Through our advocacy, we strive to set an example for meaningful participation of displaced women and other marginalised groups at various international policy fora. To date, our network members have actively participated in and contributed to key events such as the Global Refugee Forum (GRF), the European Humanitarian Forum, the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, COP, and other high-level meetings addressing displacement and gender issues. We have also facilitated a meaningful participation training for the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Some of our successes:
- Joint pledge at the Global Refugee Forum in collaboration with BMZ, the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), the Lotus Flower, New Women Connectors and others to promote the political, economic, social participation of displaced women.
- Facilitated a meaningful participation training for the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
- First organisation led by displaced women to join the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies.
Our network meets regularly to exchange expertise on current displacement issues. Additionally, we build alliances with international actors to increase the participation and visibility of displaced women and other marginalised groups. We meet in-person in Berlin for high-ranking discussions among the members. Our network has grown to become a global platform for enabling the exchange of ideas and knowledge among diverse partners as well as shaping and strengthening alliances.
High-ranking representatives of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as well as numerous actors from politics, business and civil society have attended past meetings of the Action Network.
Some of our successes:
- Three high-level convenings in Berlin in September 2022, September 2023 and April 2025.
- Parliamentary discussion in the German Bundestag with members of parliament on feminist displacement policy.
The Funding Initiative on Forced Displacement hosted by the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund is a vital cornerstone of the Action Network. The Funding Initiative fosters the political and economic participation of women and girls in displacement contexts. This is accomplished by supporting grassroots projects implemented by local civil society organisations, many of them refugee or IDP led. The BMZ has endowed the Funding Initiative with 31 million euros to date.
Our network members decide on the selection of countries for funding and are involved in the selection of the projects alongside national steering committees. The projects are designed to empower women and girls to lead independent and self-determined lives. The projects promote the active participation in economic, social, and political spheres.
This is accomplished through various efforts, such as supporting the creation of enterprises and cooperatives, promoting the development of financial literacy and skills, and encouraging participation in local politics and decision-making processes.
Some of our successes:
- The Funding Initiative has supported 144 projects with 216 civil society organisations in 11 countries with BMZ funds so far (as of December 20, 2024).
- Action Network members have selected Bangladesh, Colombia, Iraq, Nigeria, Palestine, Syria and a regional response to Ukraine and Moldova as funding countries. Additional emergency funds from BMZ supported regional responses in Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, in Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, and Lebanon after the escalating conflict in 2024.
As part of the WPHF Global Learning Hub, the Action Network provides capacity-building trainings and fosters peer exchange with the civil society organizations (CSO) of the Funding Initiative on Forced Displacement. It draws on the diverse expertise of its members. The mentorship program plays a key role in mutual learning, empowerment, and strengthening the wider civil society landscape.
In the past, our members have designed and delivered training sessions for WPHF’s civil society organization partners. These sessions have covered a wide range of topics critical to gender equality and equal participation. For instance, our members have led workshops on fundraising strategies tailored to women’s organizations in crisis-affected regions. Workshops have also been given on approaches to support refugee women and girls, as well as survivors of Gender-Based Violence in conflict settings.