https://womensfundasia.org/assets/annual-report/WFA%20Annual%20Report%20...(spread).pdf
WFA’s Mission Our mission is to nurture and lead feminist philanthropy in the region; to effectively mobilise resources to support individuals, groups, and networks by enabling their sustainability; and to strengthen partner capacities, leadership, advocacy, and networks in the field.
WFA’s Vision Our vision is the realisation of the human rights of women, girls, trans, and intersex people in Asia
MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHAIR OF BOARD OF WFA
In a year marked by profound compounding challenges, we remain committed to the feminist movements in the region that are at frontlines of change. Our annual report: In Ways the Water Flows, captures the journey of Women’s Fund Asia (WFA)—one of constant movement, finding new passages, adapting to changing terrains, and always surging forward toward justice and equality for all women, girls, trans and intersex people and communities. Similar to that of an estuary, where water from the rivers and streams converge and meets the vast ocean - every grant we disbursed, every partnership we formed, and every critical space we influenced is a move towards a larger, transformative agenda—one that seeks to centre the voices and lived realities of feminist organisations and activists who work tirelessly for the rights of those pushed to the margins in our societies.
The wide open sea is everything. It can be turbulent, rough and a large part of it remains unknown to humans; but it is also home to the most diverse types of life form – growing, adapting and struggling for survival amidst the constantlychanging conditions of the deep water underneath.
With this resemblance, feminist movements, particularly in the Global South, continue to operate within increasingly hostile environments. This underscores the importance of what we do: anchoring feminist movements, building solidarity, and fostering resilient ecosystems where feminist organisations and activists not only survive but rise with the changing tides, navigating the most challenging currents. During the year, we completed the development of WFA’s Emergency and Crisis Solidarity Strategy 2023-25, which serves as our anchor in turbulent times, guiding how we stand with feminist movements during crises.
Our feminist analysis of emergencies is the map by which we navigate complex economic, political, and environmental storms—steering critical support to initiatives like the Kaagapay Solidarity Fund for Feminist Resilience. As we continue to channel resources where they are most needed, we also lead efforts to chart new paths for emergency and crisis response, influencing others to join us in solidarity and action. With a record number of 619 applications, we understand the growing need for resources for feminist movements in the region. This year, we disbursed a total of 4,477,260 USD across 204 grants, providing core and flexible funding that enabled women, girls, trans, and intersex organisations to efficiently address emerging challenges and build sustainable and alternate models of resistance. In a region facing overlapping from economic crisis, political instability to the escalating impacts of climate change - this support is crucial for driving long-term transformation and resilience. We recognise the importance of collective care and well-being as critical components of feminist resilience.
Collective care and well-being are not afterthoughts; they are the currents that propel feminist movements forward. At WFA, we have worked to institutionalise these practices within our organisation, ensuring that care flows like a dependable undercurrent, quietly supporting everything we do.
Furthermore, our increased engagement in global and regional advocacy spaces, reflects the broader significance of WFA’s work. Our efforts to reshape global and regional funding policies, particularly through a feminist lens, are about more than securing resources—they are about ensuring that local movements have the power and agency to drive their own change, rooted in the contexts they know best. A
