Economic equity

Health and Nutrition for All in Uganda with World Vision Australia

World Vision Australia’s Health and Nutrition for All initiative, in collaboration with the Ugandan Ministry of Health, is dedicated to strengthening maternal and child health care, improving clean water and sanitation infrastructure, and fostering nutritional awareness in communities across Uganda.

Aligned with local health providers, our initiative collaborates to support the critical first 1000 days of a child’s life, with a primary goal of significantly reducing preventable diseases and malnutrition through integrated health and nutrition services.

In addition to providing support to households affected by disabilities to adopt appropriate nutrition plans, this initiative is strengthening the capacity of local health services to provide tailored support to individuals with disabilities. By focusing on local solutions with local leadership, World Vision Australia is addressing critical health needs and cultivating healthier communities for generations to come. Discover more about World Vision Australia on their website.

In the densely populated informal settlements of Kenya and Zambia, where reliable access to water and power is a challenge, toilets are critically scarce. Without proper sanitation facilities, diarrheal diseases spread, students are deterred from attending school, and women and girls face risks leaving their homes after dark. Together with local communities, Fresh Life is expanding its network of innovative toilets in Nairobi, Kenya, and Lusaka, Zambia.

Fresh Life Toilets are installed by young locals employed by Fresh Life, and become shared facilities that are managed and maintained by local residents as small enterprises. Designed to operate without water or power, the toilets use a container-based dry technology to ensure that waste is securely contained, collected, transported, and treated & disposed of. Led by community need, Fresh Life Toilets are operating in residential areas, busy market centres and schools to improve hygiene and safety, resulting in higher school attendance rates. For more details about Fresh Life’s impactful work and technology, visit their website.

Investing in Zambia’s small-scale farmers and wildlife conservation with COMACO

Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO) creates partnerships with smallholder farmers across Zambia, combining conservation and sustainable farming practices to improve livelihoods and enhance their resilience against future shocks.

COMACO’s model incorporates agroforestry and market incentives, allowing for higher farming yields without chemical inputs and improving the capacity of farming cooperatives. This feeds into the production of COMACO’s ‘It’s Wild!’ food products, promoting nutrition and economic sustainability.

As a result, incomes are on the rise, food and nutrition security is improving, and wildlife is being revived in the Luangwa Valley and around Kafue National Park, marking a stride toward a sustainable future for Zambia’s communities and their environment. Learn more about COMACO’s work by visiting their website.

Photo Credit: Comaco

ygap works at forefront of economic empowerment in Kenya and South Africa, investing in the power of local entrepreneurs. ygap makes it easier for entrepreneurs to get capital, particularly those led by women and operating in rural areas.

ygap supports businesses by helping to grow the skills and resources they need to create jobs and attract investment. This is particularly important for women-owned businesses, and ensuring local business practices are sustainable. We are proud to work in partnership with ygap and share their commitment to reducing economic inequality through inclusive growth. To learn more about ygap and its impact, visit their website.

The Akashinga, which means ‘The Brave Ones’ in Shona, are a remarkable team of women wildlife rangers. They protect nature conservation areas across 9 million acres in Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania.

Akashinga began in Zimbabwe with a group of just 16 women, all survivors of assault or impacted by AIDS or HIV. Through the organisation’s investment in local infrastructure and social impact, the lives of the Akashinga women have been transformed. Additionally, their communities have experienced significant improvements in healthcare, education, access to clean water, and sustainable employment opportunities.

The Akashinga rangers are changing perceptions of women in conservation, proving time and time again that women can and should lead in the protection of nature and wildlife. If you would like to learn more, please visit their website.

In Uganda’s refugee settlements and neighbouring communities, girls and young women face significant challenges such as child marriage, pregnancy, and gender-based violence. In partnership with Plan International Australia, the Supporting Ugandan Girls in Crises initiative is supporting vulnerable women and girls in the Adjumani district by unlocking opportunities for economic growth, improving access to maternal and sexual health services, and nurturing positive cultural norms within their communities. It’s an approach that addresses immediate needs and aims to drive long-term societal change.

By strengthening community resilience and working for sustainable change, our partnership with Plan Australia aims to create a brighter, more equitable future for these girls and young women. For more details about Plan Australia’s impactful work in Uganda, please visit their website.

At the heart of Sydney’s grassroots response to supporting women transitioning from prison stands the Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC). This leading trauma-informed service provides crisis support, accommodation, and wrap-around support to some of Sydney’s most vulnerable women and their children. In addition to providing immediate aid, WAGEC confronts broader issues such as domestic violence, homelessness and gender inequality, with the goal of securing safe futures for women and their families. 

Through our partnership, WAGEC has launched the FROM NOW program. FROM NOW is a new approach to supporting women exiting prison, with special support for pregnant women or those with children, guiding them towards safety and stability. We value our collaboration with WAGEC and encourage you to explore their powerful work by visiting their website.

Steered by a passionate commitment to supporting women experiencing economic abuse, the Centre for Women’s Economic Safety advocates for social, service and system change to advance women’s economic safety in Australia. Our partnership has launched the Sydney Money Clinics, a safe space for women experiencing domestic and family violence to access free financial guidance.

Our collaboration with the Centre for Women’s Economic Safety reflects our shared vision of fostering an environment where women can rebuild their lives with dignity, for a future of financial independence. Discover more about Centre for Women’s Economic Safety and the Sydney Money Clinics by visiting their website.

The Social Outfit is an innovative fashion label with a difference, committed to supporting refugee women to kick-start their careers and find their feet in Australia. Through specialised sewing and retail training programs, The Social Outfit helps women develop essential work skills, prepares them for employment, and builds meaningful community connections.

Their ethical and sustainable clothing collections celebrate and showcase the skills, creativity and strengths of refugee and new migrant women across Western Sydney and Sydney’s Inner West. Explore The Social Outfit’s journey and the extraordinary impact they make by visiting their website

Success Works believes a criminal record should never be viewed as an automatic disqualification for employment. Their new Beyond Barriers program is dedicated to supporting the most vulnerable women with criminal records in securing meaningful employment, focusing particularly on those who face long-term unemployment after incarceration.

Beyond Barriers works with single mothers, survivors of violence, and women contending with the stigma of a criminal record. The program offers essential tools and practical support for a new start. For more information about the impactful work of Success Works and the Beyond Barriers program, visit their website.