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IWDA 25th Anniversary

In 1985, three women came together and created something that would address immediate practical needs for women such as access to food, income, safe houses and education.

It would create long-term change that enables women to participate in decision-making, play a role in economic life and in the sustainable use of natural resources.

It would be a women-focused development agency which not only focused on equity and rights for women, but also focused on effectiveness and impact.

But most importantly, it would do this in partnership with local organisations by bringing together the knowledge, experience and resources of IWDA and its program partners in order to address shared priorities.

These wonderful women created the International Women’s Development Agency, which is continuing to create positive change for women and their communities 25 years on.

Below is a snippet from co-founder, Wendy Poussard, on the birth of IWDA:

1985 was the year that Wendy Rose, Ruth Pfanner and I created IWDA. Many exciting discussions were held around Ruth’s kitchen table in Canberra and I remember drinking a lot of tea. Caroline Ifeka and David Pfanner joined us to form the first IWDA Committee of Management and IWDA was incorporated as an Association on 7th August 1985. We were constantly talking with women and with other community-based organisations about what IWDA might be and do. It was a happy time for me, a good time to begin an organisation run by women for women and a good time to be thinking wildly about development.

I announced the beginning of IWDA at the Nairobi NGO Forum in 1985 and a few weeks later we opened our first office in a very small room in Fitzroy, Melbourne. Later IWDA moved to rooms at the YWCA National Headquarters and the support we received from the YWCA was a crucial factor in IWDA’s survival and growth.

IWDA’s first method of raising funds was to invite like-minded people to become IWDA Associates. People began to offer substantial donations even before we began to ask publicly for support, and many of our first donors have continued to support IWDA.

From the beginning, IWDA has needed and valued the contribution of Committee Members and Unpaid Workers who give their time and apply a vast array of skills to tasks of fund raising, administration, research and advocacy.

Wendy Poussard, Co-founder of IWDA

As we continue to build on the vision of IWDA’s founders, we draw daily inspiration from the women and organisations we partner with, who work for equity, rights, safety and opportunity with limited resources in challenging environments.

One behalf of our project partners, IWDA would like to send out a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us for the past 25 years.

Want to find out how you can help create positive change for women and their communities?