Our Approach

We're reimagining charity.

Women are at the center of our approach. We look at the whole woman and her needs to bring her the support and resources that will help her find her own power – and unleash it.

For over 25 years, Women for Women International has used an integrated approach to go beyond charity to innovation: We are a learning organization that listens to data, our teams on-the-ground, and women themselves to constantly evolve and improve the way we work.

Women-Centered

We work with women who live in the hardest places in the world to be one to help them realize their own power. Through in-depth assessments, we target ultra-poor and vulnerable women then meet them where they are.

Despite discrimination, conflict and poverty, every woman entering our program is already strong. Using a gendered graduation approach, we invest in women to build the skills, tools, and resources they need to become active participants in transforming their own lives and their communities.

Adaptive Model

Our evidence-based approach is built on listening and learning, as well as rigorous data and analysis. It starts the moment we decide to work with a community. Together with local actors, we create a learning environment to reflect, analyze, and iterate to improve our model - and the lives of women.

Monitoring - Through digital surveys, we measure and track women's progress before entering the program, after graduation – and when possible, one and two years after graduating to ensure that our work has a sustainable impact on their lives.

Evaluations & Research - We invest in a range of research studies and methods to understand the impact of our programs: what works, what doesn't, and what can be done better. As we improve our methods, we also share our learning with others to help women around the world.

Locally Powered

We are proud that our country staff are from the same communities as the women we serve and are respected as local leaders. They are knowledgeable about the challenges women face as well as the opportunities to make real and lasting change. We collaborate to develop programs that meet the unique context of every community and woman to help both become self-sustainable.

As women go through the program, their self-confidence, voice and power grow: They have agency and advocate for change, locally and nationally. We support these Change Agents, experts in the situation of local women, as they grow into local leaders who drive change and rebuild their communities.

Sustainable Change

Long-term change takes time. We stand by our partners and communities by supporting them and staying through the years-long process of rebuilding, even decades after conflict ends. These efforts include graduate support and working with allies and men to remove the systemic and cultural barriers women face.

Lasting change starts with the people who live there. Our program supports graduates on their journey of power and transformation as they transition into local leaders: Change Agents. Together with them and other local partners, we invest in in communities' ability to become self-sufficient.

With local leaders, we help them develop an organization that meets the needs of their women. Our team provides support to local teams until they are prepared and able to transition into an independent, local NGO powered by women to lay the foundations of healing and stability in their communities.

Learn about Our Program

You Can Create a Ripple Effect

”Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.” —Dalai Lama

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