Introduction

We believe women have the power to transform their lives, but when women are undervalued and oppressed, their power is undermined. Conflict and war deepen this injustice. At Women for Women International (WfWI), we invest in women who are forgotten—those facing the greatest inequalities in areas of conflict— and support them in learning the social and economic skills they need to rebuild their lives, their families, and their communities.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related economic crisis, 2021 has been another challenging year. Added to that is the distressing fact that more countries have experienced some form of violent conflict than at any time in the last 30 years.

But thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, we have invested in over 530,000 women over the last 29 years, working to realize our vision of a world in which all women determine the course of their lives and reach their full potential.

Thanks
 to you

20,
614
Women served in 2021
95
%
Graduation rate
globally*
178
%
Increase in
earnings**

* The graduation rate excludes the program in Afghanistan which was paused in the summer while we negotiated a safe resumption.

** Average daily earnings went from:
$1.91 to $5.32.

Message from Laurie Adams, CEO
Laurie Adams Laurie Adams
Program participant in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Photo by Rada Akbar.
Increased injustice for women in conflict zones

From Afghanistan to Ethiopia to Nigeria, women often bear the brunt of war and crisis. Women for Women International has spent the last 29 years in conflict-affected areas and we know that women’s specific needs are often overlooked.

High levels of gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls are prevalent in both conflict and post-conflict zones, including the use of rape as a weapon of war and increased intimate partner violence. Since women and children make up the majority of those fleeing from wars and displacement, it puts women at increased risk of sexual and physical violence, trafficking and abuse. Dislocated from their homes or in a post-conflict setting, women often have to take on new roles alongside their caretaking responsibilities to provide for their families, frequently needing new skills, resources and knowledge to take up these roles.

Conflict often compounds food crises as well when it becomes too dangerous for women to farm the land in rural areas. In Afghanistan, we witnessed the combination of climate crises depressing agricultural yield—a conflict further compounded by it being too dangerous to farm, resulting in an economic collapse that has left the majority of the country dependent on food aid and alarming rates of starvation. In 2021, the ongoing pandemic has further increased inequity, pushing an estimated 47 million women and girls deeper into poverty.

10

civilians die for every combatant killed in battle

75% of civilian casualties are women and children

Source: ICRC

There is a 50% increase in the likelihood of intimate partner violence experienced by women in conflict-zones

Source: The World Bank

1 in 5 women – displaced or refugee - in humanitarian situations suffers sexual violence

Source: UN Women
Increased injustice for women in conflict zones

From Afghanistan to Ethiopia to Nigeria, women often bear the brunt of war and crisis. Women for Women International has spent the last 29 years in conflict-affected areas and we know that women’s specific needs are often overlooked.

High levels of gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls are prevalent in both conflict and post-conflict zones, including the use of rape as a weapon of war and increased intimate partner violence. Since women and children make up the majority of those fleeing from wars and displacement, it puts women at increased risk of sexual and physical violence, trafficking and abuse. Dislocated from their homes or in a post-conflict setting, women often have to take on new roles alongside their

caretaking responsibilities to provide for their families, frequently needing new skills, resources and knowledge to take up these roles.

Conflict often compounds food crises as well when it becomes too dangerous for women to farm the land in rural areas. In Afghanistan, we witnessed the combination of climate crises depressing agricultural yield—a conflict further compounded by it being too dangerous to farm, resulting in an economic collapse that has left the majority of the country dependent on food aid and alarming rates of starvation. In 2021, the ongoing pandemic has further increased inequity, pushing an estimated 47 million women and girls deeper into poverty.

Source: ICRC
Source: The World Bank
Source: UN Women
Stronger Women Stronger Nations Program classroom in Birava, DRC. Photo by Ryan Carter.
Women-centered, locally powered
Our vision is to create a world in which all women determine the course of their lives and reach their full potential.

Our Stronger Women, Stronger Nations program supports the most marginalized women in countries affected by conflict and war, helping them earn and save money, improve their health and well-being, influence decisions in their home and community, and connect to networks for support.

We are women-centered and locally powered — our country staff are from the communities we serve. Our greatest strength is our ability to meet women where they are, centering their voices and experiences and adapting our programs to meet their needs.

Graduates from our programs pass on their knowledge to those around them, creating sustainable change for themselves, their families and communities and building a more just world – a world where every woman’s voice, role and contribution are visible and valued.

Our theory of change
Our programs
Stronger Women,
Stronger Nations Program

Through the program, women break their isolation and gain the social and economic skills to transform their own lives. They pass on their power and knowledge to create a more just world, where women can use their power together.

Discover
Change Agent
Program

After graduating from the Stronger Women, Stronger Nations Program, women use their skills and power to become Change Agents. Through local advocacy and leadership roles, they rebuild their communities and tackle persistent problems to create sustainable progress.

Discover
Men’s Engagement
Program

We engage men to become allies and advocates for women’s power and gender equality. We collaborate with male community leaders and male household members to understand the benefits of supporting women’s progress and adopting more gender-equitable behaviors.

Discover
Local Power, Global Impact
DRC

The team worked to increase women’s land rights and prevent gender-based violence in response to the DRC’s complex and opaque land tenure system and customary practices that discriminate against women. With grant funding, 133 women obtained land titles and 190 more are in the process. This is the first time that women in the target communities have owned land and we hope to expand to other locations.

Nigeria

The Nigeria team launched a new radio program with a coverage area of approximately four million people called Airing of Voices of Change. Led by Change Agents and male graduates of our men’s engagement programming, the radio programs have enabled men and women graduates to educate the public on key women’s rights issues while advocating for ending violence against women and girls. This has been a particularly impactful way to reach communities where we do not work, and the Nigeria team has received many calls from listeners thanking WfWI for this initiative and requesting that we begin programming in their communities.

South Sudan

On January 1, 2021 we had only six staff and we were serving 350 women. By December 31st, we had 21 staff implementing a multi-year project that enabled us to reach an additional 1,400 women and 350 men in 2021. Most of the male participants are husbands or male relatives of the women in our program. The women have reported that the training and corresponding community radio talk shows have motivated them to start or scale up their small businesses and make other positive changes in their lives.

Iraq

The program expanded into a second refugee camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and was able to reach 1533 Syrian refugee women throughout 2021, in addition to 579 marginalized Iraqi women.​

A technology innovation project will provide women with new ways to report and seek assistance for GBV, and to search for job opportunities or market handcrafts.

Afghanistan

Our local team saw the Taliban advance and begin taking over districts where we worked long before Kabul fell. Even before the crisis broke onto the global stage, we were positioning ourselves to adapt our program. We were able to channel the real-time experience of women throughout the crisis.

In the face of the heart-breaking reversal of women’s rights gains in Afghanistan, WfWI was able to rapidly provide a team a trauma counsellors and materials to support staff and to train staff on how to provide Psychological First Aid (PFA) to the women we serve.

Rwanda

Women for Women Rwanda completed a three-year grant supporting 8 local organizations across 8 districts to strengthen GBV accountability mechanisms and referral pathways through service providers, community leaders and government. A learning event drew more than 99 partners, donors and government representatives together to call for expansion of the model.

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Despite a renewed threat to peace and security in 2021 that has Bosnia back to the brink of war, our local affiliate Žene za Žene​ International expanded its support to its network of small businesswomen, the Network of Women’s Associations for Rural Development, with training on governance, market access during COVID-19, ICT and communications skills. The network includes 16 small business associations of former WfWI graduates and some 260 women.

Kosovo

Kosova-Women4Women, our local affiliate in Kosovo, has been leveraging grant funding to foster a network that connects program graduates. In 2021, K-W4W reached 580 women through this initiative, which included advanced advocacy training for 20 Change Agents in four municipalities, as well as opportunities for network members to meet and forge connections for social support as well as to increase their income-generating potential via sector-specific networking opportunities.

Myanmar

We partnered with the Center for Social Integrity to train 75 adolescent girls (aged 11-17) in basic life and vocational skills, and to offer basic numeracy and literacy skills to 30 adult Rohingya women.

Ethiopia

Our CRF funds enabled Mums for Mums in Tigray to provide counseling and safe houses for up to 1,000 women and girl survivors of sexual violence, train 110 community first-responders in medical and psychological first-aid, raise community awareness around the importance of protecting women’s rights and preventing violence against women, and provide vocational and business skills training for up to 400 women and girls survivors.

Syria

Over the period 2020-21 we funded Women Now for Development to provide 398 Syrian women and adolescent girls in the war-torn areas of Idlib and Aleppo with educational and health resources, as well as vocational skills.

Breaking the isolation
of war and conflict

Women for Women International is committed to constantly improving the Stronger Women, Stronger Nations program to best support women’s growth and power. We do this through a rigorous process of evaluation that demonstrates the impact of WfWI’s programming on women’s lives and businesses.

Nigeria Randomized Controlled Trial

From 2018 to 2021, Women for Women International conducted a randomized controlled trial in Plateau and Bauchi States in Nigeria, in partnership with researchers at Tufts University.

The results show that participation in Village Savings and Loans Associations and six months of post-graduation group mentorship led to an increase in earnings for program graduates of 140-180%. Women’s saving behaviors and ways of working also improved due to the interventions.

Learn more
Earnings and savings

82% of women report saving a portion of their earnings by the time they graduate, compared to 24% at enrollment.

Health and Wellbeing

Women’s confidence in their ability to reach their goals increased a 94% overall.

Rights and Decision Making

Globally, 31% of women report having publicly spoken against women’s abuse in the last 6 months, compared to 10% at the beginning of the program.

Connection to groups and social networks

By graduation, 57% of women report being a member of other social groups (outside of WfWI), an overall increase of 104% from the beginning of the program.

A promise fulfilled:
Saratu’s Story

Saratu’s business dried up and her savings vanished during the COVID lockdown. But she learned goal setting for long-term growth and ways to sustain her business as a participant in our vocational training. The program led her to explore new markets for her steamed bean paste, including where men gather to watch football.

Learn more
Saratu and her children.
Women walking in the street in Afghanistan.
Please don’t forget Afghanistan

When Taliban forces took over Kabul in August 2021, we paused our programs for safety reasons and worked to secure the evacuation of more than 66 of our most at-risk staff and their family members to the UK. It was a frightening time for many colleagues in Afghanistan, and we provided psychosocial support for some of our most vulnerable staff and the women we serve.

International sanctions pushed the country’s economy to the brink of collapse. We adapted, procuring kitchen garden and poultry kits to address widespread food insecurity and hunger and creating the potential for the women we serve to earn income in the months ahead. Our colleagues showed remarkable fortitude in difficult circumstances, leading talks with the de facto government and, after months of discussions, persuading them to allow us to restart our programs in early 2022.

Afghan woman after August 2021.
image image
Latifa's story

“As the plane took off and…my heart broke for the country I was leaving behind. I used to have a plan for my life. I studied law at the University of Kabul, the first woman in my family to get a degree. Now, I don’t know what my future holds.”

Read more
Latifa, our Advocacy Coordinator in Afghanistan. Illustration by @droring1.
Responding to emerging conflicts
Responding to emerging conflicts
Conflict Response Fund

Our Conflict Response Fund (CRF) allows us to adapt quickly to emerging conflicts, including some of those that displaced an additional 82.4 million people in 2020. Working with local partners on the ground, this fund enables us to meet the urgent and ongoing needs of women and girls who are often disproportionately affected by conflict. We have launched a CRF to support women survivors of the war in Ukraine. Learn how you can support by visiting our Ukraine CRF.

Our Conflict Response Fund Partnerships:
Ethiopia

Partnering with Mums for Mums in Tigray (northern Ethiopia) to support survivors of sexual violence and war.

Credit: Mums for Mums

In Ethiopia, our CRF funds enabled Mums for Mums in Tigray to provide counseling and safe houses for up to 1,000 women and girl survivors of sexual violence, train 110 community first-responders in medical and psychological first-aid, raise community awareness around the importance of protecting women’s rights and preventing violence against women, and provide vocational and business skills training for up to 400 women and girls survivors.

Credit: CSI

In Myanmar, we partnered with the Center for Social Integrity to train 75 adolescent girls (aged 11-17) in basic life and vocational skills, and to offer basic numeracy and literacy skills to 30 adult women. The project targeted women and girls from the Rohingya Muslim community in Northern Rakhine State, but also included women and girls from Rakhine and Hindu ethnic groups in the area – to reinforce the need for better understanding and cohesion across diverse communities.

Credit: Women for Now Development

In Syria, over the period 2020-21 we funded Women Now for Development to provide 398 Syrian women and adolescent girls in the war-torn areas of Idlib and Aleppo with educational and health resources, as well as vocational skills. We also funded spaces to foster social networks to alleviate the isolation of displacement, within the constraints of COVID-19 restrictions.

Education: the only tool for freedom of Rohingya women in Rakhine state

I was born into a Rohingya family. As a government doctor working in war affected areas, I came to understand the intersectional discrimination against women from ethnic minorities. Now, I’m a local feminist working with an NGO, community workers, and an international donor (Women for Women International) helping girls and women access education otherwise out of their reach.

Read more
Maria Begum with children at CSI’s Community Learning Center in Northern Rakhine state.
Women participants with their little ones at our training center in Luberizi, DRC. Photo by Sightedesign.
Innovations in spite of COVID-19

The pandemic has provided both challenges and opportunities for us to innovate and deliver our programs in new ways.

In Rwanda, women graduates undertook additional economic empowerment training throughout 2021 with an interactive automated instructor developed and tested in early 2020. WfW-Rwanda piloted the program with 54 participants, reaching a further 108 in August. Dimagi, a US-based social enterprise, provided technical leadership and collaborated with Women for Women Rwanda and WfWI to develop the training content and monitor user activity.

Following a successful pilot in Rwanda, country offices in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have included an innovative intervention to digitize Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) through the use of the DreamSave application, developed by DreamStart Labs, also a US-based social enterprise, replacing manual paper ledger books. DreamSave simplifies record keeping, earning predictions, goal tracking, and fraud prevention. It improves data collection and transparency and can be used offline when connectivity is unreliable. The pilots are set to begin in 2022. The WfWI team will study the role such technology can play in poverty alleviation, economic resilience and women’s empowerment.

Thinking ahead: Women for Women International–DRC in 2021

While working to stabilize in the face of the pandemic, our staff prioritized the search for ways to ensure participants have access to income and savings, even while at home. To build this solution, our DRC team looked outward.

Read more
One woman can change anything.
Many women can change everything.
One woman can change anything.
Many women can change everything.

Our Policy and Advocacy team calls on policymakers to focus explicitly on the needs of forgotten women and asks the humanitarian, development and peacebuilding sectors to apply a gender focus to all their work. We collect data to understand our contribution to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and we have developed a Global Agenda for Action to:

Ensure women are visible, especially women who are most marginalized in fragile and conflict affected settings;

Listen to them, and remove barriers for women’s participation in decisions affecting their lives;

Prioritize preventing and ending GBV, especially by addressing the root causes of violence against women;

Invest in women’s economic power, even and especially in fragile and conflict affected communities;

Coordinate in pursuit of the above goals, by building partnerships and improving collaboration across sectors and international actors toward these goals.

WfWI led research in Afghanistan and Nigeria as our contribution to the “Now and the Future” project studying the impact of COVID-19 on gender equality, peace and security. The goal was to develop short and long-term programs that address the impact of COVID-19, future global pandemics and crises, gender inequality, peace and security. Led by UK GAPS Network, this research was funded by the UK Government and UN Women and included consultations with more than 200 organizations in 10 countries.

After Taliban forces took control of Kabul, we advocated for the immediate evacuation of at-risk women’s rights activists. After international troops left, we continued to call on the international community to restart aid to the people of Afghanistan and to support the unique needs of Afghan women. Afghan staff evacuated to the UK met with decision-makers and parliamentarians to reiterate our calls to action.

We fought a devastating funding cut from the UK government that significantly impacted our programming in Afghanistan and Nigeria. We published case studies in the media outlining the impact of the cuts on women.

In Nigeria we supported community-led advocacy asks toward preventing and ending violence against women in Plateau State in conjunction with decision makers from the government, police, lawyers, and sister NGOS, which included:
• Develop a database for Violence Against Women
• Enforce the bill on Violence Against Persons as binding law
• Establish a Gender Court and Sexual Offense Centre

Our data published in 2021 provided a unique view of lived realities of women affected by the intersection of conflict and COVID-19.
• While women's perceived self-efficacy has consistently improved, their ability to speak against violence remains at less than 25% in the DRC, Iraq, Afghanistan and Nigeria.
• More than 96% of graduates across Nigeria, Rwanda and the DRC, reported saving a portion of their income.

Program participant in Iraq.

My husband deprived me of everything and violated me many times. I never defended myself. When WfWI staff knocked at my door, I decided to participate. The program opened my eyes to the world. I got legal help and started a business at home. I even taught my children about savings.

Read more
Men's Engagement Program graduates
at Mararaban Liman Katagum, Nigeria.

Participants in our men's program in DRC created a radio show, “Voice of the Male Champions,” where they shared what they learned about gender-based violence and women’s equality. Lawyers, doctors, and religious and traditional leaders were invited to be guests on the show, and listeners were encouraged to join the conversation.

Read more
Our global community of supporters

We are profoundly grateful that many individuals and third parties choose to support Women for Women International by raising vital funds through hosting their own fundraising events such as dinners parties, online fundraisers, or undertaking sponsored challenges like marathons. We especially appreciate those who went above and beyond in 2021 to help us bring our vision for a world defined by gender equity closer to reality. We thank those listed and those who chose to give anonymously.

Marie "Lootie" Leautey has dedicated the last two years to running around the world while raising money for WfWI.
2021 Honor Roll
We are grateful for the support of thousands of generous donors who make our work possible, including those listed here who made gifts of $10,000 or more in 2021.
  • Bequests
  • Individuals
  • Corporate, foundation, matching
    gift, and workplace giving
  • Denise Allen
  • Helen TM Bayer
  • Elsie Buchwald
  • Anna Bulgari
  • Meyer Greenberg
  • Dorothy Hines
  • Anita Locke 
  • Sandra Manilla
  • Isobel Parke
  • Judith Stoneham
  • Shirley Swede
  • Kathrine Baer
  • Sulara James
  • Mary Menell Zients and Jeff Zients 
  • Patricia Allen
  • Karen Amy
  • Anonymous (3)
  • Laura and John Arnold
  • Julia Backoff 
  • Beth and Steven Bangert
  • Susan Barrett 
  • Elaine Bayus
  • Dale and Max Berger
  • George and Leslie Biddle 
  • Barbara von Bismarck
  • Laura Brady
  • Donna Brown
  • Elsie Buchwald
  • Anna Bulgari
  • Elsie Van Buren
  • Carmen Busquets
  • Hannah Cameron
  • Cheryl Carstens-Siscon
  • Leigh and Dan Comas
  • Barbara Crisp and Mark Nemschoff 
  • Irene Danilovich
  • Deborah David
  • Lisa and Porter Dawson
  • Peggy Dear
  • Alejandra Dibos
  • Peggy Dulany
  • Ann Marie Etergino
  • G. Fredrick
  • Evelyn Gaines 
  • Jette and Michael Goldman
  • Richard Gordon
  • Deborah L. Harmon and Dr. Robert Seder
  • Mark Hayes
  • Barbara and Amos Hostetter and Bennett Rathbun
  • Stephanie Housley
  • William Huddleston 
  • Ross Hudgens 
  • Chandra Jessee and Marie Martino
  • Kay Johnson
  • Donna Karan
  • Julie Konigsberg
  • Nancy Lee
  • Pier Luigi Loro Piana 
  • Sandra Manilla
  • Donna Maresca 
  • Elizabeth McCandless
  • Jane McGary
  • The Medlock Family
  • Sandra and Edward Meyer
  • Elizabeth Morgan
  • Cathy Mosman
  • Nonna Noto 
  • Lesley O’Mara
  • Margaret O'brien
  • Eileen O'Leary
  • Barbara and Louis Perlmutter
  • Helen Porter 
  • Lyndsey Posner
  • Betty Regard 
  • Cristina Rey 
  • Matthew Reynolds
  • Daniel Rollman
  • Lisa and Charles Royals
  • Nancy and Miles Rubin
  • Catherine Russell and Thomas Donilon
  • Sheryl Sandberg
  • Valérie Schneider Reboul 
  • Marieann Shovlin
  • Mary Sies
  • Janet and Peter Simon
  • Anne Singer
  • Julie Smith-Bartoloni 
  • Linda Spohler
  • Nancy and Gary Steele
  • Delaney Steele Stoval and Shawn Stoval
  • The Al Swaidi Family
  • Marybeth Tahar
  • Michael Thiel 
  • Irene Tinker 
  • Francis Trainer, Jr. 
  • Rony Vardi
  • Kate Walbert
  • Sean and Liz Wolohan
  • Carolyn Woodfin Carnahan
  • Nadjia Yousif
  • Sara Zion 
  • Jan Rock Zubrow and Barry Zubrow 
  • 111SKIN
  • Allen & Overy
  • Aga Khan Foundation
  • AMARA
  • Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Cares Foundation
  • Balgley Family Charitable Foundation
  • Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund 
  • The Benevity Community Impact Fund
  • Beyond Yoga 
  • Blackbaud Giving Fund 
  • Blackrock
  • Blanche C. Hill Foundation
  • Bloomberg Philanthropies 
  • Bop LLC 
  • Bowes-Weller Family Foundation
  • Bright Funds Foundation
  • Brodsky Family Foundation
  • Capital One
  • Caravan Restaurants
  • Cartier Philanthropy 
  • Charities Aid Foundation America
  • Charlotte Tilbury
  • Clementine Fund
  • Commonwealth Charitable Fund
  • Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
  • Cranaleith Foundation
  • Crystal Dynamics
  • Dancing Leopard
  • DECIEM: The Abnormal Beauty Company
  • Deckers Outdoor Corporation
  • Dimagi (through DAI WomenConnect Project)
  • The Eileen Fisher Foundation
  • Estrid
  • European Union
  • Every Mother Counts
  • Fidelity Charitable 
  • The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office
  • FORGOOD Fund
  • Fy!
  • Gap, Inc
  • George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. Foundation
  • Ghost Five
  • Global Impact
  • The Harmon Family Foundation
  • Henry Luce Foundation
  • Horwitz Family Fund
  • Howard Family Foundation
  • InMaat Foundation
  • Insight Global
  • Jefferies LLC
  • Jewish Communal Fund
  • JP Morgan Chase Bank
  • The Jimmy Choo Foundation
  • Julius Baer Foundation
  • Kay Family Foundation
  • Kowloon Nights
  • Madrona Foundation
  • the McLain Foundation
  • Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner and Smith
  • Mint Velvet
  • Monica Vinader
  • Morgan Stanley 
  • Nails.INC
  • The Nielsen Foundation
  • NET-A-PORTER
  • Network for Good
  • OSKIA Skincare
  • THE OUTNET
  • Papier
  • PayPal
  • PayPal Giving Fund US 
  • PIMCO Foundation
  • Postcode Justice Trust
  • Project Concern International (PCI)/ Global Communities
  • Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund
  • Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc
  • Resonance (through USAID Catalyst Project)
  • Revolut
  • Sageview Foundation
  • Salesforce.org Foundation 
  • The San Francisco Foundation
  • Schwab Charitable
  • Sidhu Singh Family Foundation
  • Silicon Valley Community Foundation
  • Sonance Foundation
  • Stablien Family Foundation 
  • Starvos Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
  • Steven Madden LTD
  • Swarovski Foundation
  • The Syncona Foundation
  • Tarsadia Foundation
  • Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation
  • Tisbest Philanthropy
  • UGG
  • Ultimate Kronos Group
  • United States Agency for International Development
  • Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
  • Winser London
Donors Testmonials
"We’ve been supporting Women for Women International’s empowerment programme since 2013 in multiple countries, not only because promoting women’s agency, wellbeing and livelihoods in some of the most difficult places on earth is right, but mostly because it works. Driven by our shared commitment to social impact, we’re also testing new approaches, such as how to better engage men to foster gender equality."
Pascale de la Frégonnière,
Strategic Advisor Cartier Philanthropy
"I am proud to be an Ambassador for WfWI and share their belief that by educating and empowering women we educate and empower nations."
Azita Ghanizada,
WfWI Global Ambassador
"I support Women for Women International primarily because of its training programs. Wherever women face poverty, lack of education or oppression, they also have the potential and imagination to become successful providers, caregivers, and leaders. WfWI instills the skills and confidence that complements aid provided by other NGOs. Women use this training for themselves and their families, and eventually to lift up their wider society."
Jane McGary,
Major Donor
Welcome to our New Board Members in 2021
2021 Global Board of Directors
  • Faria Abedin
    Global Board Member
  • Rania Atalla
    Global Board Member
  • Amjad Atallah
    Co-Founder & Co-Chair Global Board of Directors
  • Dale Berger
    Global Board Member
  • George Biddle
    Chair of Programs Committee
  • Kim Bondy
    Global Board Member
  • Leigh Comas
    Treasurer of Global Board of Directors,
    Chair of Finance Committee
  • Deborah David
    Co-Chair of Governance Committee
  • Alex Duncan
    Chair of UK Trustees
  • Ann Marie Etergino
    Chair of Audit Committee
  • Tony Gambino
    Co-Chair of Governance Committee
  • Emma Grede
    Global Board Member
  • Deborah Harmon
    Secretary of Global Board of Directors
  • Marne Levine
    Global Board Member
  • Danuta Lockett
    Co-Chair of Governance Committee
  • Preeti Malkani
    Chair, Germany Board
  • Monique McKenzie
    Global Board Member
  • Anoushka Mehta
    Chair of Revenue & Advancement Committee
  • Barbara Perlmutter
    Global Board Member
  • Pamela Reeves
    Global Board Member
  • Rima Salah
    Global Board Member
  • Sheryl Sandberg
    Global Board Member
  • Lynn Shanahan
    Global Board Member
  • Delaney Steele
    Co-Chair of Global Board of Directors
  • Mary Zients
    Chair Emeritus
  • Jan Rock Zubrow
    Board Member At-Large
Global
Ambassadors
  • Dawn-Lyen Gardner​
  • Azita Ghanizada​
  • Philomena Kwao​
  • Alison Pill​
  • Charlotte Tilbury​
  • Sophie Turner​
  • Clarissa Ward​
  • Marianne Williamson
Program participants in Rwanda. Photo by Givewith.
Our 2021 financials
Program
$16,409,349
75%
Management/General
$1,379,535
6%
Fundraising
$4,080,915
19%
Total Expenses
$21,869,799

Our fundraising model has engaged more than 250,000 supporters, enabling us to reach more than 530,000 participants since our founding. Data shows our programs have lasting impact. The personal nature of our mission - sponsorship and individual donations - mean our fundraising ratio is high. We take this seriously and work with external auditors to ensure our financial practices and costs are ethical and in the best interest of the women we serve.

$28,007,663
Total Assets
$3,719,526
Total Liabilities
$24,288,137
Net Assets
Our team in action
Meet Rachel Boketa, our new Country Director of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
image
Women for Women Rwanda launch

In January 2021, Women for Women Rwanda (WfWR) became an independent national NGO, as a sister affiliate of Women for Women International. WfWR is led by a Rwandan all-women Board of Directors. WfWR’s establishment is the culmination of years of planning since 2018, and is a testament to the prolonged period of peace and development in Rwanda. Program focus for WfWR includes:

• Continuing to implement the Stronger Women, Stronger Nations program
• Connecting tens of thousands of graduates of the program into networks for support, sharing and access to other services, including digitized Village Savings and Loans Associations
• Working with young mothers to increase their socio-economic power

On 11 November 2021, WfWR hosted an official launch event with key stakeholders, including the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion and the U.S. and Swedish Ambassadors to Rwanda. The launch included a fair for graduates to sell and market their products, and participants in and graduates of the program gave powerful testimonies of how the program has impacted them and their families. The event was covered on national TV news.

Women for Women Rwanda has an exciting growth trajectory and we’re very excited for its expansion into new areas of programmatic work in 2022 and beyond.

Exhibition stand of items produced by WfW-Rwanda beneficiaries (graduate networks)
General Assembly Members and key partners of WfW-Rwanda
WfW-Rwanda beneficiaries exposing and selling their products
Invited Guests
Testimony by WfW-Rwanda beneficiary, Latifa
Exhibition stand of items produced by WfW-Rwanda beneficiaries (graduate networks)
General Assembly Members and key partners of WfW-Rwanda