To Make the Business Case for Gender Equality, Time for a Fresh Framing

Changing global realities requires fresh thinking on development finance for gender equality. Updated strategies and coalitions can support new investments.

By Beth Woroniuk, Senior Fellow of the Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative

Originally published in Devex on February 4, 2026

U.S. currency notes, $100, $20, $5, and $1 denominations, lay flat on a wood background. Photo by: Live Richer / Unsplash

2025 was a tough year for gender equality. Year-end reviews noted the growing strength of anti-gender and anti-rights groups, attacks on reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, increasing strains on the multilateral system, growing conflicts, and cuts in official development assistance, or ODA. Of particular concern were reports of sharp drops in support for women’s rights organizations.

As we move into another year with continuing bleak prospects for resourcing gender equality, there are concrete steps policymakers, philanthropists, investors, and activists can take to support stronger, more strategic investments.

Building on fragile gains

One strategy to generate momentum is celebrating some of last year’s victories.

Research from the Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative has found that feminist foreign policies survived more elections than they lost, with more and more countries exploring the significance of this policy approach  for their contexts. Our research has also shown that up to 2023, the most recent year with available data, countries with feminist foreign policies outperformed the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee average in ODA investments in gender equality. 

To read the rest of Beth’s article, please visit Devex.