Register for the Breakthrough Summit!
The Women, Faith, and Development Alliance (WFDA) - a unique partnership
of internationally focused faith, development, and women's organizations - is
a powerful new force dedicated to engendering global efforts to reduce
poverty by increasing political will and action to increase investments in
women's and girls' empowerment around the world.
Over the past year, Women Thrive Worldwide has been working
with three other organizations to launch the Women, Faith, and
Development Alliance (WFDA), Washington National Cathedral’s
Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation, InterAction’s Commission on the
Advancement of Women, and World Conference of Religions for Peace.
WFDA is focused on one 'big idea': to join women and men in international
faith, development and women's organizations to mobilize around the bold
moral imperative of ending global poverty and empowering women and girls.
WFDA was created because, despite the tremendous work and progress these
three communities have made towards eradicating poverty and improving women’s
lives, the enormity of global demands that we transcend the separations
within and between our communities to make women’s empowerment a priority for
development programs. By pooling our resources, moral authority, and
expertise, we believe we can take poverty alleviation efforts to the next
level by putting women at the center.
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On
April 13, 2008 the WFDA will host the Breakthrough summit at the
National Cathedral in Washington D.C. Breakthrough with will be
co-chaired by former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright and other world
leaders including the Right Honourable Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister
of Canada, Her Excellency Mary Robinson, former President, Republic of
Ireland, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President, Republic of
Liberia, Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, Chair, King Hussein Foundation,
His Grace Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace
Prize Laureate, Sheikh Shaban Mubaje, Grand Mufti, Uganda Muslim Supreme
Council, and the Reverend Dr. Ishmael Noko, General Secretary, Lutheran
World Federation.
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Following the Breakthrough, the WFDA will engage its partners
in an action and advocacy campaign for 2008—specifically gearing up for the
2008 presidential elections and tracking presidential candidate’s
commitments in ensuring that poverty and gender are at the center of U.S.
foreign assistance funding and programs.
In addition, the WFDA will closely track and monitor
the commitments made at the Breakthrough Summit,
particularly those made by governments, multilateral
donors, and non-governmental organizations.
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The WFDA was co-founded by Washington National Cathedral’s
Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation, InterAction’s Commission on the
Advancement of Women, World Conference of Religions for Peace and Women
Thrive Worldwide (formerly the Women’s Edge Coalition). Over
70 organizations from development and women’s organizations, and from faith
communities and networks in the north and global south are currently in the
alliance. Membership is open to any organization that supports and aligns
with the WFDA’s values.
To learn more about the WFDA, Breakthrough, and to join or attend,
visit www.wfda-alliance.org.
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