The Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI) Ongoing Programs and Small Grants

The Abbott Fund for Supporting Burmese Women
In 2012, the Abbott Fund donated $1 million for programs to empower women and girls in Burma in the key areas of economic development and participation, improved healthcare, the response to gender-based violence, and increased access to education. To date, this initiative supports 16 projects throughout Burma.

Global Women, Peace and Security (GWPS) Initiative
Launched in 2012, this initiative is aimed at supporting sustainable projects that advance the outcomes and actions committed to by the Department of State in the U.S. National Action Plan for Women, Peace, and Security and the accompanying Department of State Implementation Plan. To date, the GWPS initiative supports 32 projects in 20 countries.

Secretary’s Innovation Award for the Empowerment of Women and Girls
In 2010, the Rockefeller Foundation donated $1.5 million to identify and support innovative ideas that hold the promise of transforming the lives of women and girls around the world. Awarded to three organizations working in India, Kenya and Tanzania, this initiative aims to harness the power of innovation to improve economic opportunities, address environmental challenges, increase food security, and enhance children’s access to primary education.

S/GWI-PEPFAR Gender-Based Violence Initiative
Launched in 2012, in partnership with the Secretary’s Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (S/GAC), the $3 million S/GWI-PEPFAR GBV Initiative supports organizations working to address the link between gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS. As outlined in the first U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally, addressing gender-based violence is a cornerstone of the Administration’s commitment to advancing gender equality. To date, this joint initiative supports 32 projects in 25 countries.

Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Americas (WEAmericas) Small Grants Initiative
In 2012, the Walmart Foundation donated $1.5 million for projects to broaden economic empowerment opportunities and development for women-owned businesses and women entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean. To date, the WEAmericas initiative supports 24 projects in 24 countries.