On International Women’s Day, learn how we partner with women to create change around the world ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌







Dear friend,

This International Women’s Day, I’m reflecting on the challenges facing women around the world — and in particular, the dire circumstances confronting women right now in Ukraine and surrounding countries. We know that the majority of refugees fleeing Ukraine are women, many of them with children, and it is heartbreaking to think of them crossing borders in the snow and cold, and the uncertainties they face. At the same time, I’m inspired by the strength of the women there.

In so many places around the globe, women are disproportionately affected by conflict and crisis. Yet we also see women playing an essential role in creating stability, and driving innovation and progress. I find hope in the stories of women who are courageously advancing change in their communities.

As Mercy Corps’ Senior Director of Gender Equity and Social Inclusion, I work with our teams to address gender-based discrimination and social norms that traditionally keep women out of leadership. Evidence shows that communities are healthier, safer, and more prosperous when women have more resources, education, and opportunities. Today, on International Women’s Day, I’d like to share some of these stories with you.

In Badabaika, Nepal, for example, women are saving their land from severe flooding due to climate change by assembling bamboo spurs to shore up riverbanks and growing grass to control soil erosion.
Urmila Dhakal stands near a bamboo embankment she helped build in Aathbiskot, Nepal.
When we first began working in Badabaika in 2018, women had not been engaged in disaster mitigation discussions. Mercy Corps invited both men and women to these conversations, leading to the nomination of women to serve on the local Community Disaster Management Committee for the first time. When the men needed to leave the village to earn money after COVID-19 hit, women were positioned to continue leading the work by themselves.

I invite you to read more about this and other stories of women leaders in the communities we serve around the world.
Read the stories ▸
Mercy Corps’ vision is to work directly with the people most affected by conflict and climate change, to move from crisis to opportunity. It’s why we partner with women in solving their communities’ most difficult challenges.

We’re glad to include you in our global community of supporters. Together, we can help advance women’s rights and challenge harmful gender norms.

In partnership,

Sahar Alnouri
Senior Director, Gender Equity and Social Inclusion