What is AWID?
The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) is an international feminist membership organization.
We work to achieve gender justice and women’s human rights by strengthening the collective voice, impact and influence of global women’s rights advocates, organizations and movements.
How did AWID get started?
AWID began in 1982 and has grown and transformed since then into a truly global organization.
Find out more:
Read From WID to GAD to Women's Rights: The First 20 Years of AWID
Who are AWID's members?
A dynamic network of people around the world, AWID members are researchers, academics, students, educators, activists, business people, policy-makers, development practitioners, funders, and more. Our members - of every age - are those who make AWID a unique global feminist association.
Membership with AWID is open to anyone who shares our values
We offer different types of memberships geared to income level and whether you are an individual or an organization. Currently we have over 5000 members, individual and institutional, from 164 countries.
Our members are an important part of our work
We collaborate for advocacy on specific issues, members vote in elections for our Board, and can also participate in and contribute to our Priority Areas through webinars, surveys, or urgent actions, for example.
Our institutional membership draws from a broad range of organizations interested in advancing gender justice and women’s human rights, including women’s rights organizations, from the local to the global levels, grassroots networks, major international institutions, government departments, university programs and more. 63% of our members are from the global South and 38% are under the age of 30.
Where does AWID get its funding?
AWID’s work is made possible through the financial support of a wide range of donors including multilateral and bilateral agencies, private foundations and women’s funds.
What does AWID do?
We work to strengthen the voice, impact and influence of women’s rights advocates, organizations and movements internationally.
Our main actions are focused on:
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Collectively building knowledge from a feminist perspective.
We analysethe forces, trends, processes and institutions undermining or impacting women’s human rights around the world. We study strategies they use so our community is better equipped to counter these influences and advance our agendas. -
Serving as a clearinghouse for information about women’s rights movements.
We contribute to increasing the visibility of women’s rights groups, perspectives, places and issues that are commonly excluded in the work of mainstream organizations. We also encourage connection among issues and actors. -
Organizing and facilitating constructive spaces to bring together groups that have not yet found common ground.
We work with our members and other diverse women’s organizations, donors, development agencies, human rights and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). We aim to explore and strengthen connections within and across diverse of generations, issues, regions, sectors and movements. -
Participating in international spaces to advocate and present concrete policy proposals for women’s rights worldwide.
We contribute actively in processes such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations post-2015 development agenda, the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and other fora, collectively strategizing with and amplifying the diverse perspectives of our members and broader constituency. -
Strengthening collective actions by mobilizing our members and broader constituency.
In solidarity with women’s rights causes, we fight against backlash and violence targeting against women activists and human rights defenders
Is AWID a feminist organization?
Yes, AWID is a feminist organization. We base our work on feminist values, research, dialogue and practices.
However, you do not, have to specifically identify as feminist or use that terminology for yourself to be a member of AWID or to engage with our work in advancing women’s rights.
What issues does AWID work on?
AWID works towards the realization of gender justice and women’s human rights worldwide. We work to strengthen the voices and impact of women’s rights advocates, organizations and movements. Our main Priority Areas relate to themes that are closely linked to dominant global trends.
These themes reflect growing challenges that negatively impact women’s rights worldwide.
- Economic Justice
- Resourcing Women’s Rights
- Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms
- Women Human Rights Defenders
- Young Feminist Activism
Can AWID provide funding for my development project?
No, we regret that AWID is not a funding organization.
We and cannot review funding proposals or requests.
We encourage you to browse our list of donors that may potentially fund your women's rights organizing.
More resources are available from the Priority Area “Resourcing Feminist Movements”
Can men be members of AWID?
Yes, AWID membership is open to anyone who shares our values.
A number of men who share our commitment to feminism and women’s human rights are members of AWID.
Can organizations be members of AWID?
Yes, we encourage institutional membership.
AWID currently has hundreds of prominent, innovative organizations working on issues related to women’s rights and development as members. Criteria for membership are the same as for individuals, although membership fees and membership benefits are different, and are geared to address the needs of our member organizations.
Are you a Northern or a Southern organization?
AWID is a global organization.
The main focus of our work is global. We also work closely with members and other women’s rights organizations and allies at the local, national and regional levels so that their realities inform our work.
- We have offices in Mexico and Canada
- Our staff are located in 15 countries around the world
- Ten of our 13 Board members are from the global South.
Do you produce an annual report?
Yes, we do produce annual reports.
All our annual reports are accessible online.
I am a young feminist. How can I engage in AWID’s work?
Young feminist activists are at the heart of AWID’s work.
In fact, 38% of our members are under the age of 30.
We believe that young feminists are both the present and the future of the struggle for women’s rights. We promote young leaders in the global women’s rights movement and our Young Feminist Activism program cuts across all aspects of our work.
At the same time, by defining young feminist activists as one of our Priority Areas, we contribute new analysis to current debates and ensure that young feminist activists are able to articulate their priorities and voice their concerns.
I am interested in working for women’s rights. How do I get started?
We share a number of resources that will help you to connect with the women’s rights community via our website and newsletters.
Subscribe to AWID’s jobs newsletter
Our section “Get Involved” lists numerous jobs postings related to women’s rights and gender equality, as well as different ways you can engage with AWID and our partners. If you have postings or opportunities to share contribute (in English, French and Spanish), please, do not hesitate to contact us.
What is the AWID International Forum?
The AWID international Forum is a gathering of 2,000 women’s rights leaders and activists from around the world. The AWID Forum is the largest recurring event of its kind, and every Forum takes place in a different country in the global South.
The AWID International Forum is both a global community event and a space of radical personal transformation. A one-of-a-kind convening, the Forum brings together feminist, women’s rights, gender justice, LBTQI+ and allied movements, in all our diversity and humanity, to connect, heal and thrive.
When people come together on a global scale, as individuals and movements, we generate a sweeping force.
Join us in Bangkok, Thailand and online in December 2024.
I have written a paper about an issue related to Women’s Rights and Development. How can I share it with AWID’s members?
You can email your paper or your proposal for an article, analysis or announcement to contribute@awid.org.
If the proposed content is appropriate, we will be pleased to post it on this website. We publish content in English, French and Spanish.
I am writing a research paper. Can AWID help me?
AWID provides a wealth of resources to help your research.
We invite you to explore the Priority Areas and Stay Informed sections of our website, or use the search function to find information about the specific topics you are researching.
We particularly recommend that you explore our toolkit “Where is the Money for Women’s Rights” (WITM Toolkit). This is a Do-it-Yourself Research methodology to support individuals and organizations who want to conduct their own research on funding trends for a particular region, issue or population by adapting AWID’s research methodology.
I am experiencing violence in one or more of my relationships. Can AWID advocate on my behalf?
Unfortunately, no. AWID is not a direct service or individual advocacy organization.
It would be better for you to seek legal advice and contact a women’s shelter or referral centre in your area.
The HotPeachPages is an online resource that offers links to women’s shelters around the world. AWID cannot vouch for the accuracy or quality of its listings, but it may be a good place to start if you don’t know of organizations in your area.
I am a women human rights defender (WHRD) and am currently under threat. Where can I go for help?
The Online Directory of Urgent Responses is the first collective effort to systematize the range of responses available for WHRDs at risk, with information about women’s and human rights organizations at international and regional levels. We hope that this resource will be used by WHRDs and their organizations worldwide to access information and support when facing emergency situations.
If you are a women human rights defender (WHRD) and you are experiencing threats or violence, please get in touch with our WHRD team (whrd@awid.org).