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.
The Case Is Clear:
Investing in Women and Girls is the Key to Ending Global Poverty
"Women and girls around the world face great challenges.
They bear an unjust burden and this must change for the benefit of all
humanity. We must act with common purpose and speak with one voice to
change global policies and global wills so that gender justice and an end to
poverty can be achieved." Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Honorary Breakthrough
Summit Co-Chair (2008).
The Challenges
Facing Women and Girls are Clear
Women are:
- 70 percent of the poorest and most
vulnerable people on earth;
- Two-thirds of the world's
illiterate people;
- 7 of 10 hungry people in the
world;
- Owners of one percent of the world's farmland;
- Dying at a rate of
500,000 each year from preventable complications of pregnancy.
Change Starts
with Investment
Evidence shows that investing in women benefits individuals, families,
communities, and nations. Unfortunately, these investments are not yet a
priority in the effort to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the
set of United Nations objectives defined by the global community.
- UN Commission on the Status of Women concluded that,
"global commitments to [women's empowerment]...have yet to be fully
implemented."
- At last count, out of $69 billion of overseas
development assistance, only 3.6% was earmarked for gender equality.
This must change.
- Jobs: The Asia-Pacific region
would gain $42 billion to $47 billion each year if women had greater
access to job opportunities.
- Education: The children of women
with five years of primary education are 40% more likely to live beyond
the age of five.
- Decision making: South Asia would have
13.4 million fewer undernourished children and Sub-Saharan Africa would
see an additional 1.7 million fewer undernourished children if men and women
had equal influence in decision-making in the household.
A 21st
Century Solution - The Women, Faith, and Development Alliance (WFDA)
Now more than ever, innovative approaches to fighting women's poverty are
critical. For the first time, women's organizations, faith communities and the
international development community have come together to tackle the issue,
creating one of the most powerful and far-reaching, anti-poverty coalitions in
history. WFDA's goal is to launch a campaign that will increase financial
and other investment in women and girls by governments, multilateral
institutions, non-governmental organizations, corporations, and
individuals. Over 300 organizations and tens of thousands of activists
have joined WFDA, whose founding partners include:
- InterAction, the largest coalition
of U.S.-based international NGOs, with more than 165 members working in
every developing country to expand opportunities and support gender
equality in education, health care, agriculture, and small business. www.interaction.org
- Religions for Peace , an alliance of more
than 70 inter-religious councils, groups, and networks that create
effective multi-religious partnerships to stem violent conflict, eradicate
poverty, promote just and harmonious societies, and protect the earth. www.religionsforpeace.org
- Women Thrive Worldwide, the premier U.S.
organization advocating for U.S. policies that foster economic opportunity
for women living in poverty , which comprises over 50 partner
organizations, . www.womenthrive.org
- Washington National
Cathedral's Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation (CGJR),
which forges effective partnerships between inter-faith and
multi-religious communities to focus on poverty, social justice, and
peacemaking initiatives around the globe. www.cathedral.org
WFDA will draw on the unprecedented reach, resources and expertise of its
members to change the lives of millions of women and girls.
Forging a New
Path: The Breakthrough Summit
Breakthrough: The Women, Faith, and Development Summit to End Global
Poverty is the launch of a lasting campaign involving
leaders and innovators from the women, faith, and development communities,
NGOs, governments, private institutions, and corporations, all of whom will
show their resolve by making new, concrete commitments to launch programs to
support women and girls, including:
- Multi-Issue: United Nations
Population Fund will undertake a far-reaching campaign to address maternal
mortality, violence against women, faith-based outreach, female genital
mutilation, and empowering adolescent girls in more than 50 countries.
- Gender Equity: International Rescue
Committee will address global gender issues like gender violence,
education, and economic development.
- Economic Empowerment: The Sister Fund and
Women's Funding Network will significantly expand the "Women Moving
Millions" campaign to increase the collective assets of
foundations/NGOs serving global women.
- Financial Independence: United Way will expand
its network by bringing Women's Leadership Councils to 46 countries.
"We have such a huge amount in common and [we must] tackle poverty by
focusing on empowering women and girls. We are up against the clock of
failure to meet the MDGs...So let's resolve that this Breakthrough Summit lives
up to its name, and that we live up to our commitments." Her
Excellency Mary Robinson, Honorary Breakthrough Summit
Co-Chair