Women’s Voice and Leadership Program

In June 2017 we announced the creation of the Women’s Voice and Leadership Program with an investment of $150 million over five years. We created this program, as part of our Feminist International Assistance Policy, to meet the needs of local women's rights organizations around the world. Our support helps them advance gender equality and empower women and girls in all their diversity. It promotes and protects their human rights.

Women’s rights organizations and feminist movements are vital to breaking down barriers to gender equality around the world. This is especially so in times of crisis and conflict.   

As part of the program, Canada works with partners to:

• enhance the sustainability of local and regional women’s rights organizations and lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex plus (LBTQI+) groups,
• strengthen the capacity of women’s rights organizations and LBTQI+ groups to program and advocate to advance gender equality and empower women and girls, and
• increase the effectiveness of local, regional and global women’s rights platforms, networks and alliances to affect policy, legal and social change.

Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Program

In April 2023, Canada announced a further $195 million over five years and $43.3M annually thereafter for the renewal and expansion of the program. It includes a greater focus on women’s rights organizations, LBTQI+ groups and feminist activists and movements working in countries affected by crisis and conflict. 

This continued investment highlights Canada’s commitment to ensuring these organizations have the resources and support they need to carry out their important work for years to come.  

Between April and November 2023, we gathered insights and lessons to inform the design of the renewed program.  This feedback contributed to the design of the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Program. It helps us to build on what we know is working well for women’s rights organizations, LBTQI+ groups and feminist movements, and to strengthen approaches where we have heard there is room to do better. 

To find out more about who was consulted and what they had to say, refer to the Renewal of the Women’s Voice and Leadership Program: What We Heard Report (international.gc.ca).

How will implementing partners be selected for the renewed program?

The process to select implementing partners for the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Program will be inclusive, fair and transparent.

We will focus on civil society organizations guided by feminist principles. We’ll use a mix of selection mechanisms.

Projects that are implemented by local women’s rights organizations, or in direct partnership with them, are highly encouraged. This will help us meet our goal of flowing as much money as possible directly to local women’s right organizations.

There won't be an open call for proposals at this time. The Government of Canada will invite organizations to submit proposals. We will hold a new selection process for new RWVL projects.

Please note that renewed projects will be identified, funded and managed by geographic branches.

Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Projects

Women’s Voice and Leadership Projects