In August of this year, Musimbi Kanyoro, a dedicated activist for global health and gender equality, was given the highly coveted position of President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women. Global Fund for Women is the largest fund for women's organizations and women-led grassroots movements working outside the US. Their mission statement asserts "The Global Fund for Women plays a leading role in advancing women’s rights by making grants that support and strengthen women’s groups around the world." By providing grants, the organization connects women with resources which allow them to solve local, regional and transnational issues. In essence, they are a unifying source of funding which connects donors and women in order to create a "international network that promotes women’s action for social change, equality, peace, and justice worldwide."
The San Francisco based organization was founded by 3 women from Palo Alto California in 1987. These women believed in the importance of women's rights and empowerment in solving the greater global issues of human dignity. Not only this, but they believed in the value of putting the power in the hands of grassroots organizations in order to provide the means to allow women to create change for themselves.
Today, as Musimbi Kanyoro takes over leadership of this incredible organization, she has great aspirations for the future. Kanyoro is already focusing on mapping out a donor growth strategy to continue the works of the Global Fund and expand their benefit to reach all women.
In an interview conducted by Amy Lieberman for international development site, Devex, Kanyoro discusses her goals and vision for the future of the organization. When asked specifically about her plans for the next five years, Kanyoro responded by saying she plans to continue the growth of the organization by looking at the impact of the organizations they have helped in the past and expanding work with new organizations. This ambitious leader also hopes to double the resources provided for women; the over-arching goal being, to provide substantial funding to grassroots organizations so women can receive the resources to solve the issues which are most important to them.
As far as deciding where to place their funding, Kanyoro explains they are seeking women who have a concrete mission and goals. She must be connected to her community and confident in her ability to create effective change. She must be determined to succeed despite whatever challenges she may encounter, and have the ability to accrue followers within her community.
Although Kanyoro is aware of the challenges facing non-profits in the current economical downturn, she is confident that the Global Fund can continue their growth through their dedicated supporters. As an international organization, the Global Fund receives funding from Europe as well as the United States. They also have the benefit of individual and institutional donors. However, Kanyoro is beginning to see a blurring of the distinction between individuals and institutions. In an anecdote about a meeting she had with a women from JP Morgan, Kanyoro describes the woman's passion for a variety of issues facing women, including breast cancer and human rights, she then closes the interview with Lieberman by saying, "I think that this is an area I would very much like to grow – to try and find out those women who professionally are engaged in other areas where we don’t reach and see where their heart’s calling is when it comes to women’s human rights, women’s health and women’s education."
Even after just two months in her new position as President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women, Musimbi Kanyoro has incredible goals for the future of the organization. And although her sights are set high, I believe Kanyoro has the vision and foresight to successfully execute these goals and create lasting change for women throughout the globe.
To read the full interview with Musimbi Kanyoro please visit:
http://www.devex.com/en/articles/musimbi-kanyoro-the-global-fund-for-women-s-new-leader
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