International Women's Development Agency
 | |
| Abbreviation | IWDA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1985 |
| Founded at | Melbourne, Australia |
| Type | Non-governmental organisation |
| Website | http://www.iwda.org.au |
International Women's Development Agency Inc. (IWDA) is an Australian non-profit organisation that works to support women's rights in Asia and the Pacific.
History
International Women’s Development Agency is a secular, non-profit agency, founded in 1985 and based in Melbourne. Its three founding members were: Ruth Pfanner, Wendy Poussard and Wendy Rose.[1] IWDA was formed to break down the barriers that prohibit the full equality of women in every country, but in particular in the Asia-Pacific region.[2] It adheres to the ten principles of the UN's Global Compact.[3] In 2000, the IWDA funded its 300th overseas project.[1] As of 2017, the organisation had worked with 194 partnership organisations in 36 countries.[1] In 2021, the organisation's total income was over 14 million Australian dollars.[4]
Initiatives
IWDA undertakes projects in partnership with women from the Asia-Pacific region.[5] These projects are devised and managed by women who live and work in the communities themselves, fostering practical and innovative responses to the most critical issues facing them.[5] IWDA focuses on three main areas of women's rights: civil and political participation, economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods, and safety and security.[6] The IWDA supports individual deprivation measure research into poverty.
The project has partnerships in Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Myanmar and its borders, amongst others.[6] IWDA also works across research, policy & advocacy to advance women's rights.[6] Its work has expanded to include issues relating to LGBT communities.[4]
The Philippines
The IWDA's first overseas programme started in the Philippines in 1986, providing healthcare to women.[1]
Solomon Islands
In the Solomon Islands, the IWDA has partnered with Women’s Rights Action Movement in order to promote increased participation in political life, in particular at a provincial level, as well as working with WRAM to combat other aspects of discrimination against women in the country.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d Melbourne, National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of. "International Women's Development Agency - Organisation - The Australian Women's Register". www.womenaustralia.info. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
- ^ "WorldWideWomen | International Women's Development Agency (IWDA)". worldwidewomen.co. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
- ^ "International Women's Development Agency | UN Global Compact". www.unglobalcompact.org. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
- ^ a b "International Women's Development Agency (ACNC)". 2021.
- ^ a b "International Women's Development Agency (IWDA) | Devex". www.devex.com. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
- ^ a b c NetSuite, Oracle. "International Women's Development Agency (IWDA) Furthers its Vision of a Gender Equal World with NetSuite OneWorld". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
- ^ "Leadership for Rural and Urban Young Women - United Nations Partnerships for SDGs platform". sustainabledevelopment.un.org. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
External links
- International Women's Development Agency on YouTube
