History and Impact
What impact means to us
For ICRW Africa, impact means more than delivering activities or completing projects. It’s about how our work catalyzes long-term systemic change that advances gender justice and social equity across the region.
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We have a strong history of work in over 25 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Lesotho, Senegal and DRC. Our work regularly entails active collaboration with communities as well as national, regional, and international bodies to generate and provide contextually grounded evidence, engage in evidence-informed advocacy, and implement innovative programs. We engage stakeholders such as communities, duty-bearers, decision-makers, and program implementers through a variety of strategies, including face-to-face meetings, publications, and other media. ICRW Africa works on the four ICRW thematic focus areas: economic opportunity and security; health and sexual and reproductive rights; equitable social norms and power dynamics; and climate action.
As part of our 2023-2026 Strategy, ICRW Africa is being re-positioned into a mission-driven, efficient, effective, and equitable Gender Center of Excellence. Our intimate connection and proximity to the communities we serve, combined with our extensive history of policy-relevant research, puts us in a strong position to shape policies on multiple issues and support efforts to improve the lived realities of women and girls throughout Africa. At the global level, ICRW continues to reinforce and amplify the common threads of our regional work to maximize impact where it is most needed.
What impact means to us
As ICRW Africa deepens its role as a leading voice in gender research and advocacy, our understanding of impact is also evolving to reflect the power of African-led inquiry and our commitment to turning evidence into action. We generate knowledge that challenges inequality, informs solutions, and strengthens the voices and leadership of women, girls, and marginalized communities. We define impact by asking: What’s different in the world because of what we do and why does that matter? And we see impact come to life when African-generated evidence is visible, trusted, and used to shape policy and practice. Gender norms, systems, and structures are reimagined to advance equality and dismantle discrimination. Women, girls, and marginalized communities experience tangible improvements in their rights, well-being, and opportunities. Impact is not just about outcomes—it’s about influence, voice, and shifting power. It’s about strengthening the gender research ecosystem, amplifying Afro-feminist leadership, and ensuring that those closest to the issues are also leading the solutions. As we continue to refine our measurement and learning systems, we will be tracking how evidence moves into action, how policies evolve, and how lived experiences change because of what we do, who we partner with, and the values we bring.
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We define impact by asking : What’s different in the world because of what we do and why does that matter? And we see impact come to life when: African-generated evidence is visible, trusted and used to shape policy and practice.
Gender norms, systems and structures are reimagined to advance equality and dismantle discrimination. Women, girls, and marginalized communities experience tangible improvements in their rights, wellbeing and opportunities.
Impact is not just about outcomes—it’s about influence, voice, and shifting power. It’s about strengthening the gender research ecosystem, amplifying Afro-feminist leadership and ensuring that those closest to the issues are also leading the solutions. As we continue to refine our measurement and learning systems, we will be tracking how evidence moves into action, how policies evolve and how lived experiences change -because of what we do, who we partner with and the values we bring.
ICRW Africa’s year of impact amid global headwinds, civic repression, and economic pressure.
Evelyne Opondo
Executive Director ICRW Africa
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our devoted partners and communities for your unwavering support over the past year. Your belief in ICRW Africa has fueled our drive to push boundaries, uphold gender equality, and persist against relentless challenges.
This year has proven to be a powerful test of mettle, fortifying our resolve and equipping us for the challenges ahead. Amid shrinking civic spaces and constant challenges to gender equality, our unwavering determination has become our rallying cry. We have forged strategic high-level dialogues on diverse gender issues that have not only highlighted critical challenges but also set pathways for transformative change.
Stories of Change
Real stories of Impact
Every number tells part of the story - but lasting change is best seen through the lives it touches. These testimonials show how ICRW Africa’s feminist research has helped to define actionable solutions resulting in real change - amplifying community voices and experiencesn in shaping policy and practice to transform rights and opportunities for women, girls and marginalized communities across Africa.As ICRW Africa deepens its role as a leading voice in gender research and advocacy, our understanding of impact is also evolving to reflect the power of African-led inquiry and our commitment to turning evidence into action. We generate knowledge that challenges inequality, informs solutions and strengthens the voices and leadership of women, girls and marginalized communities.
