SOURCE: http://www.state.gov/s/gwi/womensfund/index.htm
Empowering Women and Girls Through Public-Private Partnerships
"It is absolutely
essential that we recognize our interconnectedness as we grapple with
the difficult challenges sweeping the planet…the problems we face today
will not be solved by governments alone. It will be in partnerships –
partnerships with philanthropy, with global business, partnerships with
civil society."
-- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
MISSION
The Secretary’s International Fund for Women and Girls is a State
Department-led public-private partnership committed to providing
flexible, rapid, targeted, and high-impact grants to nongovernmental
organizations working to meet the critical needs of women and girls
around the world. The State Department is committed to advancing the
rights of women and girls as a central focus of U.S. foreign policy
interests, in partnership with the private and nonprofit sectors.
WHY
WOMEN? WHY NOW?
The major security, governance, environmental,
and economic challenges of our times cannot be solved without the
participation of women at all levels of society. There is a growing body
of research from corporations, institutions, and foundations that
correlates favorable outcomes in poverty alleviation, economic growth,
and a country’s general prosperity with investments in women and girls.
Investing in women is not just the right thing to do – it is also the smart thing to do. Women entrepreneurs create and maintain millions of jobs, accelerating economic growth while overcoming serious systemic challenges, including lack of access to capital, training, and market networks. Around the world, as more women engage in their nations’ economic and political sectors, corruption decreases – even when controlling for other factors such as education or income. Women tend to use increases in household income to invest in the nutrition, health, and education of their families and communities. Improving girls’ access to education is one of the most cost-effective methods for enhancing economic growth, sustaining peace, and combating cyclical poverty, in diverse societies around the world. Unfortunately, the potential that women and girls represent for the future of the world is still largely untapped.
This year, we mark the 15th anniversary of the landmark United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women that took place in Beijing in 1995. We are at a critical juncture to consolidate the progress we have made and develop strategies to address the persistent obstacles inhibiting the advancement of women and girls. As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently noted, “until women around the world are accorded their rights – and afforded opportunities for education, healthcare, and gainful employment – global progress and prosperity will have its own glass ceiling.” At a time when the global economy is facing the greatest challenge in decades, we need to capitalize on the contributions women can make as drivers of economic growth.
FUND
PORTFOLIO
The Fund invests in efficient and innovative
solutions to combat violence, improve health and education, promote
climate change solutions, and create economic and political
opportunities for women and girls. The Fund allows organizations to move
quickly and effectively to address new challenges and advance creative
ideas through flexible grants and rapid funding. The Fund prioritizes
investments in women and girls that enhance local ownership, community
engagement, and capacity building.
As humanitarian emergencies occur, from the devastating earthquake in Haiti to violence against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Fund will also support initiatives to enable women to overcome their circumstances. For additional information on areas of focus, please see the fact sheets.
The Fund will recognize a Leadership Circle composed of individual leaders who have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to championing the rights of women and girls around the world. We hope that each of these leaders will lend ongoing expertise to the Fund to ensure its continued success.
PARTICIPATION
The Women’s Fund welcomes all
contributions – large and small – to address this important challenge.
All monies go to fund projects addressing critical needs around the
world. Contributors will receive regular updates on project
implementation and an annual report detailing the Fund’s investments and
public partnerships.
Individuals can contribute any dollar amount through the Fund’s website or by mail. Corporations, foundations, and other large contributors are encouraged to explore partnership commitments directly with Fund staff. Donors can target gifts to specific areas of focus or authorize general investment in the Fund to meet emerging, unanticipated, and critical humanitarian challenges.
For
more information, please contact: |
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