The Gendered Reality of Climate Change
This year we have been inundated by so many things happening from all directions, it’s hard to choose what to focus on. For the sake of this end of the year blog, we’re choosing to discuss two of the most pressing issues we see as inextricably linked: climate change and gender equity. As we leave 2021 […]
COVID-19 Relief Updates
It’s been six months since WECO first carried out emergency relief to communities in Cambodia and India, while countries—especially lower-income countries—continue to grapple with the evolving pandemic. In early September, WECO heard from local partners in Cambodia that circumstances had worsened and communities in rural areas were still unable to work, meaning once again they […]
Emergency Relief in Cambodia & India
Beginning in March 2021, WECO heard worrisome news from partners in Cambodia (The Ponheary Ly Foundation and Women’s Resource Center) that COVID-19 was inching toward rural communities with elevated health risks. These areas were also experiencing food insecurity due to widespread lockdowns and discontinued programs that ultimately left many people without a means to work […]
2021: Year of the Funding Renaissance
“What does it mean to transform the way power operates in this country? How do we not perpetuate the same systems of domination inside of our own work as we reimagine what our communities can look like and what our institutions can and should look like?” – Alicia Garza, Black Lives Matter As 2020 comes […]
2020 Vision: Reflections on Equity and Empowerment (Part II)
This post is a continuation of an earlier post exploring our reflections on equity and empowerment from the past year. Question #4: What role does implicit bias play in perpetuating gender inequity? “Worth is a matter of opinion, and opinion is informed by culture. If that culture is as male biased as ours is, […]
2020 Vision: Reflections on Equity and Empowerment (Part I)
“Wisdom is about understanding big truths in a deeper way.” – Melinda Gates December is a perfect time to reflect on the past year, to deeply consider salient questions about our personal, professional, and organizational development. As WECO makes plans for new projects in 2020, we’ve stopped to review our work thus far and where […]
Women’s Empowerment in Pinagua, Peru
Pinagua Project Background Pinagua, small town near Oropesa, has an economy largely supported by agriculture and a community that maintains a basic standard of living. Unlike other nearby towns, Pinagua doesn’t have access to services for education, health, or related programs. Project manager, Luz Chapi, explained how especially women in the community live in the […]
Measuring Women’s Empowerment Part Three: Real Social Investing
*This is the final part of our three-part series dedicated to deconstructing data, measuring women’s empowerment, and understanding risk/reward when merging for-profit and nonprofit practices. For-profit meets Nonprofit To put it simply, for-profit industries are profit-driven while nonprofit ones are values-driven. For-profit industries strive for large figures and more hierarchical definitions of success (i.e. ‘the […]
Measuring Women’s Empowerment Part Two: Evaluating Stories
*This is Part Two of a three-part series dedicated to deconstructing data, measuring women’s empowerment, and understanding risk/reward when merging for-profit and nonprofit practices. Program Evaluation When monitoring and evaluating (M&E) women’s empowerment programs, it’s important to consider the processes that shape the lives of underrepresented women and girls – processes that often only […]
Measuring Women’s Empowerment Part One: Understanding Data
*This is Part One of a three-part series dedicated to deconstructing data, measuring women’s empowerment, and understanding risk/reward when merging for-profit and nonprofit practices. Landscape Metrics Metrics are tools we can use to drive accountability. They shine light in neglected corners on hidden or underrepresented issues, and can build arguments for cross-sector collaboration. In terms […]
