Women's Organizations for Gender Equality and Empowerment
Women
Conceptual
In today’s interconnected world, advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment requires coordinated efforts across sectors, borders, and institutions. This comprehensive directory serves as an essential resource for professionals working in development, policy, advocacy, corporate social responsibility, and international relations, who need to navigate the complex landscape of global women’s organizations.
The organizations featured in this directory represent the backbone of the global gender equality movement, encompassing UN agencies that set international standards, influential NGOs driving on-the-ground change, specialized advocacy groups addressing specific challenges, and innovative initiatives pushing the boundaries of women’s empowerment.
From UN Women’s policy leadership to grassroots organizations’ community-level expertise, from economic empowerment specialists to technology inclusion advocates, this directory maps the diverse ecosystem of actors working toward Sustainable Development Goal 5. Use this resource to identify potential collaborators, understand organizational comparative advantages, access technical expertise, and build the strategic partnerships necessary to accelerate progress toward gender equality.
UN and International Organizations
UN Women
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women serves as the global champion for gender equality. UN Women coordinates UN efforts to promote women’s rights, supports member states in implementing international standards, and works to eliminate discrimination against women and girls worldwide. The organization focuses on economic empowerment, political participation, ending violence against women, and peace and security.
> more
International Labour Organization (ILO) – Gender Equality
The ILO promotes gender equality in the world of work through international labor standards, technical cooperation, and advocacy. They focus on equal pay, workplace discrimination, work-life balance, and women’s economic empowerment.
> ilo.org/gender
World Bank Group – Gender
The World Bank’s Gender Strategy aims to accelerate progress toward gender equality and women’s empowerment. They provide financing, knowledge, and advisory services to help countries close gender gaps in human capital, economic opportunities, voice and agency, and address gender-based violence.
> worldbank.org/en/topic/gender
Specialized Women's Rights Organizations
Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID)
A global, feminist, membership organization committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development, and women’s human rights. AWID builds collective power through knowledge creation, advocacy, and movement strengthening.
> awid.org
CAP International
The Coalition for the Abolition of Prostitution is a coalition of 37 grassroots and survivor-led organisations across 29 countries, united by a shared goal: the abolition of the prostitution system. CAP International empowers its members to effectively support victims of prostitution and advocate for the adoption of national legislation and international standards.
> cap-international.org
Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL)
Based at Rutgers University, CWGL develops and facilitates women’s leadership and women’s human rights globally. They organize the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.
> cwgl.rutgers.edu
Equality Now
A global human rights organization that works to protect and promote the rights of women and girls around the world. They focus on legal equality, ending sex trafficking, stopping female genital mutilation, and ensuring equal access to education.
> equalitynow.org
Feminist Majority Foundation
A US-based organization working to advance the legal, social, and political equality of women through research and education. They focus on reproductive rights, violence against women, and women’s political participation.
> feminist.org
International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC)
IWHC generates and amplifies the collective power of diverse groups and movements to advance the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals worldwide.
> iwhc.org
WO=MEN – Dutch Gender Platform
WO=MEN is the largest gender platform in Europe. Around 50 organisations and 125 professionals are linked to WO=MEN: development and peace organisations, women’s and gender rights organisations, diaspora organisations, trade unions, police, journalists, knowledge institutes, academics, military personnel, entrepreneurs, students and opinion-makers.
> wo-men.nl
Women for Women International
Provides women survivors of war, conflict, and other crises with resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency. They offer life skills, business skills, and literacy training along with access to capital and markets.
> womenforwomen.org
Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO)
A global women’s advocacy organization working at the intersection of gender equality and sustainable development. WEDO focuses on climate justice, sustainable development, and ensuring women’s voices are heard in environmental and economic policy-making.
> wedo.org
Women’s Learning Partnership (WLP)
A global network of autonomous women’s organizations working together to empower women to transform their communities. WLP focuses on democratic participation, human rights, and leadership development.
> learningpartnership.org
Economic Empowerment Focus
International Finance Corporation (IFC) – Gender Program
The World Bank Group’s private sector arm has extensive programs focused on investing in women-owned businesses, promoting women’s employment, and creating markets that work for women.
> ifc.org/en/what-we-do/sector-expertise/gender
Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative (WEEI)
Various organizations operate under this umbrella focusing specifically on women’s economic participation, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion across different regions and sectors.
> uncdf.org/wee-financing-tools-womens-economic-empowerment
Women’s World Banking
A global nonprofit organization devoted to giving low-income women access to financial services and information. They work with financial institutions to build their capacity to serve women clients and develop gender-inclusive financial products.
> womensworldbanking.org
Technology and Innovation
Girls Who Code
An international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology by educating, inspiring, and equipping young women and girls with the computing skills to pursue 21st-century opportunities.
> girlswhocode.com
Women in Tech Global Movement
A global nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology through education, training, and mentorship programs for women and girls.
> womentech.net
This overview represents some of the most influential organizations working toward SDG 5 – Gender Equality. Each organization contributes uniquely to advancing women’s rights, empowerment, and gender equality through advocacy, direct services, research, policy work, and movement building.