This International Women’s Day, we are proud to celebrate and honour the amazing achievements of so many women in our movement, our lives and our world.
The social value movement is based on the principles of equality, social justice and human rights for all, and the fight for gender equality is central to this. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
And whilst some progress has been made in recent years, the global pandemic has exacerbated challenges and in many cases reversed any gains made in the journey towards gender equity. “Limited gains in gender equality and women’s rights made over the decades are in danger of being rolled back due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the UN Secretary-General said in April 2020, urging governments to put women and girls at the centre of their recovery efforts.
The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is ‘Choose To Challenge‘ – a theme we believe is more important than ever. A challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change. So this International Women’s Day, we are choosing not only to celebrate the amazing achievements of women and girls globally, but also to highlight the changemaking work of a number of our partners who are, day in day out, fighting for a fairer, more equitable, world for all.
Below you find a list of articles, initiatives, events, guides and documents from our partners, networks and wider community that we think are important to share today and all days:
Articles, policy briefs and press releases
Accountable Now – Five way CSOs can be accountable on International Women’s Day
Accountable Now – How to Balance for Better: Advancing Gender Equality Through Accountability Practices
Impact Investing Institute – A pathway to action for gender lens investing: In Conversation with Laurie Spengler
The Women’s Organisation – Press Release: The Women’s Organisation Calls For £1.6bn National Programme Of Support For Women, Among Key Recommendations
Reports
UNDP – Gender Diversity and Inclusion for a Fair Business Environment
Guides
EIGE – Gender Impact Assessment
OECD – Gender Indicators
SoPact – A Guide on Choosing Impact Metrics for Gender Lens Investing
WECF International & Women2030 – The Gender Impact Assessment and Monitoring Tool
Events
AVPN – Gender Lens Incubation and Acceleration Toolkit 2.0 (9 March)
British Council – Education Exchanges: International Women’s Day (10 March)
FAIR SHARE of Women Leaders – Results of FAIR SHARE Monitor 2021 (30 March)
UN Women – Generation Equality Forum (29-31 March)
Other initiatives
ANDE & partners – Accelerating Women Climate Entrepreneurs
AVPN – Gender Platform
British Council – Gender in Language Education (free training modules beginning 8 March)
UN Women – Artivism for Gender Equality (submission open until 11 March)