Our Transformation

The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) has spent the last few years reimagining how we work to deliver on the promise of gender equality for women, girls, and structurally excluded people globally. After extensive research, conversations with stakeholders, and in alignment with our 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, we have created a strong global network model that embodies our principles of equity, inclusion, and shared leadership. 

This transformation is the fulfillment of a commitment we made together: to shift power closer to the communities we serve and build a structure that reflects the equitable world we seek to create.

Staying True to Our Purpose

Our new global network model encompasses three autonomous regional entities—ICRW-Africa, ICRW-Americas, and ICRW-Asia—each led by an executive director and governed by its own independent board. Every region will set priorities rooted in its own context, ensuring decisions align with local needs, realities, and opportunities.

Together, these entities form the ICRW Network, interlinked by a common vision, mission, values, global strategy, and brand. We are committed to remaining a globally connected organization and have developed an infrastructure to support our alignment and collaboration.

Under our new model, we will no longer have a global CEO, a global governing board, or headquarters in the United States. Instead, the three regional entities will be united by a Global Advisory Board that will provide guidance and foster shared learning. It will comprise an equal number of representatives from each regional board and several independent advisors. 

A lean Global Coordinating Unit, staffed by a globally distributed team, will anchor network-wide operations and connectivity, providing shared services to accelerate collective impact. 

We’ve created a network that fosters context-specificity at the regional level and shared purpose at the global level, strengthening local ownership, enhancing agility, and accelerating innovation to achieve gender equality for communities everywhere.

Looking Ahead

Our transformation into a decentralized global network marks a significant new chapter, one that reflects both who we are and who we are becoming. It honors our history, responds to the realities of today, and positions us to shape tomorrow with vision and courage.

Our new structure enhances our ability to provide insights and generate actionable evidence that reflects diverse contexts. It is designed to listen first and respond authentically, centering the experiences of communities to co-design scalable solutions and innovative policies that unlock opportunity and improve lives.

As we approach our milestone 50th anniversary in 2026, we are carrying our legacy of impact forward, rewriting the rules of gender equality and working across borders, genders, and generations to change the systems that sustain inequality.

As a learning organization, ICRW is dedicated to sharing our progress and challenges on this journey to inspire others to reimagine what is possible. Together, we can disrupt the status quo and create the equitable and inclusive world we all need to thrive.