities.

8 WHEN WOMEN THRIVE, THE WORLD THRIVES. Prepared by Women Thrive Worldwide 1726 M Street NW Suite 1075 Washington, DC thrive@womenthrive.org Women Thrive Worldwide 2013 Photo Credits by Page: Cover, 2, 6, 13 Darcy Kiefel; 4, Back Cover Claude Renault; 8 David Johnson; 11 Jennifer Esperanza