Our theory of change

We believe sustainable change is driven by people power and must be nonviolent.

We assume:

Change is driven from the ground up.

To build the world we envision, we need collective action—driven and shaped by grassroots organizers—that engages individuals, movements and policymakers at all levels of society.

Peace requires the dismantling of militarism.

There is a clear link between militarism, despotism, inequality and violence against women, and therefore to create more peaceful societies based on good governance. We need to shift from military solutions to nonviolent solutions.

Women are key to enduring peace.

Decision-making driven and shaped by local women’s organizations and broader women’s movements is profoundly different. Women tend to focus on the common good.

A healthy civil society is essential.

A vibrant civil society—free from repression and criminalization—sustains change and reinforces good governance. Support for women human rights defenders at the forefront of peace and environmental struggles worldwide is vitally important to ensure a vibrant civil society.

Alternative narratives turn individual passion into collective action.

Creating and supporting alternative narratives is essential to sparking change. To bring about political transformation, individuals must broaden their perspectives and vision of what is possible. Women’s voices and movements provide those alternative narratives.

Our work, our impact:

We invest in young women’s power and leadership:

We work to support the next generation of women peacebuilders as they make change happen. We provide young women activists training, tools and connections to contribute to the global women’s movement.

We amplify women’s voices in the media:

Visibility and consistent messaging shifts public conversations. We put women’s messages and solutions in the media spotlight to change hearts and minds.

We work to ensure women influence public policy:

Access to decision-makers leads to influence and policy impact. When decision-makers are exposed to women’s analysis and solutions, they put peacebuilding, human rights and the environment on their agenda.

We support women’s movement building:

Change is driven from the ground up and women’s movements provide the spark for change. The Nobel Peace laureates champion women, working across movements, to strengthen our collective power to bring about change.

We approach change by: 

• Convening diverse groups of grassroots women activists and organizations to share women-led strategies and solutions, and then linking these grassroots women activists and organizations to policy makers and other decision makers.
• Creatively using media to amplify the alternative narratives and solutions of grassroots women activists and organizations to policy makers and decision makers, as well as powerful civil society partners and the public.
• Working with grassroots women leaders to shape their messages and access media, as well as strengthen their capacity to conduct direct advocacy at the local, national and regional levels.
• Leveraging the prestige and visibility of the female Nobel peace laureates to bridge grassroots women leaders’ messages and solutions to a global audience.