GADN is an influential network of UK-based NGOs and experts collaborating internationally to promote gender equality and the rights of women and girls in all their diversity.
We promote gender equality and the rights of women and girls across the UK international development sector.
We aim to strengthen the UK government’s commitment, policy and practice towards achieving gender equality in its international work.
We seek to influence international bodies, such as the UN, proposing solutions and shaping the discourse around gender equality and women’s rights.
We share learning and build members’ capacity to deliver effectively on gender equality.
We collaborate with organisations in the Global South, and are part of a fast-growing global feminist movement.
How we work
We support our members to learn, share best practice, and develop joint advocacy.
Share information and analysis in resources and weekly updates.
Provide the opportunity to learn and debate current issues in webinars and quarterly Member Meetings.
Create safe spaces for members who identify as women of colour to connect as individuals rather than representatives of organisations through the Women of Colour Forum.
Bring members together in Working Groups on specific issues to develop analysis and best practice and share advocacy strategy.
Take a leadership role where needed, for example focusing on emerging issues such as safeguarding and PSEAH
“At a time of great turmoil in the sector GADN provided thoughtful leadership in helping us develop our safeguarding responses and share best practice with colleagues in other organisations”
- Fenella Porter, Interim Deputy Director, Women's Rights and Gender Justice Oxfam GB
GADN supported members to respond quickly and effectively to revelations of sexual harassment and abuse in INGOs in March 2018.
We aim to play a positive role within global feminist movements.
Share information and analysis and create spaces for others’ voices.
Enable our members to work on shared agendas with feminists in the global south through events such as the FEMNET workshop in July 2018.
Develop joint advocacy with partners such as FEMNET and AWID, particularly through the GEM project.
Work with feminist allies internationally to advocate for change.
“Through partnering with GADN we have been able to build joint messages around our common priorities. We value our partnership built around the tenets of mutual respect and accountability that have allowed us to have true north south collaboration”
- Crystal Simeoni, Director of Nawi Afrifem Macroeconomics Collective
Who we work with
We’re funded by and work closely with:
In our latest learning paper, we worked with:
International Women's Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW-AP)
Red Latinoamericana por Justicia Económica y Social (LATINDADD)
Targeting the G7, we work as part of Women 7 (W7), including with:
We advocate for better gender equality policies and practice in the UK international development sector and international institutions.
Provide technical expertise.
Provide accessible, challenging and well respected resources.
Build consensus around alternative economic policies - GADN’s Feminist Reframing of Macro-level Economics (REFRAME) project.
“We are very grateful to GADN for generating awareness on macroeconomics and gender. GADN was a critical partner and influencer on Macroeconomic Policy and Women’s Economic Empowerment. GADN’s technical input strengthened policy discussions... and helped us arrive at a consensus on key priorities.”
- Anuradha Seth (Left) Policy Advisor Economic Empowerment, UN Women
GADN influenced the international agenda in 2017 by successfully pressuring the UN High Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment to recognise that macro-level economic policies influence gender equality. A UN working group was established which produced a report specifically on these issues.
The issues we work on
GADN Working Groups and Secretariat work with our members on a range of issues related to gender equality and women's rights from women's economic justice, to political voice, to living free from violence. Find out more - including publications from GADN, members and feminists from the Global South.
Our current priority areas are
The British Government has a significant impact globally, both through its role in international policy-making and its official development assistance. As a UK network, it is part of GADN’s role to hold our government to account for its impact on gender equality and women’s rights around the world. This includes opposition to the recent cuts in aid, critical reactions to the International Development Strategy and attempts to shape the policy and practice outlined in its Women and Girls strategy.
International institutions and national governments take economic decisions that determine the shape of our economies and societies, impacting every area of gender equality and women’s rights. They could be a force for good, reallocating resources and promoting equality, but most current economic policies perpetuate inequalities. GADN’s Feminist Reframing of Macro-level Economics (REFRAME) project works with feminists from around the world to propose viable economic alternatives.
GADN recognises that gender inequality cannot be understood and effectively confronted in isolation from other discriminations and forms of oppression that women face. Given our location within the UK Aid Sector, we recognise our particular responsibility to promote debate and implement meaningful practice on anti-racism and decolonisation as part of our work.
The Group of 7 industrialised nations (G7) representing only a handful of rich countries holds significant influence on both domestic and international agendas. Given the UK’s role in this group, GADN takes responsibility for scrutinising its work and promoting positive alternatives. We do this partly through the Women 7 (W7) group of civil society organisations, working alongside the Civil Society 7 (C7).
What has GADN done so far?
📷 GADN Members Meeting on new opportunities and threats to women’s rights (March 2018)