CAFIID joined Catalyst Now Week 2026 for a conversation on Canadian approaches to advancing gender equality globally.
This session showcased how Canadian social innovators and organizations are collaborating across sectors to advance gender equality in global development contexts. Drawing on diverse Canadian approaches, participants explored models of feminist partnership, intersectional programming, and cross-border solidarity that are shaping a more equitable world.
Key insights and takeaways:
Move from supporting individuals to changing systems. Training women is not enough if hiring practices, professional networks, unpaid work expectations, and institutional policies continue to reproduce inequalities. The focus should be on removing barriers and creating lasting opportunities.
Connect skills to tangible outcomes. Cameras for Girls illustrated the importance of combining practical training, equipment ownership, mentorship, professional networks, and employer partnerships to create pathways to paid employment. Success should be measured not only by participation and graduation, but also by employment, fair pay, and sustainable careers.
Make collaboration cross-sectoral and community-led. Advancing gender equity requires cooperation between civil society, governments, universities, employers, investors, funders, and the communities most affected by inequality. Local knowledge and leadership must shape solutions rather than simply implement externally designed approaches.
Embed equity in funding and investment decisions. Gender commitments need to translate into concrete changes in how funding is allocated, risks and benefits are distributed, and outcomes are measured. Participants highlighted the importance of flexible, long-term funding for women-led and grassroots organizations, which often face disproportionate barriers to accessing resources.
Address interconnected inequalities. The examples shared across media, public health, and impact investing illustrated how gender equity intersects with healthcare access, mental health, economic independence, the care economy, and social and cultural norms. These challenges cannot be addressed in isolation.
Build trust and create space for collective learning. Effective collaboration takes time, strong relationships, and safe spaces where practitioners can openly discuss challenges, acknowledge setbacks, and learn from one another. Creating opportunities for shared reflection and sense-making is essential to moving from individual efforts towards systemic change.