Vision and Goals

Our vision is of a world defined by social justice and gender equality: one where women and girls everywhere are able to claim their rights, freed from discrimination and prejudice.

Our goal is to promote gender equality and the rights of women and girls in the global south who face intersecting discriminations, putting their voices and priorities at the centre of policy making.

Our understanding is that change happens not just by challenging those with power, but also by building our own collective, positive, power by working in alliances.  GADN therefore aims to be a cooperative and respectful part of global feminist movements: working collaboratively, recognising our key strengths, and using our influence where it is most effective.

GADN also recognises that power shapes women’s lives in different ways as a result of the intersecting discriminations they face; whether it is their class, race, age, religion, caste, disability or health status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or whether they are cis or trans women.  In particular we need to address the way in which colonialism has shaped the UK context in which we work.

We pursue our goals in four ways:

1. We support, enable and constructively challenge our members

GADN is primarily a network of UK based NGOs, many of whom have significant reach and influence. We support our members to collaborate and share learning to improve the quality of both their programme and advocacy work, and act as a critical friend encouraging members to continuously improve their work on gender equality and women’s rights.

2. We work with our members and allies to influence decision-makers and shape policy debates

As gender has risen up the international agenda the need to hold decision makers to account, and to promote alternative policy, has never been greater. Given our UK base, we have a particular responsibility and ability to improve the influence of the UK Government.  We also work with allies internationally – including women’s rights organisations – to target some of the most powerful international institutions. We do this particularly through our REFRAME project where we work with allies globally to promote a feminist reframing of macroeconomics, recognising the central role economic policies play in shaping gender equality and women’s rights.

3. We work collaboratively as part of growing global feminist movements

We recognise that change will only be sustainable and transformative if we work together, building feminist alliances globally to boost our collective strength, so we can hold decision makers to account. As part of this movement building we promote feminist alternatives to current unequal power structures and practices - demonstrating that change is not only necessary but possible.

4. We build a progressive and effective network

As a network we strive to live our feminist values, constantly listening to and learning from others, and recognising the power relationships that surround our work.  We aim to model best practice and to maximise our positive impact by working strategically in alliances, rather than just by increasing the size of our membership or secretariat Specifically, in response to women of colour members who have articulated their need for a transformed sector that engages constructively with power and privilege, we will support moves towards creating safe spaces for women of colour to thrive and collaborate in a decolonised development sector.

📷 Jennifer Aggrey-Fynn (second from right), National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers discuss workers rights with GADN members (March 2019)