Our Work
Our vision is gender equality for all
IWDA is an Australian-based organisation, resourcing diverse women’s rights organisations primarily in Asia and the Pacific and contributing to global feminist movements to advance our vision of gender equality for all.
We have worked for more than 35 years to defend and advance the rights of diverse women and girls.
Our roots are in the development sector, as Australia’s only development organisation entirely focused on gender equality. This brings strengths in the form of deep and long-lasting relationships with the network of women’s rights organisations we support. And increasingly, our future lies as part of the global feminist movement.
IWDA’s approach represents a third way between the models of women’s funds and international development NGOs: we resource the work of diverse women’s rights organisations, enable them to be more effective by providing support that goes beyond money, and we make our own contributions to feminist movements through advocacy, knowledge creation and translation.
Our Values
FEMINIST
We respect women’s diverse experiences, identities, knowledge and strengths and strive to empower women to realise their full and equal rights.
ACCOUNTABLE
We are honest and transparent and are committed to evaluating and communicating the outcomes of our work with integrity.
COLLABORATIVE
We build trusting relationships and strong partnerships as we believe that advancing together is crucial for achieving progressive change.
TRANSFORMATIVE
We are determined to make real, lasting improvements in women’s lives by transforming the root causes of gender inequality.
The 3 goals that guide us
1. Resource and contribute to resilient and feminist movements, primarily in the areas of power, leadership and civic space; freedom from violence; and gendered climate justice
Resilient and vibrant feminist movements are critical to defending and advancing the rights of diverse women and girls. IWDA resources diverse women’s rights organisations, primarily in Asia and the Pacific, with money, skills and access.
Read more about our work resourcing women’s rights organisations.
2. Promote Systemic Change towards Gender Equality
IWDA is driving a transformation of the underlying systems and structures that stand in the way of gender equality. We contribute to systemic change through our own knowledge creation and advocacy.
Read more about our work promoting systemic change.
3. Build a Resilient and Relevant Feminist Organisation
To ensure IWDA is an effective ally, we are committed to being a resilient organisation with a strong organisational culture that promotes wellbeing and diversity.
Read more about our accountability and transparency.
Explore our Strategic Plan for more information on our work.
Decolonising our approach
IWDA is committed to decolonising our approach to feminism and development. This means we are focused on knowing when to:
STEP UP and use our power to leverage resources and access for women’s rights organisations, and make our own contribution to feminist movements
STAND WITH feminist movements in solidarity and amplify the work of global south actors
STEP BACK when others are better placed to take the lead
In the last 12 months
1,949
women assumed leadership positions
25,008
people participated in sessions on gender issues and women’s equal rights
3,596
women survivors of violence received counselling and other support services
