2006-2009
Women Faith and Development Alliance (WFDA)

WFDA focused on building trust and developing areas of collaboration among religious bodies, women’s movement and international development organizations, who were deeply divided by differences relating to womens’ reproductive rights. WFDA hoped to unite around empowering women and girls and ending global poverty. Under the auspices of Washington National Cathedral’s Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation the leaders of the international development, women’s movement and faith-based organizations met over many months for a deep exchange to frame common cause and common action for the benefit of women and girls. The resulting Women Faith and Development Alliance, including more than 70 organizations, was co-convened by InterAction, Women Thrive Worldwide, Religions for Peace, and Washington National Cathedral, and launched under the patronage of eminent co-chairs and a distinguished multi-sector international advisory council at the Breakthrough Summit April 2008. The collaboration resulted in over $1 billion in new commitments of resources for the advancement of women and girls.